BARKEYVILLE, Venango County — Bill Coursen, one of four candidates running on an anti-asphalt platform, won a borough council seat Tuesday night with 44 votes in an unusual election that remains up in the air since there are 116 outstanding write-in votes yet to be counted.

Carol Coursen, who received 40 votes, Randy Martin and Rich Ferguson all ran in protest of the asphalt plant being built in the Barkeyville Industrial Park by Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. Ferguson and Martin were both write-in candidates. The official tally of write-in votes could affect the ultimate outcome of the election.

While Coursen's wife originally said the group was running an all-or-nothing campaign, she retracted that statement and said they would have been more effective if elected together. Fliers distributed by the group repeatedly urged voters to vote for all four candidates as well. Four seats were available.

Alvin Patton came in with 46 votes, Warren Whetzel with 50, and Regis Brick with 44, and all will keep their seats unless the write-in tally reports otherwise. The Venango County bureau of elections office did not return calls on when those votes would be counted.

While Coursen would not comment on his apparent victory, Ferguson said Coursen would be a good addition to council and bring new ideas to the table.

"He's been around and he's lived here all his life and he is going to look out for the best interest of the people here in town," Ferguson said.

Ferguson also said Coursen's experience at Joy Manufacturing will bring a new set of skills to the borough.

"He's got a good knowledge of the business world and maybe he can help bring that into play," Ferguson said.

Coursen's wife said she is proud of her husband's accomplishment.

"He's been here for 60 years and has 30 years invested in council and he doesn't want to see the whole thing go down the tubes," she said.

Coursen has served as chairman of the Barkeyville Planning Commission.

Council President Leann Stearns, who was seeking re-election in a write-in campaign, said she was impressed with the energized voters in the town.

"I can't believe we had that many people come out," Stearns said. "It's the first time that many people have voted in Barkeyville."

Whetzel is determined to move forward and tackle the issues he says are most important to Barkeyville residents.

"I'd like to get more businesses in the area and keep things moving right along," Whetzel said. "We need to keep doing what we're doing. It's hard for all of us and I want to keep pushing for a fire station here."

When asked for his reaction to Coursen's position on council, Whetzel said, "welcome aboard."

"It's just business as usual," Whetzel said.

Ferguson said no matter what happens with the results of the write-in campaign, council will move forward from here.

"Sometimes new blood in any business is good," Ferguson said. "Any new ideas you can bring forward is a good thought, and where you go from there is up to the powers that be," Ferguson said.

Randy Martin was not available for comment.