Jul 2, 2014 3 min read

Members of the Washington County Democratic Committee plan to vote July 12 for a new chairman, vice chairmen and executive board members, but like many recent Democratic Party elections, this one is not without controversy.

Clifton Cochran, a committeeman from Washington’s 3rd Ward, 1st Precinct who was also elected to the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee in May, also hoped to run for Washington County Democratic Party chairman. His name, however, does not appear on a list of candidates being mailed Wednesday to county committee members.

The candidates listed for chairman are Ronald A. Sicchitano of North Bethlehem Township, a retired miner, and Kenneth J. Westcott of Washington, city councilman and former mayor.

Cochran, who filed a petition to run for chairman, said Wednesday he was notified a few days ago that his nominating petition was being challenged by Vitteck because it was not notarized.

Outgoing county Chairman George Vitteck Jr. said the issue is that Margaret E. Cox, no adddress given, who is no longer a committee member, signed Cochran’s petition, and that Carl A. Haberl of South Strabane Township, who had not yet been elected the county Democratic committee, submitted a letter June 23 “disavowing” his signature. Without these two, Vitteck maintains that Cochran’s petition lacks the 10 signatures needed, and he said Cochran declined to discuss the matter with him in person.

“There was nothing wrong with my petition,” Cochran said. “The bylaws don’t mention about notarization.”

Cochran said he wrote a registered letter to Vitteck, who is not seeking another four-year term, and emailed Jim Burns, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee.

“My next step will be a letter to Burns protesting that my name was not included,” Cochran said, adding that a committee, not the outgoing chairman, should be handling the upcoming election.

Vitteck said that according to the committee’s bylaws, the chairman conducts the election.

Running for first vice chairman are Linda M. Andrews of Washington and Deborah Harter of South Strabane Township; and second vice chairman, Haberl and Lawrence L. Mauro of Donora.

Democrats will also be electing executive board members by school district. The committee hopes to fill through write-in votes executive board positions from school districts where no one has filed, including Bethlehem-Center, Burgettstown, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, McGuffey and Peters Township.

Balloting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 12 at the Alpine Club, 735 Jefferson Ave., Washington.

As part of the reorganization, the newly-elected county chairman is to appoint a party secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer.