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By DAVID J. RALIS; Times Leader Staff Writer
Saturday, November 22, 1997 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE- The victors in five contested races in the Nov. 4 election
were finally declared the winners Friday by Luzerne County’s Election Board.
The board, consisting of the three county commissioners, certified the
results of each race after a recount Wednesday produced no change in their
outcomes.
However, the recount did make a difference to William J. Layou and Daniel
Thomas, said Voter Services Director Kevin Jordan.
Election workers found Layou, of Swoyersville’s First Ward, and Daniel
Thomas, of Nanticoke’s Fifth Ward, both won constable jobs with a single
write-in vote each, Jordan said.
They also found:
In the race for Hanover Township commissioner, Frank Alexis beat fellow
Democrat Patrick Aregood by 24 votes, 1,636 to 1,612.
In the race for Exeter Borough Council, Eugene Pisano Jr. beat fellow
Democrat Daniel DeRoberto by 51 votes, 886 to 835.
In the race for Plymouth Township tax collector, Democrat Henry Englehart
beat Republican Lucia Baker by five votes, 418 to 413.
In the race for constable in Exeter Borough’s Fourth Ward, Republican
Thomas McNeil beat Democrat Joseph Pace by 22 votes, 437 to 415.
In the race for a seat on Hazleton City Council, Lou Barletta beat fellow
Republican Phillip Andras by 24 votes, 2,530 to 2,506.
Attorney Charles Pedri, who represented Andras, cleared the way for the
certification by formally withdrawing his client’s claim that the Nov. 4
results were wrong.
He also thanked the board for a list of eligible Hazleton voters his office
received Thursday for free.
The Hazleton lawyer requested the list at the board’s meeting on Monday and
was told he would have to pay copying charges.
Once the results were certified, Barletta told the board members they
conducted the election in a “very professional” manner.
Commissioner Tom Makowski praised the Voter Services staff and Jordan, who
became director six weeks before the election.
“You did a great job, given really tough circumstances,” he said.
After the meeting, one man, who refused to give his name, asked Makowski
why Pedri was provided the list for free.
Makowski replied that he didn’t understand the question.