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Dan Onorato coasted to an easy re-nomination for county chief executive last night.

Mr. Onorato, 46, of the North Side, defeated Rick Swartz, 54, of Friendship. Mr. Swartz, executive director of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. ran a nearly unfunded campaign that didn't begin until the legal challenge to his nominating petitions was resolved in late March.

Unofficial returns showed Mr. Onorato winning by a nearly 7-to-1 margin.

In other county races, acting Sheriff William Mullen won the Democratic nomination and two new faces won nominations for County Council.

This year, Mr. Onorato heads into the November general election the presumptive winner, barring any surprisingly successful Republican write-in campaigns.

"The lack of serious opposition is a sign that the majority of people in the county like the way I've governed," Mr. Onorato said.

Mr. Swartz said he was happy with the totals he received. "Going into this I had people tell me I would be lucky to get out of single digits."

With his vote total in the thousands, he said he felt the issues he raised regarding increasing mass transit funding, repairing the assessment system and focusing county government on improving public safety and the school systems resonated with voters.

While no GOP candidates were on the ballot, there were more than 3,000 write-in votes on the Republican side, which could mean there will be a Republican challenger in the fall.

Sheriff
Sheriff Mullen easily defeated two challengers, securing the Democratic nomination for the job he assumed last fall when his boss, Pete R. DeFazio, retired.

The 37-year police veteran has said he wants to continue efforts to end the culture of patronage and corruption exposed after three top aides and the man who hired him were convicted in federal court.

Sheriff Mullen refused to accept the Democratic nomination last night until every vote was counted. "I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "I just don't know the system. I don't want to be presumptuous. I won't feel comfortable until it's over."

Anthony Costa, a retired Swissvale police lieutenant who trailed the sheriff by about 18 percentage points, said, "If [Sheriff] Mullen wins, I wish him the best and success in all that he does."

Damon J. Brown, a former city patrolman who trains police officers in war-torn regions, attributed the sheriff's victory to winning the party endorsement.

"It carries a lot of weight. I wish that more people had turned out to vote," said Mr. Brown, 45, of Greenfield.

Republican Edward J. Kress ran uncontested.

County Council at-large
In the at-large race for County Council, Chuck McCullough won the seat that is guaranteed to the winner of the Republican primary, despite having dropped his campaign.

Mr. McCullough, 52, of Upper St. Clair, quit campaigning after questions were raised about his handling of a wealthy widow's finances.

He remained a choice for Republican voters because his withdrawal came too late to remove his name from the ballot. It was unclear last night what he would do. He could not be reached for comment.

Mr. McCullough defeated Kevin Acklin, a 30-year-old lawyer from Squirrel Hill, who conceded defeat just after 11 p.m.

Mr. Acklin's spokesman, Mark Harris, said Mr. Acklin was with his family and would not comment last night.

"We're certainly disappointed with the results," Mr. Harris said.

On the Democratic side, John P. DeFazio, 66, of Shaler, was unopposed.

District 6
Incumbent Joan Cleary, 55 of Brentwood, won the nomination to retain her post by defeating John F. Palmiere, 64, of Baldwin Township.

Ms. Cleary, a nurse, was first elected to County Council in 2003. Mr. Palmiere, a barber, is a longtime member of the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board.

She will face the Republican candidate, Donald Lacek, 52, of Baldwin Township, in the fall.

District 9
The three-way race among West Mifflin residents ended in a primary victory for Bob Macey, the incumbent councilman.

Mr. Macey, 58, was appointed to fill the seat left vacant when C.L. Jabbour, 74, resigned to run for the state Legislature. The victory for Mr. Macey means that West Mifflin will be able to retain its mayor, John Andzelik, 63, who would have had to resign if his campaign for council had been successful.

Mr. Macey said last night he thought the voters were tired of the turnover in their council seat, which has had three members in five years.

Barring a write-in campaign, Mr. Macey faces no Republican opposition in the fall.

District 12
Jim Ellenbogen, 51, of Banksville, may have to sue Allegheny County to take the seat for which he won the nomination last night by defeating incumbent William Lestitian.

The seat originally was vacated by the resignation of Rich Nerone, and, when County Council failed to act to fill the position, Mr. Ellenbogen filed a petition with the Court of Common Pleas to be appointed. The same day, however, council appointed Mr. Lestitian, 44, of Brookline, to the vacancy. The rest of council also passed an ordinance that precluded Mr. Ellenbogen, a state Department of Revenue employee, or anyone else who works in state, local or federal government (excluding members of the military) from serving on County Council.

No Republicans have filed to run for the seat.

District 13
Incumbent Brenda Frazier has won this position three times now without being the endorsed candidate.

Ms. Frazier won the nomination with a commanding lead over her opponent, Matthew A. Arena, 66, of Stanton Heights.

No Republican ran in the primary for the seat.