Dayich holds razor-thin lead in Greene County judge’s race
WAYNESBURG – The race for Greene County judge was razor-tight late Tuesday night with Democrat Louis Dayich leading his Republican opponent Jeffry Grimes by less than 100 votes, meaning the winner could be determined by the remaining absentee ballots.
Dayich held a 94-vote lead over Grimes – out of 8,685 ballots cast in Greene County – with county election workers poised to count the 324 absentee votes this morning to determine the winner.
“I like the position we’re in, but it’s just so close,” Dayich said of his unofficial lead. “We’ll see. It’s certainly not a comfortable lead.”
Dayich, 53, a district magistrate in Waynesburg for the past 15 years, received 4,391 votes compared to 4,297 votes tallied for Grimes, an attorney from Center Township. The two men were separated by just 1 percent of the vote.
Dayich tried to balance the jubilant atmosphere with his campaign supporters at Waynesburg VFW with the realization the absentee ballots still could decide the race.
“Honestly, we’re down here where everyone’s clapping their hands, but there are 350 some odd votes out there,” he said.
Grimes, 42, could not be reached for comment.
Many thought this race might come down to the wire after the May primary in which Dayich received 138 more total votes than Grimes. The two candidates cross-filed in the primary with Dayich winning the Democratic nomination and Grimes receiving the Republican nomination.
It could take more than a week to determine the official winner. Greene County Information Technology Director Scott Kelley said election officials would begin opening the absentee ballot envelopes this morning and should complete the count by early afternoon. However, nothing will be official until after final vote canvas begins Friday, which could take a week to complete.
The two candidates were vying to fill the seat left vacant by former president judge William Nalitz’s retirement earlier this year. Nalitz, who served 17 years as a county judge, left the bench in January after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. The winner will serve a 10-year term on the bench and join President Judge Farley Toothman in the two-judge courthouse.
Dayich felt good about his chances, but marveled about how close the final results are in a county-wide race.
“I wish my opponent great success, and my hope is that with this razor-thin margin and with everyone participating in the election, that it reminds people how great the democratic process is,” Dayich said before pausing. “And that every vote counts.”