Apollo Council VP loses in primary; still wants to be involved

Apollo Council Vice-President Mark Tarle lost in a tight, four-way contest on the Democratic ticket for three seats on Apollo Council.

Two of the Democrats who won are incumbents, along with current Mayor Cindee Virostek.

Unofficial results from the Armstrong County Elections Department for the Democratic nomination for three, four-year seats on Apollo Council were as follows: Craig Williams: 43 votes, 30%; Cindee Virostek: 38 votes, 26.5%; Patrick Zelonka: 36 votes, 25.2%; and Tarle: 26 votes, 18.2%.

For the Nov. 2 general election, the Democratic primary winners will go up against three Republican candidates who were unopposed in the primary” John Steele, Jerrod Thompson and Michele Beck.

Williams, who took the top Democratic spot on Tuesday said, “I hope whatever the outcome, it continues to work in the best interest of our Apollo residents and business owners.”

Virostek clinched the Democratic nominations for both a four-year seat and a two-year seat. Virostek, a longtime council member and current mayor, said she plans to still run for both slots to better ensure winning one of them.

“Thanks to those who voted for me and trust me to handle the people’s business in the borough,” Virostek said. “I support Apollo Borough’s goals in having the riverfront property put to beneficial use,” she said. “We must all work together and do this correctly.”

She also wants to add more police for the safety of the residents.

Tarle said he was not losing sleep over the election results.

“I’m not giving up,” he said.

“The group we have got running the borough so far took us out of the red,” he said. “I want to try to keep this group together.”

Calls to Zelonka were not returned.

All of the Democratic candidates are concerned with reversing the fortunes of Apollo and have similar ideas of how to do that. Everyone would like to see some type of safe development at the NUMEC and other vacant industrial properties along Warren Avenue.