Commissioner results not finalized yet
While the two Democratic candidates are virtually assured seats on the board of Fayette County commissioners next year, the race for the third seat remains tight.
Newcomer Al Ambrosini of Connellsville was the top vote-getter, while Democratic incumbent Vincent Zapotosky finished second.
According to unofficial results, Al Ambrosini obtained the most tallies with 12,066 votes, or 30 percent. Zapotosky, who four years ago was the top vote-getter and the newcomer on the board, received 10,155 votes, or 25 percent.
Republican incumbent Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink was holding on to the third position by 11 votes, with 8,831 tallies. Republican challenger Dave Lohr trailed with 8,820 votes, giving each 22 percent of the vote.
According to the election bureau officials, the vote totals reflect all the absentee votes and the majority of votes cast at the polls on Tuesday. However, an unknown number of provisional ballots will not be tallied until the official vote count, which begins next week.
While at the election bureau, Ambrosini said Wednesday that he was thankful to everyone who came out and did their civic duty, adding that he appreciates the overwhelming response.
He said the fact that he had nearly 2,000 votes more than the nearest candidate told him that people want positive change.
“I intend to bring a higher level of professionalism, capability and cooperation,” Ambrosini said. “I also want to raise the bar on ethical standards for the office.”
Ambrosini said he will have to wait and see who the third commissioner is, but added that he has the ability to work with anybody.
“Whatever the voter outcome is, I’ll work closely with the other two commissioners,” Ambrosini said. “We have a lot of work to do in Fayette County.”
Ambrosini said because he received the most votes, to him it means that the voters have challenged him to do his best. He said he is going to attend a four-day training class later this month for newly elected officials and plans to participate in the budget process in anticipation of taking office in January.
Zapotosky, currently the chairman of the board of commissioners, offered his congratulations to Ambrosini, whom he said ran a good campaign. He also thanked everyone who voted.
“I am excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. I think Fayette County has challenges but also great opportunities and it will take vision and a willingness to cooperate,” Zapotosky said.
Zapotosky said he is optimistic about the future.
He said he hopes that the election board exercises every aspect to ensure that all the votes are counted accurately and properly to ensure it was “one man, one vote.”
Zimmerlink could not be reached for comment. Lohr, who was at the election bureau late Wednesday afternoon, declined comment.
According to the officials at the election bureau, the official vote count begins at 9 a.m. Monday. Once the vote is completed, which according to director Larry Blosser should take about a week, it will be signed and then candidates will have five days to challenge the results before they are made official.