By Karen Blackledge and Rick Dandes
DANVILLE — Every vote counts, especially when no one is on the ballot.
In Washingtonville, the top vote-getter in last week’s election for one Borough Council seat is a candidate who received three write-in votes. In another race, that same man and another person tied with one write-in vote apiece.
Kenneth Yeich received three write-ins for a two-year council term and Frank Dombroski got one write-in. For another two-year council seat, Yeich and Arthur Banks each received one write-in.
The results were among those verified when Montour County election officials completed their official count from the Nov. 3 election.
“I didn’t vote for myself, if you want to know,” Yeich said Monday night. He also said his wife didn’t vote for him. “I told her not to,” he said, “because I’m not sure if I can serve on the council.”
Yeich said he wasn’t surprised that he won the council seat with only three write-in votes. “I probably know the people who voted for me, but no one has told me who did,” he said.
“In Washingtonville, there has been a vacant seat for two years,” Yeich noted. “It seems like no one wants the position.”
He said he has a month to decide whether to accept the position. He said there are some family issues that might prevent him from serving on the council.
In Danville, a woman who waged an unsuccessful write-in campaign for Borough Council from the 1st Ward received 68 votes. Hannah Shaw ran against incumbent Collins “Fuzz” Stump, who was listed on the ballot and received 139 votes.
Vera Fleming got one write-in for tax collector.
Mayberry Township write-ins showed David E. Bird polled 12 write-in votes, and David Bird Jr. received one write-in for supervisor. Robert Dressler got seven write-ins for auditor and Connie Brady, two write-ins for auditor, with others receiving one vote each. Boyd Dressler received six write-ins for constable, and others got one write-in each.
In Anthony Township, Leah Tewhebury got two write-ins for auditor, and Jason Johnson, four write-ins for constable.
Carol Woodruff received nine write-ins for Cooper Township tax collector. Chris Pfaff and Lamar Welliver II each got two write-ins for constable.
Warren Flick, Scott Staley and Nancy Schneider each received one write-in for constable in Danville’s 2nd Ward.
In Danville’s 3rd Ward, Bernard Woll, David Herrold, David Scott Herrold, Byard Woodruff and Jerry Coates each received one write-in vote for constable.
Robert Myers received 20 write-ins in Danville’s 4th Ward for constable. Others received fewer write-ins.
In Liberty Township, Lorraine George received five write-ins for a six-year auditor’s term, and Joann Diehl got three write-ins for a four-year auditor’s term. George Auten received seven write-ins and a Georg Auten got one write-in for constable, while Sidney Guisbert received six write-ins for constable.
Lisa McManus got two write-in votes for Limestone Township auditor. James Loy got 76 write-ins for constable.
In Mahoning Township’s first precinct, Charles Pickens, Ed Rarig and Robert Eyer each received two write-ins for constable. In Mahoning’s second precinct, Eyer received four write-ins for constable. Others received fewer write-ins in those precincts.
Norman Jones Jr., Scott Lynn, Thomas Miler, Betty Woodruff and James T.S. Scott each received one write-in vote in Valley Township for auditor.
In West Hemlock Township., Lisa Trimble got 18 write-ins for auditor.
Candidates receiving write-in votes will be notified by the county board of elections to determine if they are willing to serve.
