Former Whitehall Township executive and commissioner Daniel McNeill was the top vote-getter Sunday at a meeting of Democratic county committee members in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
A state Democratic Party committee must still issue a final decision on who will replace state Rep. Joe Brennan on the ballot.
The state committee will choose Republican candidate Dave Molony's opponent from among the top three vote-getters.
Brennan dropped his re-election bid after being arrested earlier this month on drunk driving and assault charges following a confrontation with his wife. Brennan says he will remain in office until November.
