Scranton Tax Collector Bill Courtright defeated Elizabeth Randol and two others in the Democratic primary to run for mayor of Scranton in November, according to unofficial voting results.
However, both candidates told their respective supporters that their battle might not be over. That's because Ms. Randol conceivably could win the Republican nomination if she receives enough GOP votes as a write-in candidate to beat the two Republicans who were on their ballot.
Mr. Courtright also beat Joseph Cardamone and Lee Morgan in their bids for the Democratic nod.
"I'm not quite sure who won on the Republican side, so we'll probably have an election in November," Mr. Courtright told a crowd of 175 supporters at a victory party at the Radisson Lackawanna Station hotel. "Enjoy the night tonight, but then it's time to get to work, and not only get to work on the campaign, but start to think of how we're going to bring this city back, how we're going to work together."
Mr. Courtright added that "12 years of animosity and fighting" between the administration of outgoing Mayor Chris Doherty, who did not seek re-election to a fourth term, and city council must end, and, "It isn't Bill Courtright that won today, it's the city of Scranton that won."
Ms. Randol told a crowd of 60 of her supporters at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, "While we came up short on the Democratic side, the numbers right now look very positive for us for the Republican nomination. (Today) I start (campaigning) at 5 a.m. I'm hitting doors. I'm going to senior centers. This is truly a general election campaign."
On the Republican side, financial consultant Gary Lewis beat entrepreneur Marcel Lisi.
Mr. Lewis said, "Regardless of what happens (with write-ins), it (his campaign) is a win. My being in the race and focusing solely on the city's financial condition forced everyone else to address the same issues, of bankruptcy, union concessions and restructuring the city's long-term obligation."
Scranton's next mayor will earn $60,000 in 2014, and then receive $5,000 annual raises in 2015, 2016 and 2017, for an eventual salary of $75,000 in 2017. This pay scale was adopted by the mayor and council in February.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter
Scranton mayor
With all Scranton precincts reporting
Democrat
â William Courtright 6,075
Elizabeth Randol 5,053
Joseph Cardamone 495
Lee Morgan 316
Republican
â Gary Lewis 635
Marcel Risi 446