Candidates Evan Myers, Theresa Lafer, and Dan Murphy won the Democratic primary election for State College Borough Council Tuesday in a tightly contested race.

Evan Myers, Theresa Lafer, and Dan Murphy will move on as top three in the Democratic primary for State College Borough Council. pic.twitter.com/U6jxYx7M3l

— Onward State (@OnwardState) May 17, 2017

Myers led the way with 1,298 votes (25.52%). Lafer followed with 934 votes (18.36%) and Murphy secured the final spot with 824 votes (16.20%). Graduate student Marina Cotarelo just missed out on a spot with 734 votes (14.49%), and Steve Mower was closely behind with 711 votes (13.98%). Student Rylie Cooper came in last with 567 votes (11.15%).

State College local elections are nearly always decided in the Democratic primary, so it’s likely these three candidates will be elected to serve on the Borough Council.

Two of the winning candidates — Myers and Murphy — were endorsed by the BugPAC campaign to “reclaim State College,” which launched earlier this year as the brainchild of now-former student government presidents Kevin Horne and Terry Ford.

The campaign was created out of frustration with some current local officials who refuse to consider student initiatives simply because they come from students. BugPAC says Black is the best mayoral candidate to recognize the interests of both students and non-residents in State College.

Lafer has been a councilwoman for more than seven years. She’s been on the opposite side of the battle, mostly favoring the interests of residents ahead of the students.

This year’s general municipal election is slated for November 7, when residents will have the opportunity to officially elect the newest members of the State College Borough Council.

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Steve Connelly

Unfortunately, former editor Steve Connelly has graduated. Where is he now? He might be doing something related to that PR degree he got in 2019. Maybe he finally opened that sports bar named after one of his photos, the Blurry Zamboni. Or he might just be eating chicken tenders and couch surfing. Anything’s possible. If you really want to know, follow him on Twitter @slc2o.

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