Overlooked votes to decide nominee

The top Democratic vote-getters for sheriff were separated by nine votes.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- At least one race in Tuesday's primary was close enough to cause some pause in Lawrence County, especially when elections officials realized Wednesday that 223 ballots had not been included.
Those ballots, from Neshannock Township's 7th precinct, are in the possession of county officials, but the votes won't be tabulated until next week.
When they are counted, candidates, as well as members of the public, will be permitted to watch, said Marlene Gabriel, county elections director.
She said the date and time the votes are to be tabulated will be announced later this week, but they are hoping the count will take place Monday.
Members of the county elections board, who convened for a special meeting Wednesday morning, said the ballots were overlooked during Tuesday's primary possibly because the individuals handling them had neglected to include them in the count.
Narrow margin
Meanwhile, for a close competition like the county sheriff's race, the difference could result in a new Democratic nominee for that seat.
According to preliminary results in the Democratic primary, Charles H. Adamo lost narrowly to Perry Quahliero by nine votes, with two other candidates in the race.
Additionally, Gabriel said, results of next week's count also could affect school board nominees in Neshannock.
Quahliero or Adamo will face Republican Thomas Wharry in November.
Seven candidates entered the ring in an effort to replace county Sheriff Robert L. Clark, who opted to not seek re-election.
The 33-year-old Wharry claimed the top spot on the Republican ballot, besting two other candidates.
Magisterial race
In the southern part of the county, Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught and attorney Jerry Cartwright Jr. will each be attempting to sway voters to their side in November.
With just 182 total votes separating them Tuesday, the two men will try to win a magisterial district judge seat vacated by the retirement of Samuel A. Battaglia.
Fosnaught and Cartwright were on both the Republican and Democratic ballots.
With 602 votes from his own party, Fosnaught, 58, was nominated by the Republicans. He garnered 698 votes from the Democrats for a total of 1,300 votes.
Cartwright, 51, won the Democratic nod by getting 1,018 Democratic votes, with 464 Republicans choosing him for a total of 1,482 votes.
The magisterial district includes Ellport, Ellwood City, Enon Valley, New Beaver and Wampum boroughs and Little Beaver, Perry and Wayne townships.