Sheriff may have attained own party and GOP nominations
Washington County Sheriff Samuel Romano and county Controller Michael Namie, both Democrats, were unopposed in their own party’s primary, but it appears that Romano has also garnered a Republican nomination as a write-in candidate.
In a primary, a candidate hoping for a write-in nomination must receive at least as many votes as the number of signatures required on a nominating petition. According to the Washington County website, a countywide candidates needs 250 signatures.
A count by the Observer-Reporter from the printouts of names typed into touch-screen machines via keyboard shows Romano received 258 write-in votes, which included wide spelling variations, such as “3Samual-Romano” and “Samromic0.”
It is up to the canvass board to determine with which spelling variations a candidate will be credited.
Romano, 52, of South Strabane Township, in a direct-mail campaign to Republicans on the eve of the May 16 primary, asked for write-in votes as he pursues a fourth, four-year term. Romano has not had a general election opponent since 2005, the first time he ran for the office.
David Criss of Monongahela received about 18 Republican write-in votes for sheriff. He had filed nominating petitions before the March 7 deadline, but several of the signatures were invalidated, leaving him with an insufficient number, so Senior Judge John C. Reed tossed Criss’ bid.
Namie, in write-ins, had fewer spelling variations, but, according to a rough count based on touch-screen machine printouts, he had only about 135 votes. The count by the newspaper did not include absentee or provisional ballots.
Potential challengers can circulate nomination papers. Third-party and independent candidates have until Aug. 1 to file with the aim of having their names appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.