EASTON, Pa. — Tara Zrinski, with a decisive lead in unofficial results, declared victory late Tuesday in the Democratic primary for Northampton County Executive.
With ballots counted from all but one of Northampton County's 157 polling precincts, unofficial results show Zrinski with 56.8% of the vote to Amy Cozze's 43%.
In a news release sent just before 11 p.m., Cozze wrote that she had congratulated Zrinski on her victory and urged her supporters to back Zrinski in November.
“I could not be more proud of the volunteer base that we have assembled and all the people who have stuck by me to bring this victory home. I am ready to move forward in a campaign toward the general and face Tom Giovanni."Northampton County Executive candidate Tara Zrinski
“I could not be more proud of the volunteer base that we have assembled and all the people who have stuck by me to bring this victory home,” Zrinski said.
"I am ready to move forward in a campaign toward the general and face Tom Giovanni."
Zrinski, a Bethlehem resident, will face Republican nominee Tom Giovanni, who went unopposed in the GOP primary, in the general election.
Currently Northampton County Controller and formerly a member of the county council, Zrinski ran with the backing of outgoing executive Lamont McClure.
Cozze, who also lives in Bethlehem, previously worked as the county’s top elections administrator, and most recently worked in the office of former senator Bob Casey.
A campaign committee backing Zrinski spent about $54,000 on the race to Cozze’s $48,000 as of May 9. Zrinski’s campaign received more than $35,000 of in-kind donations while Cozze’s received about $15,000 in donated services.
Both campaigns received significant contributions well into the last two weeks of the race, suggesting neither camp saw victory as assured.
County Council
In the race for five open seats on Northampton County Council, both the Republican and Democratic parties put forward slates of five candidates.
All 10 will go on to the general election.
The GOP council nominees will include incumbent commissioners John Goffredo and John Brown.
Prospective newcomers Juan Martinez, Sam Elias and Daniel Campo will join them on the November ballot.
On the Democratic side, only one incumbent — Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner — ran for a second term.
Filling out the ticket are Nadeem Qayyum, Theresa Fadem, David Holland, and Jason Boulette.
With more than half of the body’s nine seats up for grabs, November’s election could reshape the county council for years to come.
