Pike County DA successful in write-in campaign for Democratic nomination

Don’t count out Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin just yet.

A tally Friday of write-in votes cast in the primary election handed Tonkin the Democratic nomination for district attorney. If he accepts the nomination, it will set up a rematch with Republican rival Kelly A. Gaughan in the Nov. 3 general election.

The official canvass of Tuesday’s balloting showed Tonkin received 465 write-in votes on the Democratic side, the county elections office reported. That is well in excess of the 100 write-ins the two-term Republican incumbent from Palmyra Township needed to secure a spot on the November ballot.

Efforts to reach Tonkin, who has the option of declining the nomination, were unsuccessful Friday.

Gaughan, a Milford Township lawyer who has criminal defense experience but has never prosecuted a case, defeated Tonkin by 192 votes Tuesday to win the GOP nomination. Unofficial returns showed Kelly with 2,166 votes to 1,974 for Tonkin.

Gaughan said the development will not change what she is doing.

“At this point, I will continue to spread my message and move ahead as appropriate. … I have a zero tolerance for child abuse. I think we need to come down strong on all the tough crimes we have in Pike County,” she said.

A rematch between the primary foes would play out against the looming capital murder case against Eric Matthew Frein.

Frein, 32, of Canadensis, is charged in the Sept. 12 ambush outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks that killed Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II of Dunmore and wounded Trooper Alex T. Douglass of Olyphant.

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