Williams, Demopoulos, Anthony and Yack Advance in Canton Race

As results trickled in Tuesday in the Canton Township Board of Trustees Republican primary race, incumbent kept his eyes on the election results projected on a big screen in the living room of his Canton home, hesitant to declare victory.

Williams, running with fellow incumbents and and former Township Supervisor , anxiously awaited the inclusion of the township's absentee votes to verify what the local precinct votes had indicated — that the four would move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

Shortly before midnight, the absentee ballots echoed the precincts' tally, awarding the four a win over challengers and .

The tally showed Williams earning about 19 percent of the total vote, about 21 percent for Yack, 17 percent for Demopoulos and 19 percent for Anthony. Whyman earned 13 percent and Caferelli earned about 10 percent.

"I'm very appreciative of the fact people came out and voted today," said Williams, who hosted an election party Tuesday with fellow candidates, supporters, friends and family. 

Williams congratulated one of the challengers, Cafarelli, on his race.

"I think Joe did an outstanding job for his first race," Williams said. "He's a good man and I think we'll see more of him in the future."

Now Williams, Anthony, Demopoulos and Yack will look ahead to the Nov. 6 general election, where they will run for four seats against Democrat Steven Sneideman, who earned a pass to the general election with no primary opponent. 

"As this point, I don't believe the strategy will change," Williams said. "I'll continue to do the work and meet as many voters as I possibly can to get my message out and I'll let the people of Canton decide in November."

Canton Township Supervisor , Treasurer and Clerk each ran unopposed in the primary and will not face opposition in the Nov. 6 election.