Many ‘potentially’ nominated in May primary
Asked about the number of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in the general election based on write-in votes, Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr stressed two words in his answer.
“Potentially nominated,” Spahr said Thursday.
In a municipal primary, someone must accumulate write-in votes equal or greater than the number of signatures required on a nominating petition.
The elections office will contact those who cleared the hurdle to see if they accept the nomination for which they were deemed eligible based on the number of write-in votes tallied by the canvass board.
Those who accept will have their names included on the November ballot.
A few contests stood out in the large, handwritten books compiled by the canvass board.
Tom Jennings, a Republican running for a six-year term for Independence Township supervisor, won not only his own party’s nomination but, with write-in votes, defeated four Democrats who filed as candidates on their party’s ballot.
And in New Eagle Borough’s Republican ballot, Saundra Bobnar garnered 17 write-in votes for a four-year council nomination where two were to be nominated.
Owen Pucel and James Ferguson tied at 15 votes, so they’ll have the opportunity to draw lots to determine who wins the second spot as a GOP nominee.
Both men’s names appeared on the Democratic ballot and both received Democratic nominations, so it could boil down to a question of who will be listed as a Democrat and who will be listed as Democrat-Republican in November, Spahr said.
Here is a list of those who appear to have won nominations:
Council, 4 years, vote for 2, Brittany Jansante, Wayne Hite, Democrats
Supervisor, 6 years, Randy Sochor, Democrat and Republican
Supervisor, 6 years, Donald Lachman
Council, 4 years, vote for 2, Ken McKinney, Democrat, Deborah Slovick, Democrat and Republican; Republican, Robert Amic
Council, 2 years, at-large, George Coleman, Republican; Council, 3rd Ward, 4 years, Mary Lou Caton, Republican
Supervisor, 6 years, Lee Nickovich, Republican
Mayor, 2 years, Paul Keruskin, Democrat; Council, vote for 4; council, Earl Gilpin, Democrat, Dave Gilpin, Democrat and Republican, Joe Clark, Democrat and Republican
Mayor, 2 years, Don Pavelko, Republican
Supervisor, 6 year, Daniel Restivo, Republican
Supervisor, 6 years, Mary Rush, Democrat
Council, 4 years, vote for 3, Ron Hancher, Democrat and Republican, Walter Nesic, Democrat and Republican
Mayor, 2 years, Nick Temas, Democrat; Council, 4 years, Dwayne Kent, Democrat
Mayor, 4 years, Bob Kepics, Republican
Supervisor, 2 years, Brian Temple, Democrat
Supervisor, 6 years, vote for 2, Neil Kelly, Bob Ross, Democrats
Supervisor, 6 years, Douglas King, Republican
Council at-large, vote for 2, Frank Kosir Jr., Democrat
Supervisor, 6 years, vote for 2, Russell Greco, Bob Weber, Democrat and Republican
Council, 4 years, Brandon Baker, Republican
Supervisor, 6 years, Bob Mercante, Democrat and Republican
Supervisor, 6 years, Phil Podroskey, Republican
Council, four year, vote for 3, Von Braddick, Democrat
Avella, Region 3 (Independence Township) 4 years, vote for 2, Karen Birdsall, Democrat
Bentworth, 4 years, vote for 5, John Marchezak, Michael Manning, Democrats
Burgettstown, 4 years, Region 4 (Smith Township 1, 3, 5 & 6) James Bebo, Democrat
California, 4 years, Region 1 (California 1, 2, 4) Joseph Augustine, Republican; Region 2 (California 3, West Brownsville 2 and West Pike Run Township) Maria Hurley Ziolecki, Democrat and Republican; Region 3 (Allenport, Coal Center, Elco, Long Branch, Rosecoe) Adam Wilkinson, Democrat and Republican
Charleroi, 2 years, Thomas Nutting, Democrat and Republican
McGuffey, 4 years, Region 1 (Blaine, Claysville, Donegal) Dan Kovalan, Frank Archambault, Democrat and Republican; Region 2 (Buffalo, Green Hills, East and West Finley) Jeffrey Scott Finch II, Democrat and Republican
Trinity, Region 1 (Amwell, North Franklin) 2 years, Sean Dobich, Democrat and Republican