2009 Erie County Executive election

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2009 Erie County Executive election
Flag of Erie County, Pennsylvania.png
 2005November 3, 2009 2013  
  3x4.svg 3x4.svg
NomineeBarry GrossmanMike Kerner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote26,21125,868
Percentage50.33%49.67%

County Executive before election

Mark A. DiVecchio
Democratic

Elected County Executive

Barry Grossman
Democratic

The 2009 Erie County Executive election was held on November 3, 2009. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Mark A. DiVecchio ran for re-election to a second term. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by restaurant owner Barry Grossman. In the general election, Grossman faced Mike Kerner, a manufacturing executive and the Republican nominee. Grossman narrowly defeated Kerner, winning by a 343-vote margin. The closeness of the race, coupled with the discovery of several uncounted voting machines two days after the election, meant that the race was not immediately called, and Kerner initially declined to concede. [1]

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

During the campaign, both Grossman and Andrezeski attacked DiVecchio for his conduct as County Executive. Grossman criticized him for moving too slowly in establishing a local community college. [2] Andrezeski recorded several videos, posted to YouTube, in which he accused DiVecchio of being "corrupt," "incompetent," and "in over his head," and suggested that he had spread rumors about the personal life of County Controller Sue Weber after she accused him of misusing county resources. DiVecchio condemned the videos as "absolutely, positively disgusting," and saying that Andrezeski "should be ashamed of himself." [3]

Results

Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Barry Grossman 12,323 47.66%
Democratic Mark A. DiVecchio (inc.)10,08739.01%
Democratic Anthony Andrezeski3,44713.33%
Total votes25,857 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Kerner 8,280 59.22%
Republican Gil Rocco5,70140.78%
Total votes13,981 100.00%

General election

Results

2009 Erie County Executive election [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Barry Grossman 26,211 50.33%
Republican Mike Kerner25,86849.67%
Total votes52,079 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. Flowers, Kevin (November 4, 2009). "UPDATE: Seven voting machines in Erie County uncounted". Erie Times-News . Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guerriero, John (May 17, 2009). "Erie County candidates vie for nominations in Tuesday's Municipal Primary". Erie Times-News . Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  3. Flowers, Kevin (May 14, 2009). "Andrezeski video hits DiVecchio". Erie Times-News . Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "ERIE COUNTY, PA - MUNICIPAL PRIMARY" (PDF). Erie County Department of Elections and Voter Registration. May 26, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  5. "OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2009" (PDF). Erie County Department of Elections and Voter Registration. November 19, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2025.