2 counties' ballots put Luther in lead in primary

Provisional votes in the other two counties were to be counted today.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
With provisional ballots counted in two of the four-county 61st Ohio House District Republican primary, Brant Luther has widened his lead over Randy Pope to 14 votes.
This is the closest state legislative race on the May 2 primary in Ohio.
Before provisional ballots were counted in Tuscarawas and Carroll counties, Luther, of Alliance, a former Stark County auditor and Alliance councilman, had a 10-vote advantage over Pope, of Alliance, a former city councilman who unsuccessfully ran for this post in 2002 and 2004.
There were four provisional votes for this race in Tuscarawas with Pope getting three of them compared to one for Luther. In Carroll County, there were 16 provisional votes for this race, with Luther getting 11 and Pope getting five.
From Mahoning County
There are 10 provisional votes to be counted in Mahoning -- the district takes in the county's southern portion -- and 31 in Stark for this race. They were to be opened today.
"I feel a lot better adding the four votes," Luther said.
People vote on a provisional basis if they've recently moved before the primary. County election boards then determine their eligibility as voters, and count the votes of those who are eligible.
Pope won Mahoning, Carroll and Tuscarawas counties while Luther won Stark County with 60 percent of the vote. Luther received 46 percent of Mahoning's vote.
Mahoning will certify totals Monday; Stark will certify Monday or Tuesday.
The Republican primary winner faces Mark D. Okey of Carrollton, a Democrat, in the November general election.
The seat is being vacated at the end of this year by state Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat running for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat.
skolnick@vindy.com