By Keith Gushard
Meadville Tribune
Democrat Betty Lou Williams apparently has withstood a write-in challenge for Crawford County jury commissioner.
With 66 of 67 precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed Williams had 4,728 votes while there were less than 300 write-in votes for the office.
However, write-in totals don’t reflect for whom the ballot was cast. Write-ins, absentee ballots and provisional ballots won’t be added into totals until official vote tabulations begin Friday.
Anne Furno, 75, the incumbent Democrat jury commissioner, ran a write-in campaign for the post after losing the Democratic Party’s nomination for a fourth term in the May 19 primary to Williams of Saegertown by 19 votes.
Furno of Meadville said she was encouraged to run a write-in campaign by friends.
Williams, 70, said it was an interesting race for her.
“It made me work,” Williams said. “I’m sure I can do a good job.”
Furno declined to concede Tuesday night.
“Not until they have the full vote,” Furno said.
Asked if she was holding out hope for a victory, Furno said “I would not say that.”
Democrats and Republicans each elect one jury commissioner.
Jury commissioners work part-time and are responsible for selecting prospective jurors for each scheduled term of Crawford County Court of Common Pleas — both civil and criminal. They are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the jury system.
The jury commissioners will be paid an annual salary of $9,890 in 2010. Prospective jurors randomly are selected from the tax rolls, registered voters and drivers age 18 and older.
While Williams apparently won the Democratic Party race, David Kennedy won the Republican side with 8,127 votes with 66 of 67 nomination. Neither Williams nor Kennedy has held office before.
This was Williams’ second try for the position — she ran in 1989 and lost in the primary.
Kennedy, 58, of Meadville, sought the office for the first time. Unchallenged in the May primary, he’s replacing his retiring mother, Dorothy Kennedy. She had served as the Crawford County Republican jury commissioner since 1980.
Kennedy thanked the voters saying, “I appreciate the trust they’ve placed in me.”
“I want to make jury service something not to be afraid of,” Kennedy said. “It’s a duty of citizenship.”
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
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