Marbles engaged to settle tie votes from Westmoreland primary

In years past, ties between Westmoreland County election candidates were broken by drawing marbles from an old Dr Pepper soda bottle covered in tape.

On Friday, election officials upgraded their system somewhat and drew marbles from a reusable water bottle to determine the winners of three ties in the May primary.

The numbered marbles determine in what order candidates will appear on the ballot this fall. Marbles were drawn and the winners read aloud to a room devoid of an audience, save for the media present at the Greensburg courthouse. No candidates appeared for the drawings.

With the tiebreaker drawings lasting less than five minutes, Jason Cooper’s daughter and wife, Lucy Cooper and Stacy Cooper, showed up to represent him moments after the event ended. After serving four years on West Newton council, he was surprised there was a tie, they said.

Cooper won the third spot for a Republican nomination on council, leaving Eric Letterio as the only candidate who will no longer appear on the ballot.

Jason Gagen won the second spot on the ballot for a Democratic nomination on Hyde Park council, and Marc Corna won the third spot.

Angela Beers won the second spot on the ballot for a Republican nomination for Youngstown council, and Nicole Nemila won the third spot.

Deborah Vernon and Cynthia Adams were originally scheduled for a tiebreaker drawing for the Democratic nomination for Arnold council, but it was an error because they each had only 10 votes. Candidates need at least 100 votes to appear on the ballot in a city, said Scott Ross, director of elections and technology.

“There will probably be more ties in the fall because there will be a lot of write-ins,” Ross said.