Politically, the story line in Tuesday's primary, as with most primaries here, is whether the local Republican Party can produce victories for the candidates it spent weeks evaluating and endorsing.

Keep an eye on these three hot contests, in which some critics in the GOP have suggested that the endorsed candidates aren't necessarily the most qualified.

Manheim Township commissioner

The race for commissioner in the county's most populous suburb includes a two-term incumbent who skipped the party's endorsement process because she felt she wouldn't get a fair shake and is now running alongside a former school board member.

Commissioner Carol S. Simpson and Samuel R. Dodson have said they are running because "they recognize the township's bright future and as leaders they do not want that future dimmed by unqualified leadership" — a clear shot at the GOP's endorsed duo.

The local party backed David R. Heck, chief financial officer for YC Co., a York metal fabrication company, and Albert B. Kling, retired vice president for land surveying at Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, in a race that has been largely about government spending.

The winners of the Republican primary there will face Democrats Doreen Kreiner and Janet E. Spleen in the fall.

Warwick district judge

Across the county 13 district judge seats are up for grabs, the most since 2005, and an unprecedented 29 candidates are running for them. Without question, the hottest of those contests has been the three-way Republican contest in the Warwick area.

Running for the seat are Randall O. Wenger, who is endorsed by the local Republican committee; Ed Tobin, a veteran police officer and until recently Warwick Township's acting police chief; and Gregory Gennace, an attorney.

County sheriff

In the only countywide contest, two Republicans are seeking the nomination for sheriff. They are Mark S. Reese, who has worked in the office for 14 years and serves as the acting sheriff, and Louie Rodriguez, a state narcotics agent.

Reese is endorsed by the Republican Committee of Lancaster County. Rodriguez chose not to go through the endorsement process and has mounted a credible campaign for sheriff.

The winner is expected to face Democrat Dave I. Kaiser in November.

What else to watch for

Voters will elect a new judge for the Court of Common Pleas in November. There is only one candidate's name on the ballot today — that of Republican Leonard G. Brown III.

But the county Democratic Party is running a write-in campaign for Lancaster attorney Sam Mecum. Because Brown has cross-filed, Mecum will not only have to get at least 250 write-in votes but also beat Brown in the Democratic Party primary to win a spot on the fall ballot.

tmurse@lnpnews.com