Dunmore councilman lost Democratic race, but won Republican with write-ins

May 22—Incumbent Dunmore Councilman Vince Amico will have another shot to win back his council seat in November.

Amico, who lost his bid for one of four Democratic council nominations to three incumbent council members and former Mayor Patrick "Nibs" Loughney, picked up a Republican nomination through write-in votes.

Loughney and Democratic incumbents Janet Brier and Beth Zangardi won the other Republican nominations. Loughney had 40 Republican votes, Brier, 35, Zangardi, 30, Amico, 28, Michael Hayes, 26, and incumbent Michael Dempsey, 16, according to an official count by the Lackawanna County Bureau of Elections completed Monday. Dempsey already won the other Democratic nomination. No Republicans were on the ballot in the May 16 primary election, which enabled the Democrats to gain nominations through write-ins.

Amico said he plans to campaign hard to retain his seat.

"I'm very excited," he said.

In other races affected by write-ins counted in the official count:

—Republican Joe Albert fell six votes shy of earning the party's nomination for Lackawanna County treasurer.

Albert needed 250 votes, but received 244, one more than Democratic treasurer nominee Angela Rempe Jones, county elections director Beth Hopkins said.

Jones, unopposed on the Democratic ballot, won that nomination. Democratic candidate J.R. Refice received 134 Republican write-ins and current Treasurer Ed Karpovich, 15. Efforts to reach Albert were unsuccessful.

—County Coroner Tim Rowland added a Republican nomination to his Democratic one.

Rowland received 382 Republican write-ins with 282 scattered among other candidates. Rowland is the only incumbent Democratic row officer to receive at least the necessary 250 Republican write-ins. Clerk of Judicial Records Mauri Kelly received 156 and Controller Gary A. DiBileo, 202. Both were tops with votes scattered among other candidates, Hopkins said. No Republicans were on the ballot in these races either.

—Archbald: John Shnipes, David Moran, Erin Owen and Richard Guman won Republican council nominations. —Benton Twp.: Alyson Wescott won Republican and Democratic nominations for an unexpired two-year tax collector term. —Carbondale: Gary Henry won a Republican nomination for a two-year council seat. —Clarks Green: Olga Trushina won a Republican nomination to a two-year unexpired Clarks Green council term. —Clarks Summit: Robert Sheils III won a Democratic council nomination. —Clifton Twp.: Erin Horrigan won a Democratic supervisor nomination. —Covington Twp.: Wanda Andreoli and William Willson won Democratic supervisor nominations. —Dickson City: John Horvath, Michael Fedorka, Jeffrey R. Kovaleski and Kimberly A. Kanuik won Republican council nominations. —Fell Twp.: Vincent Barrese won a Republican supervisor nomination. Jeremy Fedorchak won Democratic nomination for a two-year unexpired tax collector term. —Greenfield Twp.: Nick Bonczkiewicz won a Republican supervisor nomination. —Jefferson Twp.: Jason Hollister and Robert Kotarba tied at 47 votes for a Democratic nomination for supervisor {span}and will draw lots to break the tie.{/span} . —Jermyn: Mark Kilmer won a Republican council nomination. —Jessup: Curt Camoni, Robbie Martin and Jeff Castellani won Republican council nominations. —La Plume Twp: Gerald Henry won a Republican supervisor nomination. —Mayfield: Wendy Bochnovich, Bridget Boettcher and Mary McDermott Rosler won Democratic council nominations. —Moosic: Jane Sterling and Ashley Fauver Aldubayan won Republican council nominations. —Moscow: Karen Clifford won a Republican council nomination. —Newton Twp.: Kevin Carr won Republican and Democratic supervisor nominations. —Old Forge: Michael Komensky won a Democratic council nomination. —Olyphant: Jonathan Sedlak won the Republican nomination a two-year unexpired mayor term. Eric Hartshorn, Robert Hudak, Beth Frushon and Mike Abda won the four Republican council nominations. —Ransom Twp.: Jerry Scott won a Democratic supervisor nomination. —Roaring Brook Twp.: Tony Jordan won a Republican supervisor nomination. —Thornhurst Twp.: James Learn won a Republican supervisor nomination. —Throop: Chris Mazzucca and Charlene DePasquale Tomasovitch won Republican council nominations. —Vandling: Colleen Sullivan, Amanda Serge and William Matos won Democratic council nominations. Serge and Matos also won Republican council nominations. —Waverly: Cheryl Murnin earned a Democratic nomination for supervisor. —Lackawanna Trail School Board: Eric Johnson won Democratic and Republican Region 2 nominations and Joseph Ross won a Democratic Region 3 nomination. —Lakeland School Board: Amy Tremback Ball won Democratic and Republican Region 1 nominations; Jennifer Roberts won both party nominations in Region 2; and Melanie Brenzel won both in Region 3.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.