Political consultant and civil rights attorney Joe Welsh is being touted as the mastermind between Sam Murray’s election as Northampton County’s newest judge last week. But Welsh is having none of it.

“It wasn’t about politics, it was about Sam.,” he said, noting that Murray had a small army of 160 election workers at the polls for him Election Day. Some were the parents of players on teams he coached, leading one of them to the doorstep of the Little League World Series. Others were clients or life-long friends.

“They were there for Sam,” Welsh explained.

Unofficial results give Murray, an Easton attorney who lives in Hanover Township, a 19,959 to 18,115 edge over Bethlehem attorney Vic Scomillio, who resides in Palmer Township. That’s what appears to be an unassailable lead of 1,844 votes. The elections office began its own canvass of the votes on Friday, and should complete its work in about a week, after receiving what they predict will be a handful of military ballots.

Welsh’s strategy was to win big in Bethlehem, Easton and traditional Democratic boroughs, and to “keep it close” in the municipalities around Bethlehem’s urban core. He believed Murray would win in a very close election if at least 35,800 people voted. But with the “added benefit of 72 degree weather, 38,082 people voted in the judicial race.

Murray did win big in Bethlehem. He captured every precinct and 66 percent of the 5,213 votes cast, far beyond his county-wide percentage of 52 percent. Though Easton is much smaller than Bethlehem, he got 72 percent of the 2,258 votes cast in the judicial race there.

He also did well in what Welsh calls the cap communities around Bethlehem and Easton. He won in Bethlehem Township (1832-1472), a Republican township that has suddenly turned blue by electing two Democratic commissioners. Scomillio lost Palmer Township (1543-1483), where he lives, and Murray won a close victory on his home turf in Hanover Township (1130-1093). Murray even won in Williams Township (561-454), which is considered a Republican stronghold.

Murray also won in Freemansburg (139-64), Glendon (24-6), Hellertown (417-258), Lower Mt. Bethel (226-162), Nazareth (427-345), Northampton (617-445), Stockertown (98-78), West Easton (117-58), and Wilson Boro (434-198).

Scomillio won in Allen (331-323) Bangor (295-247), Bath (150-115), Bushkill (640-410), Chapman (20-9), E Allen (400-321), E Bangor (75-38), Forks (1052-973), Lehigh (826-575), Lower Nazareth (488-427), Lower Saucon (1237-922), Moore (908-662), N. Catty (224-204), Pen Argyl (310-204), Plainfield (652-436), Portland (48-24), Roseto (175-105), Tatamy (110-66), Upper Mt Bethel (617-395), Upper Nazareth (398-370), Walnutport (94-86), Washington (364-268) and Wind Gap (170-160).

Bethlehem gave Murray a 1,649 edge. Since he won by 1,844 votes, he clearly won this race in the Christmas City, where he once took Lehigh Little League to the World Series.

Research:

Scomillio wins Allen (331-323) Bangor (295-247), Bath (150-115), Bushkill (640-410), Chapman (20-9), E Allen (400-321), E Bangor (75-38), Forks (1052-973), Lehigh (826-575), Lower Nazareth (488-427), Lower Saucon (1237-922), Moore (908-662), N. Catty (224-204), Pen Argyl (310-204), Plainfield (652-436), Portland (48-24), Roseto (175-105), Tatamy (110-66), Upper Mt Bethel (617-395), Upper Nazareth (398-370), Walnutport (94-86), Washington (364-268), Wind Gap (170-160)

Scomillio loses Bethlehem Township: 1-1 181-165; 1-2 156-224; 1-3 80-81; 2-1 78-162; 2-2 82-155; 2-3 71-102; 3-1 128-155; 3-2 99-94; 3-3 44-63; 3-4 106-131; 4-1 192-198; 4-2 155-169; 4-3 100-133.

1472 to 1832 in favor of Murray. Vote total 3304. Murray percentage of victory. - 55.4%

Murray win in Bethlehem 1 (73-20), 1S (50-19), 2 (56-13), 3 (46-13), 4 (69-15), 5 (91-27), 6 (136-64), 7 (180-50), 8 (133-45), 9-1 (65-18), 9-2 (38-19), 9-3 (175-65), 14-1 (198-118), 14-2 (280-234), 14-3 (233-166), 14-4 (152-98), 14-5 (204-110), 14-6 (209-129), 14-7 (198-177), 14-8 (174-82), 15-1 (171-71), 15-2 (246-131), 15-3 (133-38), 16 (71-51), 17-2 (34-5), 17-1 (16-4)

3431 to 1,782 in favor of Murray. 5,213 votes. Murray percentage of victory. - 66%

Murray win in Easton. 2 (74-29), 3-2 (271-157), 3-3 (56-28), 3-4 (156-62), 4 (98-46), 5 (60-9), 6 (73-16), 7 (75-23), 8E (88-18), 8W (87-56), 9 (242-62), 10E (53-21), 10W (100-48), 11 (121-39), 12 (69-21) 1,623 to 635 in support of Murray. 2258 votes total. Murray percentage of victory - 72%

Murray wins Freemansburg (139-64), Glendon (24-6), Hanover (1130-1093), Hellertown (417-258), Lower Mt. Bethel (226-162), Nazareth (427-345), Northampton (617-445), Palmer Tp (1543-1483), Stockertown (98-78), West Easton (117-58), Williams (561-454), Wilson Boro (434-198).