Luck of the draw to determine Pa. primary race

[June 02, 2011]  BAINBRIDGE, Pa. (AP) -- The luck of the draw is going to settle one central Pennsylvania election.

Incumbent Gina Mariani and challenger George Rhoads finished in a tie in the Conroy Township supervisor Republican primary.

Mariani and Rhoads will each pick a numbered ball out of a basket to settle the race on Friday. Lowest number wins.

Lancaster County election officials tell WGAL-TV such a scenario is unusual.

Mariani says she's surprised there isn't a runoff instead. Rhoads says the idea of casting lots seems odd to him, but he isn't sure how else to pick a winner.

Both candidates say the race wouldn't have come down to chance if they had campaigned just a little harder.

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Information from: WGAL-TV, http://www.wgal.com/

[Associated Press]

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