Write-in votes prove the difference in several area municipal races

            The numbers are in and the votes have been counted.

            Montgomery County election officials have completed the task of verifying and counting the write-in votes and the results have given us the names of those who will be vying for several area municipal positions come November.

            In particular, the boroughs of East Greenville and Pennsburg had some voters who were not satisfied with the candidates supplied by their party and there were late entries by folks who wanted to throw their hat in the ring but weren't on the official ballot for the Primary Election last month.

            In East Greenville, where there was no shortage of Democratic and Republican candidates for mayor and council positions, more than 27 percent of the voters cast a ballot.  In Pennsburg, where there were no Democratic candidates for either the mayor or council positions, less than 20 percent of the voters showed up at the polls.

            Voters had the opportunity to write-in their choice for candidates, not on their party's ballot, even if that candidate appeared on the opposing party's ballot.

            In East Greenville, Keith Gerhart easily took the Republican ticket over incumbent mayor Ryan Sloyer 188-74.  But, Gerhart also bested Democratic candidate Pamela Kennedy 80-79, courtesy of the write-in vote, for that party's slot in the November election. 

            Gerhart is the Republican and Democratic nominee for East Greenville Mayor.  Barring a successful independent candidacy in November, he will be running unopposed.

            In the race for Pennsburg Mayor, incumbent Vicki Lightcap ran unopposed on the Republican side while the Democrats failed to field a candidate on the ballot for the borough's top spot.

            But, again courtesy of the write-in vote, the Democrats have a candidate for November.  Seth Howard gathered 34 write-in votes to Lightcap's 27 and will run for Pennsburg Mayor this fall.

            The race for a four-year seat on the East Greenville borough council saw no change as Republicans Lon Brinckman II, James Raftery, Angie Fegely and Joseph Rock will face off against Democrats Ann Grubb, Doug Criddle, Diane Criddle and incumbent Ryan Pugh for a four-year term in November.

            But, in Pennsburg the race for a four-year council seat has taken on a new look. 

            Republican incumbents Michael Mensch, Cody Belmont, Diane Stevens and Frederick Shutte held off a challenge by John E. Mansfield to retain their seats.  However, a successful write-in campaign filled what was an empty ticket on the Democratic side with four candidates: Charles Shagg (31), Diane Miller (30), Wayne Stevens (28), and Kris Squccimara (27).

            In New Hanover Township where Democrats had no candidates listed for either the four-year or two-year township supervisor seats, less than 19 percent of registered voters cast their ballots.

            The write-in votes chose Marie Livelsberger (121) and William Snook (45) to run on the Democratic ballot in November.  Snook was the top vote-getter on the Republican ballot last month.  They join Republican Shawn R. Malloy for a three-way race for two seats.

            For a two-year term on the board, Kurt D. Zebrowski and Brian Hemingway topped off their Republican candidacy with successful write-in campaigns on the Democratic side.

            There were no Democrats running on the primary ballot for Marlborough Township supervisor however, a write-in campaign for James Miani (27) has put him on the ballot for November.  He will be running against Republican William Hurst who was the only candidate listed on the Primary Election ballot.

            According to an official at the Montgomery County Voter Services office, the successful write-in candidate for mayor, council member or supervisor must receive at least 10 votes and best other candidates running for the open seat or seats.

            For a complete list of Montgomery County's official results from the 2017 Primary Election visit http://www.montcopa.org/2033/Election-Results-Website.