It's Vittone by a Hair!

In what may be the closet race for Washington County District Attorney in decades, Republican Gene Vittone has won the race, according to unofficial results, to fill the seat being vacated by Steve Toprani.

With all 184 precincts reporting, Vittone has an unofficial vote total of 20,661 or 50.2 percent to Democrat David DiCarlo, with 20,486 or 49.8 percent.

Unofficial vote totals show Vittone edging DiCarlo by 165 votes.

Not since a district attorney’s race between Herman J. Bigi and the late John Pettit in the 1970s has a race for the office been this close in Washington County. The final election results were not determined at that time for weeks because of recounts.

The absentee ballots cast in Tuesday’s election are likely to determine the final unofficial numbers before they are certified by the county election board.

“I’m cautiously optimistic and the results look very good right now, but we’re still waiting on the absentee ballots,” Vittone said. “Right now I just want to thank the voters for coming out to support me.”

Vittone said he ran a true grassroots campaign, beginning in early March, and worked up through the end. He credited DiCarlo with also running a very organized campaign.

If the lead holds, Vittone will be the second consecutive Republican to hold the office, and he credited Toprani for paving the way for his campaign.

“Steve was a great help, especially in the (Monongahela) Valley,” Vittone said. “But when you look at the issue of law and order, people are more willing to consider the candidate and not their party affiliation for district attorney.”

Vittone said that the election was proof that a “regular guy with limited finances” can win an election with a grassroots effort.”

Vittone said the outcome of the race proves the importance of each individual vote in any election.

“As late as Election Day, my son and I were riding around and calling phone numbers to make sure people got out to vote,” he said. “Every vote counts, and it’s wonderful that so many people got out to support my campaign.”

DiCarlo could not be reached for comment post-election. 

The county elections office is expected to tabulate the absentee votes cast Wednesday.