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A Busy Election Year Ahead
Posted 01-01-1999
1999 should be an extremely busy election year in Westmoreland County. In addition to
the many municipal and school board elections taking place in '99, a number of county-wide
races are taking place. As you know all three Commissioners' seats are up. I'm definitely
seeking re-election. It is unknown whether my Democratic colleague Dick Vidmer will run
again or not. Though my Republican colleague Terry Marolt has said publicly many times
this is his last term, don't bet on him not running again.
With the untimely death last Spring of
Judge Scherer and Judge Marker's recent announcement that he will not seek retention, look
for a crowded field for the two openings on the Bench. Al Bell, Tony Marsili, Gary
Falatovich, Michele Bononi, Gino Peluso, Emily Smarto, Ann Wohlgemuth, Annaliese Masser,
and Tim Andrews are the names being mentioned so far. There will probably be more. With
more than one female candidate, the gender issue is muted. So watch that race!
Since Gary Uhrin resigned and interim
Sheriff Ron Baughman has stated he won't be running, the Sheriff's seat is wide open.
Known candidates are Assistant District Attorney Chris Scherer, deputy sheriff Tom Dzambo,
juvenile detention officer Harry Smail, and a number of other law enforcement officers
including Paul Cycak, Tom Dominski, and Warren Ciabatoni.
There is an open seat for Recorder of Deeds
with the retirement of long-time Recorder Jeannie C. Griffith. Look for as many as six
Democrats contesting for that opening including Tom Murphy who ran the last time, Deputy
Recorder Joe Zello, Remo Cashera, and Thelma Matthews. There will be more folks emerging
there, too.
The Controller and Register of Wills are
also open though I haven't heard of anyone challenging either incumbent on the Democratic
side. Jeff Pavetti and Earl Keim are both formidable and with other seats open, folks will
likely pass on those offices.
The other contested race at the county
level should be very interesting. Incumbent Treasurer Kathalyn O'Brien will face a real
challenge from Cindy Blissman. Cindy is going to work hard and spend money, so I think the
incumbent will have to work.
With a new County Chairman, Ken Burkley, I
think a real effort is being made to bring the operation of the party into the 21 century,
even if it goes kicking and screaming. That is one reason I'm hopeful for an open primary.
Endorsements, and I think I could get one, are just divisive and archaic, and selling them
to the electorate is more and more difficult. I support committee folks being for the
candidate of their choice in the primary and then EVERYONE getting behind our party's
nominees in the general election.
Some committee people say that endorsements
are their primary function, but I believe that function to be party activist at the
precinct level. In these days of individual thinking, the public makes up their own minds,
and for a few hundred people to pick our party's candidates and expect the public to buy
it, we make a real mistake. Too often in recent years endorsed candidates lost, like in my
election in 1995, and it makes the party appear weaker. We are the party of the big tent
and there is room for everyone. Let's open it up and see what happens. We need people who
will energize the electorate, not people anointed by a select few.
I'm going to be out there working harder
than I did in 1995 when I had to put together a patchwork of family (both my wife and I
have very big extended families), political outsiders, labor, and just ordinary folks who
want to see good government. This time I hope to be a little wiser in running my campaign,
will definitely know the issues better, and I'm really ready to get in the campaign mode
again. So stay tuned and I'll see you somewhere in 1999! |
