In a Democratic primary that was considered nasty even by Braddock standards -- council members used to throw chairs at each other there -- the race between Mayor John Fetterman and Jayme Cox was one of the most watched in the Mon Valley.

But the mayor, who eked out a victory four years ago by one vote, emerged the winner, garnering around two-thirds of the 430 or so votes cast, according to election watchers.

All results in the area are unofficial.

Mr. Fetterman, a Harvard-educated native of York, Pa., whose efforts to revitalize the town have garnered national media attention, was pitted against Mr. Cox, a Braddock native who works for a security company in Greensburg.

The race between the two men quickly turned ugly, as Mr. Fetterman repeatedly brought up Mr. Cox's 2004 arrest following a fight with his wife, Ronette, and a resulting protection-from-abuse order filed by Ms. Cox.

Mr. Fetterman defended his decision to air Mr. Cox's dirty laundry by saying the record was relevant to the qualifications of someone who would become the borough's chief law enforcement officer.

Then last week, a flier emerged featuring a picture of Malcolm X holding a gun and the words "SAY NO TO FETTERMANVILLE." A Cox supporter was distributing the fliers, but Mr. Cox said he did not authorize it.

The mayor went home as the results were tabulated around 8 p.m. Tuesday, looking tired and a little morose after working the polls from the crack of dawn. But a little after 9, as a handful of supporters gathered in front of the borough building, he ambled slowly around the corner to cheers.

His stern face cracked a slight smile as he delivered a short victory speech.

He said he felt bad about how the campaign had turned negative.

"I didn't feel good about it. There were hurt feelings on both sides," he said, with Mr. Cox standing just feet away.

He also said he hoped to "reach across the aisle" and build a better relationship with council members.

The relationship has gone has gone from bad to worse recently. At the last meeting, some council members tried to have him arrested for bringing up Mr. Cox's arrest record.

In other Allegheny County races:

In a borough in which the dissolution of its small police department turned recent meetings into near brawls, Emerson Fazekas, the soft-spoken mayor, was ousted by James Fleckenstein. The difference was about two dozen votes in their Democratic primary.

The mayor, who had limited power because of borough government, fought hard to keep the police, first trying to veto the motion to furlough the department. Then, when the solicitor challenged his authority to do so, he filed a lawsuit to assert it.

It will be seen what impact the mayor's loss will have on the lawsuit. If the mayor prevails, the borough's police force could be reinstated.

In an aging community, Mayor Jim Brewster was excited to have two young Democratic candidates for city council in the fall.

Three seats will be up for grabs then, but only one incumbent, Darryl Segina, succeeded in garnering a Democratic nomination.

The two other nominations were snapped up by V. Fawn Walker, 29, a family therapy supervisor, and Alfred Tedesco, who is in his early 30s. They ousted current council members Paul Shelly and Dale McCall for nominations.

"One of the problems we have is an aging community and we need to get younger representation," Mr. Brewster said. "We now have what I believe is a good group that we can hand long-term projects off to."

A primary race that candidates on both sides called ugly ended with a familiar face coming out on top.

Former commissioner Sylvia Martinelli beat newcomer Rhonda Lazarus to become the Democratic nominee for an at-large commissioners seat in November.

Mrs. Martinelli said she's glad the township voted in her favor despite a political newsletter that, she said, was created to defame her and other candidates' characters.

The Wilkins Chronicle, written by an anonymous resident, criticizes decisions that Mrs. Martinelli made as a commissioner, accuses her of interfering with political opponents' signs and accuses her of being involved in racist graffiti painted on a business displaying her opponents' campaign signs.

A similar newsletter, the Wilkins Advisor, was distributed before the November 2007 elections.

"The voters were duped two years ago and they tried to do the same thing this year with the Wilkins Chronicle," said Mrs. Martinelli.

"If anybody knows me at all, they know I would never consider anything like that. That is so lame."

Ms. Lazarus said she had "absolutely nothing" to do with the Wilkins Chronicle, and also was a victim of misconduct throughout the election cycle.

Ms. Lazarus said she witnessed one of her political signs being removed by someone driving a township public works vehicle and has had trash thrown at signs in her own yard.

Township Manager Rebecca Bradley said she followed up on Ms. Lazarus' complaint with the public works department and it was "highly unlikely" that an employee removed her signs.

Ms. Lazarus said the experience, while negative at some points, has encouraged her to become more politically active in the community. She said she will likely run for a commissioners seat again.

"Local government in Wilkins Township is broken and change is desperately needed," she said. "I'm even more appalled going through this process, learning from the citizens what they have encountered in this township."

Mrs. Martinelli will face James Dick, who won the Republican nomination for Ward Two commissioner, in November's general election.

Two tightly contested races ended with the incumbent winning in his party.

Mayor Gregory Erosenko, who was appointed mayor in March 2008, beat newcomer Janice Olszewski for the Democratic nomination for mayor by 74 votes, according to the county Elections Bureau yesterday morning.

Jamison Lane resident and neighborhood advocate Diane Allison lost to longtime Fifth Ward Councilman Marshall Boone by a scant two votes, according to the Elections Bureau yesterday morning.

Mr. Erosenko and Mr. Boone do not have Republican opponents for the general election.

John W. Peck is in position to secure for a fourth term as Westmoreland County's district attorney.

Mr. Peck fended off a challenge by James R. Antoniono in the Democratic race, garnering more than 60 percent of the vote, unofficially, as of yesterday morning.

No Republican ran.

Robert Carter apparently is headed for the mayor's office.

Mr. Carter won a three-way race for the Democratic spot Tuesday, outdistancing Frank B. Hodges and Sally J. Stitely.

There were no Republican candidates.

Mr. Carter is a former two-term council member. He will likely succeed Michael Cafasso, a Democrat who decided not to run for re-election as mayor.

Term limitations prevented Mayor Joyce Somers from running for re-election. Her successor probably will be Mark R. Kennedy or Robert J. Brooks, who ran unopposed on the Democratic and Republican tickets, respectively.

Mr. Kennedy also will vie for one of four council seats available in the November general election. He was the only Democrat to run.

Joan C. Kearns, Ron Summerhill, David R. Perry and Jeffery Kepler prevailed in a field of eight Republicans.

John Mylant and Sherry L. Bolha will face off in November for the one open supervisors seat.

Mr. Mylant defeated four others on the Democratic side Tursday. Ms. Bolha was the only Republican.

They will vie for the seat of Timothy J. Quinn, a Democrat, who decided not to seek re-election after 12 years.

Incumbent Edwin "Bo" Anthony may be out as a borough council member.

In an unofficial tally yesterday morning, he was last among five Democrats who were seeking four seats. Two Republicans also were on the ballot.

At that time, Mr. Anthony was six votes shy of the fourth-place Democrat, Gordon P. Stoves, also an incumbent.

Thomas Harrison, a former council member, and incumbents Kenneth Galley and John McIntyre are the other Democrats. Brian Crawford and Tina M. Dematty are the Republicans.

Michael W. Calder handily defeated Bob Campagna in the Democratic race for mayor, and will likely prevail in November. No Republicans ran.

Four council seats will be available, and Melanie Litz, Barry L. Delissio, Stanley A. Mahinske and Donna L. Thatcher were the top four vote-getters among eight Democratic candidates. They will vie with Republican Kathleen E. Haduch in the general election.

Incumbent Aileen Reid was the only Republican candidate for mayor, and will face James Gold in November. Mr. Gold defeated Vicki Shirley on the Democratic side.