While a Butler attorney won a legal battle to be credited an additional write-in vote as a Democratic candidate for Connoquenessing Township supervisor, he still lost that party's nomination.

After Butler County Judge Michael Yeager ruled the write-in vote of "Musko" counts, Stephen Misko lost the subsequent drawing to determine the nominee.

With the name Musko being validated, Misko tied Sherry Lokhaiser with 15 votes as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination. To break the tie, Regis Young, director of the county elections bureau, on Monday drew numbers to decide the winner.

The winning number had to be closest to 1. Misko had 7, while Lokhaiser drew 5.

In the May primary, Misko clinched the Republican nomination for the six-year seat. He received 200 votes, with Lokhaiser pulling in 146.

Misko said Tuesday he was comfortable with the outcome because he knew there was only a 50/50 chance to get the Democratic nomination.

"Obviously, it would have been easier for me," he said about the possibility of snagging the Democratic nomination. "(However,) being the Republican candidate, I have a huge advantage in November."

Lokhaiser said she was pleased with the outcome.

"I am glad for the opportunity to run on a Democratic ballot," she said. "We do need change. You can't re-elect incumbents."

During Friday's hearing, Misko successfully argued the elections return board was inconsistent by validating write-in votes such as "Steve Miscow" and "Sherry Lauchousey" while rejecting "Musko."

Young said the court ruling won't change how the elections return board reviews write-ins.

"We cannot change our procedure," he said.

Young said there are too many common last names to rely on that alone.

"If 'Musko' had a first name, we would have given it to him," Young said.

He said the return board will continue to review write-in votes on a case-by-case basis.

Lokhaiser defended the return board's rejection of the name Musko.

"There is a Musko that lives in Prospect," she said.

Misko accused his political foes, fellow township supervisors Evelyn Hockenberry and Jack Kaltenbaugh, of supporting Lokhaiser to get him out of office.

"I'm exposing issues," Misko said. "They don't like that."

Lokhaiser denied she is in league with Hockenberry and Kaltenbaugh.

"I make my own decisions," she said.

Misko said his May win shows the voters support his efforts to overcome township politics.

"We are dysfunctional because of poor leadership," he said.