Font ResizeShe became York County's first black elected county official.
Nineteen years earlier, she had become the first black person to even work in a county office when she became a clerk in the prothonotary's office.
The primary election positioned several black candidates to score firsts:
Democrat Kim Bracey and Republican Wendell K. Banks, both black candidates, will square off for mayor of York city.
So, York probably will elect its first black mayor.
Two black candidates -- Chuck Patterson and Sandra Thompson -- are among four candidates who are leading their tickets for two judicial seats.
Patterson and Thompson will be on the ballot along with Harry Ness and Kathleen Prendergast.
The Republicans still hold a large voter registration lead, so that gives the advantage to GOP primary winners Patterson and Ness.
So there's a good chance that York County will elect its first black judge Tuesday.
Mattie Chapman, now deceased, paved the way for these successes. The Democrat gained strong support from Republicans as well.
Simply put, she stood out when women and minorities were just starting to gain traction for positions of leadership in York County.
"They (attorneys) knew how well she ran the office," the late attorney Nevin Stetler said. "She hired all good people, and they did their job."
The general election on Tuesday might not offer high-profile
Too bad.
Members of the national media are reporting on a county -- sitting on the Mason-Dixon Line and thus prone to racial ambivalence since its inception -- that is now primed to elect two qualified black people to two key positions.
We simply must take note of this moment.
For this is an election for York countians to participate in a history-making event. When they press their choices on the voting machine, they'll be touching history.
It will be a big day.
An important day.
A grand day.
A day of firsts.
Such as that November election when Mattie Chapman first won the day.
Endorsements: Recapping the York Daily Record/Sunday News election endorsements:
York mayor: The editorial board encourages voters in York city to choose Kim Bracey for mayor.
Not only would her election be historic -- the city's first black mayor -- she has a wealth of knowledge about city operations and good ideas to lead York into the future.
York County Common Pleas Court Judge: Republican Chuck Patterson is the strongest choice of the four on the ballot as a longtime prosecutor and teacher of the law at York College and Penn State York. He would also be the first black man on the court.
Voters can choose two candidates: Republican Harry Ness and Democrat Kathleen Prendergast are both good candidates whose records have some flaws. Mr. Ness has a very slight advantage over Ms. Prendergast. Democratic nominee Sandra Thompson is not yet ready for the bench.
York's mayors
Daniel K. Noell, 1887-1893.
George W.S. Loucks, 1893-1896
Charles W. Brandt, 1896-1899
Frank Geise, 1899-1900
Robert Gibson, 1900-1902
Milton Gibson, 1902-1905
J. St. Clair McCall, 1905-1908
Jacob E. Weaver, 1908-1911
John R. Lafean, 1911-1916
E.S. Hugentugler, 1916-1928
Jacob E. Weaver, 1928-1932
Harry B. Anstine, 1932-1942
Harvey Werner, 1942-1944
John L. Snyder, 1944-1948
Felix Bentzel, 1948-1952
Howard Eyster, 1952-1956
Fred A. Schiding, 1956-1962
John L. Snyder, 1962-1969
Jesse M. Gross, 1969-1970
Eli Eichelberger, 1970-1974
John D. Krout, 1974-1978
Elizabeth M. Marshall, 1978-1982
William J. Althaus, 1982-1994
Charlie Robertson, 1994-2002
John Brenner, 2002 - present
Sources: York Daily Record files,
Yorktownsquare.com
