Lehutsky gets on ballot after write-in count

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Two hundred-twenty-eight Democrat voters put DA Republican candidate Mike Lehutsky’s name on the ballot as a write-in.

Lehutsky, who lost the Republican primary to Chris Farrell, can now appear on the November ballot as a Democrat. He needed only 100 votes.

As of this date, Lehutsky has not decided whether or not he wants to continue campaigning. He said that he would be meeting with his committee over the next few weeks to see what kind of support he could expect.

Farrell also got 159 Democrat write-ins but not enough to beat Lehutsky. Farrell’s name will appear on the ballot as a Republican.

However, the write-in count was not just about Lehutsky.

“Hundreds of voters put names in the write-in box,” said Darlene Roney, director of the Wayne County Bureau of Elections. “It took us three days to complete the count. We haven’t had this many write-ins for a long while.”

Roney said the reason was that there were few Democrats offered for election this year.

Lehutsky is not the only candidate whose name would not have appeared on the November ballot without the write-ins.

Several Republican candidates’ names will also appear on the Democrat line because of write-ins. Incumbent treasurer Republican Bruce Mackle beat out Democrat Paula Herzog for the Democrat line with 264 write-ins. Herzog got 230.

Republican coroner candidate Carol Lienert’s name will also appear on the Democrat line with 428 write-ins as well as Republican Prothonotary candidate Ned Sandercock with 209.

When asked why so few Democrat’s names appeared on the primary ballot, Joseph Davitt, Chairman of the Wayne County Democratic Party said, “Republican registered voters outnumber Democrats by two to one in this county so it’s hard to get someone to run. We’re trying to get more young people interested in politics and in the party.”