By KATHY MELLOTT
EBENSBURG — A single vote separated two candidates for Cresson Borough Council.
But it was enough to eliminate the need for Patrick Mulhern to choose between sitting on council or serving as mayor.
Mulhern, unopposed in his bid for mayor, garnered 250 votes for that position. He also was on the ballot for one of four four-year seats on council.
The official tally, released Monday, showed Mulhern, a Democrat, captured 168 votes – right behind Republican O. Thomas McConnell, who received 169 to finish fourth in the race.
The top vote-getter was political newcomer Rob Hogue, a Democrat, with 267 votes. Incumbent Democrat Michael Zabinsky received 208 votes, while another political newcomer, Democrat Susan White, was third with 189 votes.
The official tally included results of a write-in campaign by Michael McGough. The longtime council president fell short of the support he needed to win what would have been an eighth consecutive term.
McGough, who failed to garner enough support to win a Democratic nomination in the spring primary, finished significantly behind the others last week with 121 write-in votes. McGough said he had no comment on the race.
In the event Mulhern had won a council seat, he would have had to choose between the two posts. He said he had already made up his mind to fill the mayoral seat.
Running unopposed for two two-year terms on council, Democrats Sharon McGonigle and David Lee received 272 and 247 votes respectively.
