May 17, 2007 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – There is one clear winner in the primary election for Brownsville Borough Council: Robert Hess, who ran unopposed for the Republican Party nomination. He is guaranteed a spot on the November ballot when four council members will be elected to office. When it comes to the Democratic Party nominations, however, little is clear at this point, except that many of the races are extremely close.

According to the unofficial results posted by the Fayette County Election Bureau, James Lawver placed first with 263 votes.

However, that does not include the absentee ballots, even though they are listed on the results sheet in each ward. That unofficial tally still has Lawver in first place, but with 297 votes.

This is the first time Lawver has sought public office, though his brother, Jack Lawver, is currently council president, and his mother, Elizabeth Lawver, is the borough manager.

Second place, according to the election bureau, belongs to incumbent John Hosler, with 226 votes. The ward tally sheets also have Hosler in second place with 256 votes including the absentees.

The last two slots for Democratic Party nominees are awaiting the official results. According to the unofficial election results posted on the Internet, incumbent Robert Pritts placed third with 191 votes, followed by political newcomer Teresa Holt with 194 and incumbent Charles “Russ” McMaster with 179.

News of a victory was a surprise to Pritts.

“I’ve been working and running around with my sons, so I didn’t get to go around to the polls (Tuesday) night. I was told I had lost. I was OK with that if that’s what the people really want,” Pritts said.

Thinking he had won the nomination based on the Internet posting, Pritts said he was grateful for the support he had been shown.

“It feels pretty good to get the opportunity for four more years and see some things through to the end,” Pritts said.

The unofficial ward tally sheet results that include the absentee ballots put Pritts in the fifth position, however, knocking him off the November ballot. Those results show Holt in third place with 216 votes, McMaster in fourth with 208 votes and Pritts last with 202 votes. If either of the two current tallies holds, Holt will appear on the November ballot.

“I was pleased to get the amount of votes that I did,” Holt said. “It’s not over yet. I understand there are a number of Independents planning to run.”

Holt said she was surprised by the way this year’s primary election went.

“It was a very low turnout. Some of the elderly people who did show up complained about the new voting machines,” Holt said.

Holt said she and her fianc?, Lew Hosler Jr., worked hard to get voters out to the polls.

“In the last hour and a half, we made at least 25 phone calls and got 18 people to go out and vote,” Holt said.

Holt said that without those last-minute voters, she might not have made it onto the November ballot.

McMaster could not be reached for comment.