Write-in votes creates race for Irwin mayor

Irwin voters will have a choice between two Republicans for mayor’s race in November’s general election because one of them garnered enough Democratic Party write-in votes in the May 18 primary, according to the official results.

Jeff Clem was the only candidate on the Republican ballot in the May primary, but fellow Republican and Irwin Councilwoman Gail Macioce won the Democratic nomination with 69 write-in votes. Clem received 36 votes on the Democratic ballot.

There were 53 write-in votes that were termed “scattered” — a misspelling of a candidate’s name, or someone writing just the first or last name of a person or those who opt to write-in something silly like “Mickey Mouse,” a county elections bureau spokesman said.

Macioce decided not to run for another term on borough council, but decided to run for mayor after the date for filing nomination papers to appear on the ballot.

Mayor Bill Hawley, a Republican, opted not to run for re-election to a second term.

“I like the idea of having a race,” for the mayor’s office, Macioce said.

Clem could not be reached for comment.

Tyler Baum, a Republican who won on the Republican ballot for council, also won the nomination on the Democratic ballot in November with 25 write-in votes.

The write-in votes were certified by the Westmoreland County Elections Board on Tuesday, June 15.