The 2025 municipal primary election will bring significant turnover in the Central Bucks and Pennridge school boards, with nearly all incumbents opting out of re-election. According to the Bucks County Board of Elections’ unofficial candidate list, none of the board members with expiring terms in either district filed nomination petitions by the March 11 deadline—except one.
In Central Bucks, Daniel Kimicata is the only incumbent seeking re-election. Appointed in 2021, Kimicata is running in Region 3 alongside Elizabeth “Betty” Santoro, Katrina O. Filiatrault, and Roman Szewczuk. All four are cross-filing for both Democratic and Republican ballots. Region 3 voters will also decide on a separate two-year seat between Brenda Bagonis and David Comalli.
This will be the first election under Central Bucks’ new three-region system, which consolidates the previous nine-region structure. Region 1 has no seats on the ballot this year. In Region 2, Amanda O’Connor and Andrew Miller are running for a single four-year term.
In Pennridge, nine candidates are competing for four open seats. Carly Taylor, Dan Bebernitz, Daniel P. Mainieri, Nathaniel Leffever, and Thomas Trauger are cross-filing. Brian McMullen, Jim York, Jonathan Russell, and Michael Bongiovanni are running on the Republican line only. York and Russell both ran in 2023.
Despite discussions about restructuring Pennridge into a regional voting system, this year’s election remains at large. Voters in municipalities including Bedminster, Dublin, East Rockhill, and others will cast ballots district-wide.
While recent years have drawn national focus to these districts due to debates over curriculum policies, pride flags, and transgender participation in sports, this year’s primary is expected to be lower profile. Still, the results will shape school board leadership in two of Pennsylvania’s most scrutinized districts.
The primary election is set for May 20. The deadline to register to vote is May 5. Third-party candidates have until August 1 to submit paperwork for the general election, and write-in votes remain an option in the primary.
