Although there will be many races to be decided in the November general election, Tuesday's primary went a long way toward deciding who will occupy several municipal and school board offices next year, despite voter turnout that averaged around 15 percent of registered voters.

The top contests in the primary all but determined who will be the mayor in two boroughs.

With no Republican candidates, Bellevue Mayor George Doscher's defeat of challenger Mike Braunlich in the primary left the incumbent Democrat in an enviable position for the November election. Doscher edged out Braunlich by 30 votes in the borough-wide race, 270-240.

In Emsworth, Dee Quinn handily defeated incumbent George Rossi in the Democratic primary for mayor, 136-76, and is reported to have secured enough Republican write-in votes to have take that party's nomination as well.

Former Northgate School Board member Lorinda Hayes lost out on her comeback attempt on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. Longtime board member Shirl Reinhart led each ticket, followed by fellow board member Charles Miklos. Coming in third and fourth on both ballots for a four-year seat were Marita Bartholomew and Anthony Barbarino, although Bartholomew edged out Barbarino on the Democratic ballot, and Barbarino took a slight lead on the GOP ballot. Securing both parties' nominations for the fifth seat was Gary Paladin.

Unofficial vote totals were:
Democrat Republican
Reinhart 517 245
Miklos 436 208
Bartholomew 400 194
Barbarino 400 194
Paladin 392 186
Hayes 295 150

Miklos and Barbarino will face each other again in November for election to a two-year seat on the board. Miklos won the Democratic nomination 380-354, but lost the Republican nomination to Barbarino 163-149.

In Avalon, Thomas Lloyd Jr. had no trouble taking the Democratic nomination for a first ward council seat from Vincent Barbarino. Lloyd received 63 votes to Barbarino's 22 in the primary to nominate a Democrat for a four-year seat on council.

Although the results of write-in votes will not be certified by the county for some time, several tentative results have been reported to The Citizen. Ken Kroen is reported to have obtained the Democratic and Republican nominations for a seat on Emsworth Council, and Republican nominee Paul Getz also is expected to appear on the Democratic ballot in November. In Avalon, incumbent council president Ed Klicker is reported to have been nominated for the office of tax collector by voters from both parties.