Ernst beats Safford for Liberty super / By Martha Knight

Fred Ernst III -- Martha Knight Photo

LIBERTY VILLA—Fred Ernst III, a former supervisor, will return to office, having defeated incumbent Charles Safford, according to preliminary results of Tuesday’s balloting.

Ernst, a Republican, received 106 votes to Democrat Safford’s 84.

Safford was elected six years ago.

Ernst will join Gary Turner and Bruce Klein, both Republicans, on the three-member board of supervisors, at the reorganization meeting on January 6, 2014.

Formerly, both while supervisor and since leaving office, Ernst was a labor crew member, until several months ago. Currently Turner is chairman of the supervisors, and the township does not have a roadmaster position.

Sandra Kinney won another term as tax collector, with 176 votes. She is a Republican.