Mar 12, 2013 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The final day for candidates to file nomination petitions drew to a close Tuesday, setting the stage for the only countywide race Greene County voters can expect to see on the ballot this spring.

Three candidates filed nomination petitions for the position of sheriff, Brian Tennant, William F. Lewis Jr. and Erik Ketchem.

All three are running for the Democratic nomination. No Republican candidate filed petitions to be on the ballot.

The current office holder, Sheriff Richard Ketchem, the father of Erik Ketchem, announced in January that he would not seek re-election to another term.

Richard Ketchem, who is 64 and who has served as sheriff since 1990, said his decision to call it quits was based on health reasons.

Tennant, 29, of Waynesburg is a police officer for Waynesburg Borough and is the department’s K9 officer. He is now on leave while running for office.

Erik Ketchem, 40, also of Waynesburg, is employed by the state Department of Corrections and has served as a labor foreman for SCI Greene’s community works department for the last seven years.

Lewis, 53, of Cumberland Township, has served for 20 years as a state constable and is a deputy coroner for Greene County.

The only other countywide position up for election this year is coroner. However, Incumbent Gregory P. Rohanna, a Democrat, was the only candidate to file nomination petitions.

No Republican candidate will appear on the ballot.

Rohanna has served as coroner for 17 years and prior to assuming the post was the chief deputy coroner for 14 years.

One of the county’s three district judge seats also is up for election this year.

Incumbent District Judge Lee Watson in the third magisterial district also is unopposed this year. Watson cross-filed and his name will appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.

The district covers Carmichaels, Greensboro and Rices Landing boroughs, and the townships of Cumberland, Dunkard, Greene and Monongahela.

Voters also will see on the primary election ballot elections for township supervisor, tax collector and auditors; for borough mayor, councilmen and tax collector; and for school directors in each the county’s five school districts. Voters also will elect judges and inspectors of election.

Tina Kiger, director of the county’s department of elections and voter registration, said the number of candidates to file this year for the May 21 spring primary is comparable to past years.

She reminded candidates that the casting of lots for ballot positions will be held in the county election office at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 20.