Winners chosen among county write-in candidates
Drawing numbered beads from a bottle, Fayette County Elections Bureau representatives determined the winners of several municipal races and judge or inspector of elections races on Wednesday.
Elections bureau director Larry Blosser said write-in candidates in 22 races — some of them having received only one vote — were tied following the general election in November, leading to the runoff vote.
In municipal races, Connellsville Township had two open auditor seats, one for a six-year term and the other a four-year term. Elizabeth Merchant took the six-year term over Daralynn Gilpin and Janie Fabian. Merchant also won the four-year term, beating Thomas Riedman.
Blosser said Merchant will be given the option of which position she would prefer, and the elections bureau will appoint someone to fill the vacant position.
Chosen for a six-year term as Brownsville Borough auditor was Lewis Hosler, who bested Stella Broadwater.
There was a tie between Glenn Hemingway and Thomas Swingle for a two-year term on Dawson Borough Council, and Hemingway won.
Michael Grantz will be mayor of Markleysburg for a four-year term, having topped Douglas Friend.
Dewey Hughes broke the tie for Springhill Township auditor, a six-year term. Dawn Staub was the other candidate.
Brian Rickert, unopposed, won a four-year seat on Ohiopyle Borough Council.
Dolores Love, also unopposed, won the four-year term of Stewart Township auditor.
According to Blosser, judge of elections and inspector of elections are both four-year terms. The judge is paid $85 for the day, plus small additional amounts based on the number of votes cast in the district, and mileage. The inspector is paid $75. Both officials perform their day-long duties twice per year.
In Brownsville Township, John Michaels bested Paul Siciliano for judge of elections. For the inspector of election position, Siciliano was also written in, but the winner of that tie was Jacqueline Zupic.
Inspector of elections for Fayette City Borough will be James Gardner. The other candidates were Betty Ford, Patricia Hough and Kathryn Mirabella.
Judge of elections of Franklin Township 1 will be Roger Applebee, who beat Barbara Shahan.
Inspector of elections for Georges Township 3 will be Timothy Kelly, who had been tied with Pamela Wable.
Cheryl Terravecchia will serve as inspector of elections for Luzerne Township 2, having bested Mark McCune and Robert Mehalik.
Christopher Teagarden beat Nick Mihalko for inspector of elections in Luzerne Township 5.
Wendy Lawver bested John Chatlak for judge of elections in Masontown 1.
Inspector of elections in Point Marion Borough went to Arthur Strimel, who had been tied with Janet Smith.
Springhill Township 2 judge of elections will be Dewey Hughes, who beat Ricky Staub.
William Horne won the Uniontown 1 inspector of elections seat, over Daniel Campbell.
Terry Dawson broke a four-way tie for Uniontown 5 inspector of elections, topping Hilary Griffith, Eileen McCay and Charles Rossi.
Five write-ins were tied for Washington 1 inspector of elections. John Nusser won the seat, beating Pauline Baker, Donald Gray, Mary Habel and Alvin Shipley.
In Wharton 1, Kenneth Greene took inspector of elections, besting Rosemary Hassick, Michael Hritz and Jon Pidich.
Election bureau clerk Cheryl Karol said she is always looking for people willing to work the polls on election days. She pointed out that in order to run for judge or inspector of elections on the regular ballot, a person must reside in that voting district. However, any registered voter interested in being appointed to those positions can work in any district, regardless of residency.
Karol said interested parties should contact the elections bureau to express interest in an appointment.