Races for judge, commissioner set for primary
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WAYNESBURG – The final day for filing nomination petitions drew to a close Tuesday, setting the ballot for the May 19 primary that will include countywide races for nominations for common pleas judge and county commissioner.
Three candidates filed petitions for the office of common pleas judge to replace Judge William Nalitz, who retired in December after 17 years on the bench.
The judge candidates are Louis Dayich, a magisterial district judge, and Jeffry Grimes and David J. Russo, who both maintain private practices in Waynesburg.
The three candidates were required to file their petitions with the state Bureau of Elections in Harrisburg.
Each cross-filed, which means their names will appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
The race for county commissioner will appear only on the Democratic ballot.
Three candidates are seeking the two nominations: incumbents Chuck Morris and Blair Zimmerman and former county commissioner Dave Coder.
Two candidates also filed petitions for the Republican nominations: incumbent Archie Trader and newcomer Keith McClure.
All incumbent Democratic county row officers will face no opposition in the primary.
Because no Republican candidates filed for their offices, the candidates also could see no opposition in the general election in the fall.
They include clerk of courts Sherry Wise, controller Dave Balint, district attorney Marjorie Fox, Prothonotary Susan White and treasurer Cory Grandel.
Donna J. Tharp, who has served as acting register and recorder since Tom Headlee’s retirement in December 2013, was also the only candidate to file petitions for register and recorder.
She is a Democrat.
Candidates for commissioner and the row offices as well as for school board and municipal offices all were required to file their nomination petitions with the Greene County Elections Office.
Many had waited until the last few days to file.
“Friday, Monday and today were very busy days,” Tina Kiger, director of the county elections office said Tuesday afternoon. “Today was the busiest.”
Kiger said the office received a good number of nomination petitions, in fact, more than she thought she would receive. Kiger said she believed fewer people would be running for office. “It really didn’t seem like as many people were picking up nominating petitions as in the past,” she said.