South Greensburg Councilwoman Linda Iezzi on Wednesday refused to concede in her race to secure one of two Democratic nominations for Westmoreland County commissioner. “I have to talk to my lawyer,” Iezzi said as she weighed a potential recount of votes cast in the May 17 primary.
The county Elections Board yesterday preliminarily certified the results of the race, declaring incumbent Commissioner Ted Kopas of Hempfield and Mt. Pleasant Mayor Gerald Lucia as winners of the Democratic primary for county commissioner. Lucia, the long-time mayor of Mt. Pleasant Borough and its fire chief, finished 74 votes ahead of Iezzi.
County officials spent the last three weeks reviewing vote totals as part of the certification process and found three additional votes for Lucia, according to Election Bureau Director Jim Montini.
… Iezzi said she might ask for a recount, which must be done by June 15. Montini said it would cost Iezzi $50 for every precinct that is re-tallied. “It’s not a decision I should make right now,” Iezzi said.
Iezzi suggested there might have been a problem with the computer voting machines at the Wyano precinct in South Huntingdon. “I was told that the Allegheny County ballot came up,” Iezzi said.
Montini said his office received a letter from one voter who contended that an out-of-county ballot appeared on the computer screen. An investigation was conducted and the allegation could not be substantiated, Montini said.
“It didn’t happen. It is impossible,” he said.
Full Article: South Greensburg councilwoman refuses to concede primary – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.