SUNBURY - Myron Turlis made an interesting race of the Democratic nomination for Northumberland County commissioner, but it's unlikely the results will change from the close voting when absentee ballots are added in later this week.
Other municipal races, meanwhile, could be - and in one case, has been - determined through absentee ballots.
Turlis, mayor of Kulpmont, had a strong showing in the four-person race for two Democratic nominations with 2,771 votes, just 141 behind incumbent Frank Sawicki, of Atlas. Incumbent commissioner Vinny Clausi, of Coal Township, was the top vote-getter for Democrats with 3,226.
Alisha Herb, director of the Northumberland County Board of Elections/Voter Registration Office, said 343 absentee ballots and 39 provisional or paper ballots will be counted Friday and Monday in the 107th and 108th legislative districts, respectively.
Turlis could conceivably pass Sawicki if the vast majority of the absentee ballots and provisional ballots were cast in his favor, but it's not expected he can make up the 141-vote difference.
"I'm disappointed I didn't win," Turlis, owner of a plumbing business, said when contacted Wednesday. "I campaigned for change, but obviously residents of Northumberland County didn't want change. I respect and accept that because it was the voters' choice.
"I want to congratulate the winners," he said of Clausi, Sawicki and Republicans Rick Shoch and Merle Phillips. "I believe it will be a spirited election in November and I wish each candidate the best."
Turlis, also a former council member in Kulpmont, said he will remain involved in the county Democratic party and plans to help both Democratic candidates earn a victory in the general election.
Turlis, who thanked everyone who supported him in the election, especially his family, friends and campaign workers, said he doesn't plan on running for any other political position in the near future.
Turlis unsuccessfully ran for state representative in the 107th Legislative District in the 2010 primary election.
1 vote the difference
The old adage that every vote counts certainly proved true in Tuesday's primary in Riverside borough.
Barring any discrepancies in the official count, John J. Novak edged Barry J. Faust as the third Republican nominee for Riverside Borough Council by virtue of one absentee ballot. Both candidates finished with 92 electronic machine votes, but an absentee ballot opened Tuesday night at the polling place gave Novak the victory.
Herb said Wednesday the absentee ballot was not included in Tuesday night's vote total.
Novak and Faust finished behind Lori Vastine Steele (106 votes) and Barbara Kriner (99 votes). No Democrats filed for borough council, but with 21 write-in votes cast, there could be Democratic nominees.
Coal Twp., MCA pending
The absentee ballots could also determine close races for Coal Township commissioner and Mount Carmel Area School Board.
Bernie Rumberger edged incumbent Paul Petrovich by six votes (489 to 483) as the third Democratic nominee for township commissioner.
According to unofficial totals, only three votes separate Raymond D. Kraynak (247) from incumbent Judy McCollum (244) for the fourth and fifth Republican nominations for Mount Carmel Area School Board. McCollum finished only two votes ahead of political newcomer Michael Brinkash for the fifth spot.
During last year's primary election, which featured hotly contested races in two legislative districts, there were 356 absentee ballots and 27 provisional ballots recorded.
Herb said most of the absentee ballots are cast by voters who are on vacation, sick or residents of nursing homes. She said provisional ballots are given to registered voters who for whatever reason are not listed as registered voters at polling stations.