Write-in election votes tallied
WAYNESBURG – Four candidates won seats on two Greene County school boards as a result of write-in votes cast during the Nov. 5 general election.
The write-in votes were tallied as part of the election canvass, which was completed this week by the county’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration.
Results will remain unofficial until they are certified by the county board of elections, said Tina Kiger, director of the elections office.
Election results are expected to be presented to the board for the first signature this week.
Barring any objections, the results will be certified by the board with the second signature five days later, she said.
For two of the school board seats, one in Central Greene and the other in West Greene, write-in candidates won election over candidates on the ballot.
Two candidates, one in each district, also won seats that were uncontested.
Bridgett Montgomery ran a write-in campaign for the single board seat on the Central Greene board representing Perry, Wayne and Whiteley townships.
She received 298 write-in votes, defeating Mark Leidecker, the candidate on the ballot. Leidecker received 193 votes.
Montgomery also ran a write-in campaign in the primary and lost to Leidecker, who was the only candidate on the ballot, by eight votes on the Republican ballot and 11 votes on the Democratic ballot.
Daniele Frye ran a write-in campaign for the single seat open on the West Greene School Board representing Gray, Richhill and Jackson townships.
She received 145 write-in votes in the Nov. 5 election, defeating Mary Jane Kent, who was the only candidate on the ballot and who received 94 votes.
Kevin Barnhart also won an uncontested seat on the Central Greene board representing Waynesburg Borough through write-in votes. He received 92 votes.
Only one candidate had appeared on the ballot, Andrew Corfont, for the two seats representing the borough.
Barnhart was appointed by the Greene County court to serve on the board to replace Samuel Watson, who resigned in March. He was appointed in May, too late to run in the primary.
Ronald Lynn Wise also won an uncontested seat on the West Greene board representing Aleppo, Freeport, Gilmore and Springhill townships. He received 10 write-in votes. No candidate appeared on the ballot.
A number of others also won election through write-in votes for positions including council, tax collector, auditors and judges and inspectors of election. All write-in candidates will be sent letters asking if they want to accept the positions and must respond by a specific date, Kiger said.
Elections for mayor, council and tax collector were decided by write-in votes in the following municipalities.
In Carmichaels Borough, Mike Dohanich receive 50 write-in votes and Marianne Gideon received 62 write-in votes to defeat the two candidates on the ballot for council. The two candidates on the ballot were Chris Watson, who received 16 votes, and Elizabeth Walker, who received 28 votes.
Dohanich is currently mayor, but his term expires in December.
Two people also received two write-in votes each for tax collector in Carmichaels Borough: John Lorence Jr. and Mary Lewis.
In Clarksville Borough, Sam Benyi was elected mayor with 18 write-in votes; no candidate appeared on the ballot. For the two seats on council, also for which no candidate appeared on the ballot, Rose Davidson received 18 write-in votes and Sherri Forman received 15 write-in votes.
Sarina Gilblom also won as tax collector in Clarksville, receiving 10 write-ins. No candidate appeared on the ballot.
In Greensboro Borough, Travis Barkley won for tax collector with three write-in votes. No candidate appeared on the ballot.
In Jefferson Borough, Charles Barno won a four-year term on council with two write-in votes. Only one candidate appeared on the ballot for the two seats.
Steve Dulik, with one write-in vote, won a two-year term on council. No candidate appeared on the ballot for that position. Merry Dorean also won for tax collector in Jefferson Borough with 11 write-in votes. No candidates were listed on the ballot.