The Lawrence County Board of Elections voted Nov. 21 to certify the county'wide results of the Nov. general election while excluding the Hickory Township supervisor contest, which is under active court review.

County solicitor Jason Madore told the board the Hickory Township supervisor race was a write-in contest in which the two highest vote totals were "Michael Dillo with 57 votes and Bridal Brown with 55 votes." Madore said the county determined Dillo was not a qualified candidate "because he is a registered voter in Scott Township," and that President Judge Cox had issued an order staying certification of the Hickory Township race pending a hearing likely to be scheduled within about 30 days. "So as such... we will not take any action today as it relates to that race," Madore said.

Elections Director Tim Germani had told the board that "all ballots have been counted. Provisionals are counted. All military ballots have come in," and asked the board to certify results. The board presented a resolution that certified the results of the general election while specifically excluding the Hickory Township supervisor contest. A motion and second were offered and the board approved the resolution by roll call. The board recorded the vote in favor of certification; the resolution directs the elections director to submit the certified county results to the Pennsylvania Department of State, excluding the contested Hickory Township race.

Write-in candidate Michael Dillo addressed the board during public comment and said he resides in Hickory Township and that an attorney had taken his case; he said a court date was set for Dec. 12 and asked that the board double-check the returns. "I live in Hickory Township... I am an elector in the township," Dillo said.

Next steps: the Hickory Township supervisor contest remains stayed and will be resolved through the court process; the board did not take further action on that contest at the meeting.