Politics & Government
Matheny and Staniszewski to Battle for Prothonotary Post
Matheny narrowly beat challenger Judith L. Fisher for the Democratic nomination.
Phyllis Ranko-Matheny held off challenges from three other candidates to win the Democratic nomination for Washington County prothonotary.
Ranko-Matheny, who will be seeking her sixth term in November, pulled 37.6 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Judith L. Fisher, of South Strabane, had 34.2 percent, while Lisa Stout-Bashioum had 28 percent.
Ranko-Matheny will face City of Washington Councilman Matt Staniszewski, the only Republican candidate in Tuesday’s primary election.
Other county row offices had no opposition in the primaries, and as a result, nominees will face off against each other in November.
Democrat clerk of courts incumbent Barbara Gibbs pulled 99.7 percent of the vote, while Republican challenger Marcus Mercante Staley had 99.1 percent of the GOP votes cast.
Democrat incumbent Washington County Treasurer Francis King had 18,203 votes. He is likely to be unopposed in November, because no Republicans sought the nomination.
There were also no Republican candidates in the race for register of wills. Incumbent Mary Jo Poknis won the Democrat nomination with 16,783 votes.
Republican district attorney hopeful Eugene A. Vittone will face Democrat David DiCarlo in November.
DiCarlo pulled 15,602 Democrat votes for the nomination, while Vittone had 8,056 Republican votes.
