Municipal races
East Bethlehem Twp. According to unofficial election results released by Washington County, Paul Battaglni won the Democratic nomination as at-large township commissioner for East Bethlehem Township. He beat his opponent, Democrat Gasper Impiccini, 309 to 255 votes.
Also running for township commissioner for District 1 of East Bethlehem Township were Democrat Mark Giovanelli with 89 votes, and Democrat Frank Hagyari Jr. with 67 votes.
In District 3, Democrat Emil Faieta received 71 votes, topping Democrat Mark Husak, who had 54 votes, and Republican Michael Bogol Jr., who had 10.
In District 4, Democrat Mike Packrall received 106 votes.
West Brownsville
Unofficial results also showed that out of four candidates running for a four-year seat on West Brownsville Council, incumbent Gary Bennett received the most votes, with a total of 170. Following close behind was incumbent John Petro who had 166 votes.
Running for council for the first time was Democrat Patricia Kallis, who received a total of 121 votes, followed by incumbent George Lacey with 118.
Petro also ran for the two-year term on council and received 88 votes.
West Pike Run Twp.
Four Democratic candidates ran for one open 6-year seat as West Pike Run supervisor, and unofficial results showed George Shemansky had a commanding lead over the rest with a total of 177 votes. In second place was Richard Allen Molish with 75, followed by Nicholas Krilosky with 53 votes, and Walter Sepic trailed with 41.
Brownsville
There were seven candidates seeking the four open seats on Brownsville Borough Council, with two of the incumbents not seeking re-election.
The two currently seated councilmen, incumbent John Hosler and appointee Russ McMaster, were the two top vote getters according to the unofficial results posted by the Fayette County Election Bureau. Hosler received 333 votes, while McMaster garnered 294 votes on the Democratic ticket. No Republicans sought the office.
Former mayor, Sam Nicola, also apparently won a seat on the November ballot with 279 votes and Tuck Rohrer slipped into the fourth open slot with 270 votes, edging out Tony DiCenzo by only one vote. DiCenzo received 269 votes, according to the election bureau.
Former Councilman Barry Cook placed sixth with 260 votes and Robert Pritts received 210 votes.
California
John Mariscotti, the only incumbent competing for a seat on California Borough Council, was the top vote getter in the primary election Tuesday.
Mariscotti received 416 votes.
Four candidates, all on the Democratic ticket, competed for three seats on council.
Jim Maddiex, who has run for office a number of times, came in second with 333 votes. Vito Scaccia came in third with 324. Michael Mislo received 261.
Luzerne Twp.
It appears Gregg Downer could be the new Luzerne Township supervisor as he was the top vote getter in the primary election Tuesday.
Downer, a former business owner, received 450 votes, according to the latest unofficial count.
There were five candidates on the Democratic ticket competing to replace Supervisor William Baker, who is retiring after 36 years in office.
David “Bud” Miller, a long-time township employee came in second with 344 votes.
Joe Monovich received 243 votes, Jerry “Pap” Malinky received 175 and Warren Smith, 57.
Saltlick Twp.
Township residents narrowly voted down a referendum Tuesday that would have allowed Seven Springs Mountain Resort to sell alcoholic beverages on their property.
This was the second time in two years (the measure was defeated last year by 55 votes) that Saltlick Township residents have turned down the referendum question, which resort officials in a massive public relations campaign prior to Tuesday primary said would help their business by adding to the township’s tax base and creating jobs for local residents.
The final unofficial vote shows that 368 residents were against the measure while 319 residents liked the idea. Residents of neighboring Middlecreek passed the referendum by 14 (168-154) votes
Prior to Tuesday’s primary Seven Springs President COO and Chairman of the Board Scott Bender said the resort is looking to the future with great optimism.
“Despite the current downturn in the market and the economy, Seven Springs has significant demand for ski-in/ski-out town homes and condominiums,” said Bender. “To meet the demand, we must begin planning for new food and beverage operations.
