Luther wins GOP primary by 12 votes

This was the closest state legislative race in last month's primary.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
ALLIANCE -- The recount is over, and Brant Luther eked out a 12-vote victory in the 61st Ohio House District Republican primary.
"I am grateful the process is complete," said Luther, of Alliance, a former Stark County auditor and Alliance councilman. "I understand the process has to work itself out, but I would not recommend four weeks of election nights to anyone."
Luther led Randy Pope, a former Alliance city councilman, by 14 votes after ballots were counted during the May 2 primary. When provisional ballots were counted in the three weeks that followed the primary, Luther's lead shrank to 13 votes.
Because Luther's margin of victory was so close, it was subject to an automatic recount.
The boards of elections in Mahoning, Stark and Tuscarawas counties conducted recounts on the race Tuesday, with Carroll County's recount done Thursday. The 61st includes portions of the first three counties and all of Carroll.
Mahoning areas
In Mahoning County, the district covers Beaver, Smith, Springfield, Goshen and Green townships and Sebring and Beloit.
The recount added one absentee vote for Pope in Stark County.
The final tally is 4,016 for Luther and 4,004 for Pope -- the closest state legislative race in last month's primary.
Luther now turns his attention toward Mark K. Okey of Carrollton, his Democratic opponent in the November general election.
The seat is being vacated at the end of the year by three-term state Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat running for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat.
skolnick@vindy.com