Browning Concedes, Ott Wins GOP Nod for Lehigh County Executive

Republican Scott Ott apparently beat challenger Dean Browning for the GOP nomination for Lehigh County Executive, according to unofficial tallies.

Ott, a Lehigh County commissioner, will now face the apparent Democratic nominee, Tom Muller, who was named acting county executive last week, in the November general election.

Browning, of South Whitehall, conceded the race about 10 p.m. at a gathering at the Buckeye Tavern in Macungie. He had been trying to make a political comeback after having been ousted as a county commissioner two years ago. He campaigned hard, airing TV commercials and emailing campaign messages.

According to tallies reported on wfmz.com, Ott, of Lower Macungie, had 5,688 votes with 83 percent of the precincts reporting, to Browning's 4,645 votes.

Ott said that Browning, in conceding the race, said he would support his candidacy in the fall and told him, "go get 'em." "I think we have a very good chance of contining this reform movement in Lehigh County," Ott said.

Ott, 51, is co-host of a current events talk show for PJTV, a conservative online network. 

Browning, 57, is a former Lehigh County board of commissioners chairman. He is executive vice president, finance and administration, and chief financial officer at New World Aviation.

Muller, of Lower Macungie, was named acting county executive last week when Bill Hansell stepped down for medical reasons. Hansell was filling out Don Cunningman's unexpired term.