The chairman of the Democratic Party of Carbon County was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention as part of the Primary Election voting process that took place in the 17th Congressional District.

William J. O'Gurek Jr., Summit Hill, will be a delegate to the national convention to be held in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 3-6.According to party regulations, delegates to the national convention are elected within their congressional districts. Since President Barack Obama is the incumbent and the lone candidate, the Pennsylvania delegation is determined as an "invited" candidate process but have to be elected in the Primary. O'Gurek was one of eight persons who were successful in winning delegate seats.He received 32,186 votes to finish sixth of the eight positions.In Carbon County balloting, O'Gurek received 2,899 votes; Bettinger, 1,993; Pauline, 1992; O'Malley, 1,983; Boland, 1,950; McNulty, 1,894; Garvin, 1,829; and Shubilla, 1,765.Meanwhile, in Republican balloting, two local persons who sought to become delegates to the Republican National Convention to be held Aug. 27-30 in Tampa, Fla., failed to get sufficient votes among a crowded field. They are Gretchen Sterns of Orwigsburg and Maria Montero of Tamaqua.Democratic votingThe Democratic vote totals included:17th District - Evie Rafalko McNulty, 37,317; Todd J. O'Malley, 35,856; Rosemary Ann Boland, 34,511; Elizabeth A. Bettinger, 32,881; Roxanne G. Pauline, 32,483; O'Gurek, 32,186; Walter R. Garvin, 29,895; and Thomas M. Shubilla, 28,967.Alexander Bryan Altieri was the lone alternate delegate candidate in the district and received 34,293 votes.11th District - Diane A. Bowman, 25,872; Amy L. Putnam, 24,663; Helen D. Spence, 24,361; A. Michael Pratt, 23,304; David G. Gliddon, 23,221; George P. Hartwick III, 23,164; and Irwin W. Aronson, 21,922.GOP votingIn the Republican balloting, three persons were elected delegates from a field of 15 in the 11th District. Winning positions were Jeff Piccola, 20,433; Kathy L. Evans, 16,812; Jeff Haste, 11,506Failing to win delegate posts were John R. Gordner, 11,133; Scott M. Henry, 10,602; Debra A. Etzweiler, 9,748; Michael Harrison, 7,951; Michael A. Anderson, 7,941; Donald J. Ely, 6,267; Lowman S. Henry, 6,118; William C. Urbanski, 6,116; Randolph L. McPherson, 5,670; Joseph J. Zapach, 5,035; Jeffrey Lee Cusat, 3,112; Evan Haines Reichley, 2,479.In the 17th District, there were three delegates selected also. They include: Mary Beth Dougherty, 10,342; Scott R. Thomas, 7,597; and Anthony M. Antonello, 7,377.Failing to win delegate posts were Mary Rose McAndrew Spano, 6,690; Trent Miller, 6,302; Daniel L. Daub, 6,290; Sterns, 5,985; Robert Kerr, 5,929; John Manko, 5,301; Rose Ann Gaetano, 5,131; Charlie Spano, 5,042; Montero, 4,787; Tricia J. Mezzacappa, 2,795; and Eltgad S. Roces, 1,465.In Carbon voting, Montero had 504 votes and Sterns had 479, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.For alternate delegate positions in the 11th District, Holly Anderson, 27,855; Scott M. Henry, 26,054; and John P. Rodgers, 22,539, won the posts. Losing out was Sean P. Shamany, 16,975.In the 17th District, alternate delegate positions were won by Mary Beth Dougherty, 9,928; Scott R. Thomas, 9,171; and Mary Rose McAndrew Spano, 8,231.Filing to win the alternate posts were Daniel L. Daub, 7,100; Greg Sheeler, 6,773; Sterns, 6,451; Montero, 6,397; Mary T. Barket, 6,378; Rose Ann Gaetano, 6,139; Charlie Spano, 6,057.Sterns had 595, finishing in fourth place in Carbon balloting, while Montero's 595 votes placed her sixth in county balloting.