Longtime election observers -- and even some of the Avonworth School Board candidates themselves -- would have told you that it couldn’t be done.

With a healthy slate of cross-filed candidates, it was the longest longshot ever that a write-in nominee would get enough votes to appear on the November ballot.

It appears, however, that the “Concerned Citizens of Avonworth” may have done just that, times three.

The Allegheny County Department of Elections is still sorting through nearly 1,900 write-in votes cast for candidates in the Avonworth board race during Tuesday’s primary election. Until that daunting task is finished, no one knows for sure which five will appear on the Republican and Democratic tickets in November for election to the board.

The primary race offered voters in the Avonworth communities seven candidates who appeared on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, as well as one candidate listed only as a Democrat.

On the one side, the “Responsible Five” group, urging a more cautious approach to the district’s fiscal matters, backed five cross-filed newcomers: Keith Egyed, Michael Wrbas, Tracey Madey, Patricia Monahan and Jim Carrigan.

On the other side were the “Concerned Citizens,” who maintained that you couldn’t argue with the district’s success. The group, however, was somewhat less than successful in giving voters a full slate of candidates on the ballot. Incumbent David Oberdick and newcomer Jeffrey Carraway were the only ones cross-filed. Incumbent Brenda Barlek had problems with her Republican nominating petition and appeared only on the Democratic ballot.

They were joined by incumbent Peter McKay and former board member Rob Wible, neither of whom had filed any nominating petitions whatsoever. Both sought write-in votes on both tickets, while Barlek asked Republicans to write-her in on the primary ballot.

Call it luck, call it idealism, call it anything but a solid political strategy, but preliminary numbers from election night appear to predict success for the group’s efforts.

On the Republican ticket, Oberdick was the clear leader, picking up 617 votes district-wide. He was followed by Carraway with 558, Monahan with 312, Carrigan with 308, Wrbas with 289, Madey with 265, and Egyed with 236. There were 1,119 write-in votes.

On the Democratic ballot, Oberdick again was the big vote-winner, picking up 613. Close behind were Carraway with 546, and Barlek with 538. Carrigan received 290 votes, followed by Monahan with 288, Wrbas with 255, Madey with 247, and Egyed with 203. There were 766 Democratic write-in votes cast.

The Elections Department is expected to make a final determination on the candidates within the next couple weeks.