“Our existing resort dining and banquet facilities are quite often filled to capacity as we struggle to accommodate our current lodging guests and homeowners. Additional restaurant facilities are necessary to accommodate the real estate demand and growth, which will in turn provide new jobs and increase tax revenues to local communities and school districts.”
A second referendum question concerning the fire company’s right to get a license to conduct small games of chance passed 482-188.
Even though Senate Bill No. 246, also known as The Games of Chance Act was passed more than 15 years ago the Saltlick Township Volunteer Fire Department has never had the referendum question placed on a primary election ballot for residents to vote on until now.
The Games of Chance Act allows clubs or non-profit organizations to manufacture or distribute games of chance, but each municipality must allow electors to vote on the subject.
Upper Tyrone Twp.
The unofficial primary election results showed that former Democratic Supervisor Chuck Cook will face Robert Buck Harrold in the November general election.
Cook received 120 Democratic votes for the open six-year supervisor’s position while Democratic challenger Diane M. Lewandowski tallied 100 votes. Harrold, who ran unopposed on the Republican ballot, chalked up 64 votes.
Cook said although he only won by 20 votes he isn’t discouraged.
“I ran a good, clean campaign and I have to say that Diane ran a good campaign too,” said Cook. “She actually sent out a mailing and stood in the rain and shook hands.”
Supervisor Walter (Muff) Marchewka decided not to seek re-election.
Dunbar Twp.
Supervisor Ron Keller was the clear Democratic winner in Tuesday’s primary with 643 unofficial votes. Democratic challenger John Tabaj earned 506 votes, Don Fetsco drew 97 votes and Jerry Tomko gained 52 votes.
Keller, a 10-year supervisor, will face Republican challenger Joe Ross in the fall general election. Ross, who ran unopposed, pulled in 141 votes.
Keller said Tabaj really gave him a run for his money.
“He really put up a good fight,” said Keller. “He must have worked pretty hard at it.”
Bullskin Twp.
Unofficial primary election results show that three time Democratic challenger Walter Deb Wiltrout beat township 12-year Supervisor Charles Robert Butler Tuesday. According to the Fayette County Election Bureau, Wiltrout landed 593 votes while Butler had 478 votes. Democrat Jerry Snyder came in third with 97 votes.
Wiltrout faces no opposition in the November general election since there were no Republican challengers.
Wiltrout, the father of 10 children said, “This is fantastic. I think I covered between 95 and 98 percent of the township by knocking on doors. I knocked on doors until I though I couldn’t do it anymore but it sure was worth it.”
Wiltrout said his message to township residents was simple.
“Change, that’s what I offered them and I think township residents are ready for it,” said Wiltrout. “Everyone I talked to said that they thought change would be a good thing. I wanted to make sure that people could put a face with a name. I’ve run before but I guess people just were not ready to make a change then.
Dunbar
Democratic Councilwoman Kathy Anderson Dynes was the high vote getter Tuesday with 108 unofficial votes. Council President John R. Maddas pulled in 94 votes, former council President John C. Williams secured 77 votes, former Councilman Joseph Trenker procured 63 votes, Councilman Benny Beal landed 56 votes and former Councilman James E. Martin drew 48 votes.
Republican newcomer Harold Hair Jr., who ran unopposed, obtained 47 votes.
Dynes, Maddas, Williams and Hair will face off in the fall.
South Connellsville
Two newcomers and a former borough council member secured the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s general election for three four-year seats while two incumbents and one newcomer captured the GOP nomination.
According to unofficial results, newcomer Robert Ward was the top vote-getter on the Democratic ticket with 195 votes followed by former Councilwoman Lonnie Casini with 150 votes and newcomer Jim Swink with 144 votes.
Incumbents Don Clark and Shelley Mattis led on the Republican ballot along with newcomer Jess Earl Schroyer. Unofficial results indicated that Clark received 91 votes, Schroyer, 82 votes and Mattis, 72 votes.
Incumbent Fred Bates and former Councilman Dave Mattis were defeated on the Democratic ticket.