Write-in candidates received enough votes in several Venango County municipalities for their names to appear on the general election ballots in November.
In addition, some other office seekers who won nominations as listed candidates on one party ballot also garnered enough write-ins on the other party ballot to secure nominations on both tickets.
Here is a rundown of the candidates who tallied enough write-in votes to gain their party nods:
Republicans
Franklin: Incumbent Doug Baker received the GOP nomination for Franklin mayor by a 164-151 margin over Franklin councilman Ryan Rudegeair as both candidates waged write-in efforts.
The two candidates, who are Republicans, were also seeking Democratic write-ins, but neither got the necessary 101 votes to gain a spot on the November ballot as the Democratic nominee.
Pleasantville Borough: Martha Long received 46 votes for mayor. Two write-in candidates will be on the ballot in the fall to fill two of three council seats as Howie Crawford received 58 votes and Mary Long received 43 votes. Shery Walters received 57 votes for tax collector.
Rouseville Borough: Guy Milliron received 17 votes for mayor. Paul Long received 15 votes for council and Emilee Gray received 13 votes for council. Three seats on borough council are open.
Utica Borough: Mary Ann Schell received 10 votes for mayor. Heath Nicklin received 15 votes for borough council and Shannon Osborn received 11 votes for borough council. Three seats on council are open.
Emlenton Borough: Julie Findlan Powell received 17 votes for a two-year term on borough council.
Allegheny Township: Doug Cole received 12 votes for supervisor.
Canal Township: Homer Hollabaugh received 15 votes for supervisor. Debra Deeter received 22 votes for tax collector. Deeter also secured the Democratic nomination as a listed candidate.
Democrats
Pleasantville Borough: Martha Long received 16 votes for mayor as well as 16 votes for a spot on borough council. Howie Crawford also received 14 votes for borough council. Three borough council seats are up for election. Shery Walters received 17 votes for tax collector.
Cranberry Township: Robert Betzold won a nomination for supervisor with 10 votes. Betsy Kellner received the Democratic nomination for tax collector with 47 votes. Betzold and Kellner also received GOP nods as listed candidates.
Oakland Township: Christopher Barber was nominated for supervisor with 22 votes. Jeff Rishel will be on the ballot in November for tax collector after receiving 17 votes. Barber and Rishel were also nominated as listed Republican candidates.
Some other nominees
Write-in votes were also cast for Wyatt Earp, Barney Fife and Donald Duck for sheriff and Victor Frankenstein for coroner. Other write-in names included Robin Williams, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fud, John Wayne, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2, Jesus, Ozzy Osbourne, Archie Bunker, Grumpy, Goofy, Cinderella and Donald Trump.
None of the above, anyone else and present one also received write-in support. A number of races on the Democratic ticket listed write-in votes for “Any Republican.”
