The Pennsylvania secretary of the commonwealth has extended the deadline for candidates for the fourth seat on the state Superior Court to decide if they are willing to waive a legally mandated recount.

The four candidates, who are within 0.2 percent of each other, now have until 4:30 p.m. today to submit a letter opting out of the recount.

The extension came after Republican candidate Temp Smith, of Mt. Lebanon, sent a letter to Pedro Cortes yesterday asking if he could postpone ordering a recount for three days until Mr. Smith could make an informed decision. The original deadline to opt out was noon yesterday.

Judge Robert J. Colville, Judge Anne E. Lazarus and Assistant District Attorney Kevin F. McCarthy have already submitted letters to opt out of the recount. However, the only way to avoid the potential $1.3 million expense is if all four candidates agree.

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