Official count produces new fall election contests

The tabulation of write-in votes produced contested races for the November election in Archbald, Blakely, Clarks Green, Dickson City, Dunmore and Olyphant, according to the official count by the Lackawanna County Bureau of Elections.

Read the totals HERE

The official count also eliminated a potential contest in Ransom Twp. because of write-in votes and broke a tie in a Carbondale Area School Board race.

In Archbald, Robert Guman emerged as a new contender for borough council by winning one of the Republican nominations for three seats. John Shnipes Jr. and Maria F. Tomassoni, who had won Democratic council nominations, earned the other Republican ones through write-ins. They will face Councilman Jeff Munley, who had won the other Democratic nomination.

For borough tax collector, William Gerard Gilroy, who lost the Democratic nomination to incumbent Kathy Grogan Noldy, won a rematch by winning the Republican nomination.

In Blakely, two new candidates emerged for borough council as David Castelli and Bruno Pambianco won Republican nominations. Democratic borough council president Joseph Quinn won the other Republican nomination. They will face incumbent council members Jeffrey Cruciani and Louis Parri, the other Democratic nominees, for three available seats.

In Clarks Green, incumbent Mayor William Thorburn, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, will have a contest in November because Marie King won the Republican nomination via write-ins.

In Dickson City, Kimberlee Midura earned a shot at defeating Council Vice President Stanley J. Prushinski for mayor. Ms. Midura lost the Democratic nomination to Mr. Prushinski by 50 votes in the May 21 primary election, but earned more Republican write-in votes, meaning they will square off again for the actual job.

Richard Cesari, who finished out of the money for three Democratic borough council nominations, earned a Republican nomination. Two Democratic nominees, incumbent council members Robert E. Hall Jr. and Barbara Keegan Mecca, added the other Republican nominations. The three will face the other Democratic nominee, former Councilman Paul Kwiec.

In Dunmore, Damon Bowen, who lost on the Democratic ballot for borough council, will still have a shot at winning one of three council seats because he won a Republican nomination. Two of the top three Democratic votergetters, incumbent council members Timothy Burke and Carol Scrimalli, also earned Republican nominations. The three will face Tom Hallinan, the other Democratic nominee.

In Olyphant, Christine Powell joined the fall council ballot by winning a Republican nomination. David Krukovitz and incumbent Councilman Gerard Tully won the other Republican nominations through write-ins. The three will face incumbent Councilman Eugene L. Liberty.

In Ransom, incumbent Supervisor David W. Bird Jr., who had already won the Republican nomination for an open supervisor seat, earned the Democratic nomination with 75 write-in votes, defeating Democrat Robert Lukasiewicz, who was listed on the ballot and had 69 votes.

The official count also broke a tie in the race for the Republican nomination for the Carbondale Area School Board Region 3 seat. Incumbent Tracey Andrews picked up another vote to edge Cindy Turonis Artone, 62 to 61. Because Ms. Artone easily won the Democratic nomination, they will face each other again in November.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.comOther nominees

The other nominees by name, the office they are seeking and the party whose nomination they won by write-ins are:

- Archbald: Councilwoman Shirley Grabin Barrett, mayor, Republican.

- Blakely: Incumbent Jeanette Acciare-Mariani, mayor, and incumbent Deborah Vitkus Rotell, tax collector, Republican.

- Benton Twp: Incumbent Donita Wright, tax collector, Republican.

- Clarks Green: Incumbent Tax Collector Janice F. Brown, Republican; incumbent, Alan F. Hughes and David J. Rinaldi, council, Republican, Joe Barrasse, council, Democratic.

- Clarks Summit: Councilwoman Patty Lawler, mayor, Republican; Council President Gerrie Carey, council, Republican; Councilman Dominic Scott, council, Democratic.

- Clifton Twp.: Incumbent Susan Grab, tax collector, Republican.

- Dalton: Leonard Peters, council, Democratic and Republican.

- Dickson City: Incumbent Anthony Adamitis, tax collector, Republican.

- Dunmore: Incumbent Patrick "Nibs" Loughney, mayor, Republican; incumbent Louis A. Paciotti Jr., tax collector, Democratic.

- Fell Twp.: Incumbent June M. Borosky, tax collector, Republican.

- Greenfield Twp.: Incumbent Donald J. Flynn, tax collector, Democratic.

- Jefferson Twp.: Incumbent Ceatana "Tina" Keating, tax collector, Republican.

- Jermyn: Incumbent Bruce Smallacombe, mayor, Democratic; Jeffrey Christopher McDermott, council, Democratic.

- Jessup: Michael Gasper, council, Republican; incumbent Genevieve Lupini, tax collector, Republican.

- Madison Twp.: Incumbent Andrew Nazarenko, supervisor, Republican.

- Mayfield: Incumbent Alexander J. Chelik, mayor, Republican; incumbents, Thomas J. Gallagher and Janice R. Joyce, council, Republican; and incumbent Diane Bachak, tax collector, Republican.

- Moosic: Incumbent James Segilia, mayor, Republican; incumbents Joseph J. Dente Jr., Harry Lindsay, Joseph G. Mercatili and Mary Ann Nawrocki, council, Republican; incumbent Bryan Fauver, tax collector, Republican.

- Moscow: Incumbent Daniel F. Edwards, mayor, Democratic.

- Newton Twp.: Robert Naegele, supervisor, Democratic.

- Old Forge: Lou Mazza, council, 4-year, Republican; Joe Ferrett, council, 2-year, Republican and Democratic; incumbent Gary A. Propersi, tax collector, Democratic.

- Olyphant: John Sedlak Jr., mayor, Republican; incumbent James A. Liparulo, tax collector, Republican.

- Ransom Twp.: Incumbent Lenay Blackwell, tax collector, Democratic.

- Scott Twp.: Incumbent Michael R. Ciuccoli Sr., tax collector, Republican.

- Scranton: Incumbent Pat Rogan and Joe Wechsler and William Gaughan, council, Republican; Councilman Frank Joyce, tax collector, Republican.

- South Abington Twp.: Incumbent Scott Thorpe, tax collector, Republican and Democratic.

- Spring Brook Twp.: Kenneth Genovese, supervisor, Democratic.

- Taylor: Chuck McKeel and Eugene Gallagher, council, Republican; incumbent Patricia Naro, tax collector, Republican.

- Thornhurst Twp.: Incumbent Tammara Berry, tax collector, Republican.

- Lackawanna Trail School Board, Region 3: Philip R. Stark, Democratic and Republican.

- Lakeland School Board, Region 2: Aurelio Catanzaro, Democratic and Republican.