Nemeth's, and Nemeth's votes as Ambler's.
Nemeth, not Ambler, had won. Ambler, in fact, had come in third.
As five candidates vie for the probate judge Democratic nomination
today, some longtime residents might recall the shocking 1982 Probate
Court primary election that gave Ambler the victory, only to take it
away three days later.
News of defeat
Ambler received the devastating news before dawn on the Friday after
election night. Then-county clerk Irvin Manuszak woke him at home,
telling him of the canvas board's discovery.
"I had no reason not to have any faith in the results that the general
public received through the media," Ambler recalled. "I said, 'You've
got to be kidding me.'"
Nemeth, meanwhile, was en route to Wisconsin for a vacation, believing
he had missed his chance at a "last hurrah'' following a long legal
career. Unable to reach him, Manuszak called Nemeth's son, Peter J.
Nemeth, who had been campaign manager.
The younger Nemeth thought it was a joke. "I told Irv, 'It's too early
in the morning to be pulling jokes,'" Nemeth recalled. He was able to
relay the news to his father later that evening.
Nemeth, not Ambler, had won. Ambler, in fact, had come in third.
As five candidates vie for the probate judge Democratic nomination
today, some longtime residents might recall the shocking 1982 Probate
Court primary election that gave Ambler the victory, only to take it
away three days later.
News of defeat
Ambler received the devastating news before dawn on the Friday after
election night. Then-county clerk Irvin Manuszak woke him at home,
telling him of the canvas board's discovery.
"I had no reason not to have any faith in the results that the general
public received through the media," Ambler recalled. "I said, 'You've
got to be kidding me.'"
Nemeth, meanwhile, was en route to Wisconsin for a vacation, believing
he had missed his chance at a "last hurrah'' following a long legal
career. Unable to reach him, Manuszak called Nemeth's son, Peter J.
Nemeth, who had been campaign manager.
The younger Nemeth thought it was a joke. "I told Irv, 'It's too early
in the morning to be pulling jokes,'" Nemeth recalled. He was able to
relay the news to his father later that evening.