Election officials finish canvass
WAYNESBURG – The canvass of the Nov. 3 general election completed this week by the Greene County elections staff revealed no changes in the outcomes of state or countywide races, but it did help elect officers to positions for which there were no candidates on the ballot.
On the local level, write-in votes, tallied as part of the canvass, did indicate a new winner for the race for Freeport Township supervisor.
It also helped elect people for positions for which there were no ballot candidates, including two school directors in West Greene School District, several seats on borough council and a number of township auditors and constables.
The election results, or certification of the computation, received the first signature from the county’s board of election Friday, said Tina Kiger, elections office director.
Anyone who wishes to challenge the results will have five days, or until the end of the work day Wednesday, to do so, Kiger said. Barring any objections, the election board will meet at some point following that deadline to sign the final certification.
A number of write-in votes were cast during the election. Those who won election as the result of write-ins will be mailed letters next week asking if they want to accept the positions, Kiger said.
According to the results, a write-in candidate for supervisor in Freeport Township, Randy Gaines, received 36 write-in votes, enough to defeat the candidate listed on the ballot, Joshua Chapman, a Republican, who received 23 votes.
Write-in votes also filled the two seats open on the West Greene School Board for the district representing Aleppo, Freeport, Gilmore and Springhill townships. Jan Berdine received 15 write-in votes and Robert Gilbert received 17 write-in votes.
Write-in votes filled one council seat each in Waynesburg, Rices Landing and Clarksville boroughs.
In Waynesburg Ward I, where only one candidate appeared on the ballot for the two open seats, Brian D. Tanner won the second seat with 95 write-in votes.
In Rices Landing, where one council seat was open for a two-year term, Pat Ginsburg was elected with 10 write-in votes.
In Clarksville, where three seats were open and two candidates appeared on the ballot, Harold Davidson won the third seat with six write-in votes.
Constables who were elected by write-in votes included Harry Inghram, Aleppo Township, 67 votes; Loretta Cook, Center Township, 13 votes; Alex Shuppe, Dunkard Township, two votes; Larry Kiger, Freeport Township, six votes; Kim Walker, Gray Township, two votes; Richard Clark, Greene Township, 10 votes; Floyd Phillips, Jackson Township, four votes;
Donald Sellers, Jefferson Township, three votes; Rocky King, Monongahela Township, 16 votes; Bob Van Scio, Morris Township, three votes; Harry Collins, Richhill Township, 14 votes; Raymond Riggs, Springhill Township, six votes; and Richard Owens, Waynesburg Ward I, three votes.
Auditors who were elected by write-in votes included Leslie Dulaney, Aleppo Township, 6-year term, three votes; Roger Brown, Carmichaels Borough, 4-year term, one vote; Susan Samek, Carmichaels Borough, 2-year term, one vote; Andrew Wise, Gray Township, 6-year term, nine votes; Wise, 4-year term, three votes;
Melanie Helmick, Greene Township, 6-year term, 43 votes; Carol Peters, Jackson Township, 6-year term, 25 votes; Charles Day, Richhill Township, 6-year term, 37 votes; Amanda Debolt, Springhill Township, 6-year term, 16 votes; Tami Herrod, Washington Township, 6-year term, 60 votes; Herrod, 2-year term, five votes.
For several openings for auditor, tax collector and constable, there were ties in which each candidate receiving one vote. These will be decided after candidates indicate whether they wish to accept the positions. After that, if necessary, the tie will be decided by the casting of lots.