A numbered-ball lottery held to break a primary election tie resulted in victory for Democrat Richard Hirschfield.
By: Linda Seida
NEW HOPE An archaic and quaint Pennsylvania law, one that relies on numbered balls and a leather-covered bottle to break an election tie, resulted in victory for Richard Hirschfield.
The president of the New Hope Borough Council had tied with fellow Democrat Alan Rosenberg in the primary election held May 20. They each had 120 votes.
To determine which man would run in the November election for a chance to win a council seat, the law required the candidates to draw lots.
The two men squared off in the county seat of Doylestown on Friday. As required by a law enacted in the 1930s, 16 numbered balls were placed in a leather-covered bottle. Mr. Rosenberg drew first. Mr. Hirschfield followed and revealed he had drawn number 14. When Mr. Rosenberg revealed he had drawn the number two, the contest was over. The county Board of Elections declared the candidate with the highest number the winner.
The lottery cemented Mr. Hirschfield’s spot on the ballot, alongside fellow Democrats Geri Delevich and Rey Velasco.
"I feel great about it," Mr. Hirschfield said of his victory.
He was quick to add a word of praise for his opponent.
"Al Rosenberg was very gracious about it," he said.
Despite running as a Democrat, Mr. Hirschfield also will be on the ballot as a Republican. He received more write-in votes in the primary 80 from Republicans than Republican candidate Robert Gerenser 46 received by machine.
A spokesman from the Bucks County Board of Elections said after the election that it would not be necessary for Mr. Hirschfield to choose one party over the other.
"Yes, he could conceivably be both a Democratic nominee and Republican nominee, on machine on one party and write-ins for the opposing party," the spokesman said.
Mr. Gerenser challenged Mr. Hirschfield’s write-in votes, but the county board certified them.
Also on the ballot for Republicans are Claire E. Shaw and Michael McManus.