Showing unanticipated political strength among Republicans, former state Sen. Eugene Porterfield led the ticket for Westmoreland County commissioner and apparently won one of two GOP nominations along with Terry Marolt, who previously served three terms in the office.
With 283 of 306 precincts reporting -- 92 percent of the vote -- Porterfield had 8,530 votes, Marolt had 8,035 votes, Greensburg attorney Harry F. Smail Jr. had 6,184 votes and recent college graduate Michael Korns had 2,725 votes.
With their apparent victories, Porterfield and Marolt will face Democratic incumbents Tom Ceraso of New Kensington and Tom Balya of Greensburg in the fall election.
The top three vote getters will win office.
Balya led the Democrat ballot Tuesday night with 20,678 votes; Ceraso had 17,753. South Greensburg resident Virginia Oplinger was running third with 9,900 votes and Unity Township developer Rick Wajdic was last at 9,056 votes.
"I wasn't confident about it, but I was happy about it," Porterfield said of his apparent victory. "I think Westmoreland County is ready for some conservatives to manage business at the courthouse."
Marolt, who left office at the end of 1999 after serving more than 13 years at the courthouse, said he was not disappointed by his vote total.
"It doesn't matter whether you finish first or second," Marolt said.
Both Porterfield and Marolt said they will run as a team in the fall to win a Republican majority at the courthouse.
Incumbent Republican P. Scott Conner did not run for re-election.
Balya, who is seeking his third term in office, was confident in retaining his seat and holding on to a Democratic majority with Ceraso in the fall.
"I don't think there were any great surprises in what took place tonight," Balya said.
Tom Murphy pulls out win
In what had been the closest race of the night, Recorder of Deeds Tom Murphy, in his bid for a second term, narrowly led Roland Martino. Martino, a title broker from Greensburg, led for most of the night but was overtaken by Murphy as the final precincts reported.
Murphy, 39, of Arnold, had 15,890 votes to Martino's 15,182.
Democratic voters nominated Jeannette City Councilman Carmen Pedicone to be the next county controller. Pedicone, 54, defeated Derry Township businessman Nat Lamolinara. Both men were seeking to replace incumbent Jeff Pavetti, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving more than 14 years in office.
Pedicone had 20,535 votes to Lamolinara's 8,529.
Lower Burrell's Scherer wins, too
Sheriff Chris Scherer, 37, of Lower Burrell, crushed Harry Smail, 60, of Hempfield Township. Scherer, who is seeking his second term in office, had 23,906 votes while Smail had 9,230 votes.
Register of Wills Earl Keim II, 53, of Youngwood, a five-term incumbent, and three-term incumbent Treasurer Kathalyn O'Brien, 66, of Greensburg, were unopposed in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
No Republicans ran for any of the row office positions.
