Tarentum Councilwoman Carrie Fox won the Democratic nomination to run for mayor in November, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary.
The winner of the Republican nomination could not immediately be determined because there were so many write-in votes.
On the Democratic side, Fox collected 160 of the votes counted (43.5%) compared with 144 votes (39.1%) for retired borough police officer Robert Lang and 61 votes (16.6%) for incumbent Mayor Eric Carter, unofficial results from all five of Tarentum’s precincts showed.
Stephanie Adams ran unopposed on the Republican ballot — yet was outvoted by write-ins by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.
Adams received 50 Republican votes, but 144 votes combined were cast for write-in candidates, the unofficial results showed.
Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said election results, including write-ins, won’t be certified until at least June 7 when the Board of Elections meets next.
“I’m thrilled, but there’s still a campaign in November,” Fox, 57, said during a phone interview.
Fox has said she wants to be a “voice for the people” and renew hope and confidence in the role of mayor.
“The mayor should be front and center and I feel that the mayor position we have right now is underrepresented,” Fox said.
The incumbent mayor Carter, 48, did not respond to requests for comment.
A Tarentum native and Highlands High School graduate, Fox has served on borough council for six years and previously served as a Highlands School Board member. She has served on the borough’s recreation board since 2002 and is its current president.
Lang declined to comment on the race.
In Tarentum, the mayor’s main duty is overseeing the police department.
Additional responsibilities include signing legal contracts and documents, reporting to council and collecting fees received and paying money to the treasury.
Carter defeated incumbent Carl Magnetta Jr. in 2017 and previously served on council for more than 15 years. Fox is Magnetta’s daughter.
