Hodge wins common-pleas seat after neck-and-neck vote count

Perry Quahliero was the apparent winner in the sheriff's race.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Throughout election night the outcome of the race for Lawrence County Common Pleas Court judge was too close to call.
But shortly after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday it was apparent that attorney John Hodge would come out on top for the fourth judgeship in Lawrence County.
"I'm just relieved," Hodge said after the unofficial totals were announced.
Hodge said he was unhappy with his opponent, District Attorney Matt Mangino, for making the legal woes of county Treasurer Gary Felasco an issue in the race.
"It was a bogus issue," Hodge said.
During the final days of the campaign, Mangino sent mailings and ran radio advertisements accusing Hodge, who is the county solicitor, of doing nothing about Felasco, who is accused of taking more than $40,000 from his office. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has charged Felasco with theft and embezzlement.
Filed suit
Mangino filed a lawsuit in civil court last August seeking to have Felasco removed from office, contending Felasco has abandoned his post.
Hodge had said throughout the election that as county solicitor he had no power to do anything about Felasco's position and that it was a matter for the district attorney's office.
Mangino refused to comment on his campaign tactics, which included an illustration of a woman pulling out her hair in frustration over Felasco.
"I'm just really pleased with the people who were dedicated to my campaign," Mangino said when asked if the Felasco advertisements helped or hurt his campaign for judge.
Hodge said he will spend the next month closing out his private law practice before being sworn in as judge. He ended up with 50.54 percent of the vote over Mangino's 49.46 percent.
Mangino, who is ending his third term as district attorney, said he has no immediate career plans.
"I plan to spend time with my 5-year-old twins and my wife," he said.
Other results
Mangino's replacement as district attorney won by a slim 80 votes. John Bongivengo garnered 50.16 percent of the vote as opposed to his Republican opponent George Freed, who got 49.84 percent.
Bongivengo said he felt the campaign for district attorney was well run by both sides, with no mudslinging.
"I respect George in that he ran a clean campaign," Bongivengo said.
Freed could not be reached to comment.
"We knew this was going to be nail-biter," Bongivengo said. "I just want to restore the faith of Lawrence County residents to elected officials. I think they certainly placed their faith in me."
In the race for Lawrence County sheriff, Democrat Perry Quahliero pulled ahead early, garnering 61 percent of the overall vote.
His opponent, Republican Tom Wharry, received 38 percent of the unofficial vote.
Quahliero, who is a currently a deputy sheriff, said he will be an active sheriff working alongside his deputies. He said he hopes to expand the department's duties and have deputies working on the county drug task force.
"I'm just happy the voters supported me," Quahliero said.
cioffi@vindy.com