LAWRENCE COUNTY Hundreds of overlooked ballots narrow top nominee's lead to six

Results of the sheriff's race remain unofficial after a recount.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Unofficially, it looks as if Perry Quahliero can hold onto the Democratic nomination for Lawrence County sheriff.
On Monday, Quahliero learned he could keep his victory after the county elections board recounted some 700 ballots from Neshannock Township's 7th precinct.
Last week, Quahliero led the race by nine votes; the latest tally has him winning by six votes.
According Monday's preliminary results, he ended up with a total of 3,536 votes, while his Democratic opponent, Charles H. Adamo, claimed 3,530 votes.
Recount
The court-ordered recount included several hundred ballots that had been overlooked in last Tuesday's primary. More than 200 of those ballots belonged to Democrats.
The counts are unofficial until the county's return board completes its canvass of votes.
If Quahliero is declared the winner, he will face Republican nominee Thomas Wharry in November's general election.
A Lawrence County Common Pleas judge ordered the recount after it was discovered that the Neshannock ballots had not been included in last Tuesday's final count.
Once the mistake was discovered, the election box containing the uncounted ballots was locked and secured until the recount.
Marlene Gabriel, county elections director, said the recount did not change the results any of the races in question including the Neshannock Township school board and Neshannock Township supervisors' races.