Judgeships, magisterial contests, local offices dominate primary ballot
Washington County elections director Larry Spahr discusses his favorite topic from his Courthouse Square office.
Washington County Elections Director Larry Spahr, who has worked at the office since the 1980s, has never seen a local election in which less than 20 percent of the registered electorate bothered to cast votes, but he said it could happen today.
The number of absentee ballots returned to the elections office is one way to gauge interest in an election, and as of May 9, just 619 were requested.
Eight hundred to 1,500 is more typical for an off-year primary.
“We’re going to be lucky if we reach 20 percent,” Spahr said. “The lowest I remember is like 21 percent. Not too much excitement out there.”
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Countywide, five candidates are seeking either a Democratic or Republican nomination to a judgeship. They are Kristin Clingerman of South Strabane Township, Joyce Hatfield-Wise of Amwell Township, Charles Kurowski of Canton Township, Phil Melograne of Peters Township and Brandon P. Neuman of North Strabane Township. All have cross-filed. They are seeking to fill the seat vacated by the January 2015 retirement of President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca, and whoever is elected would bring the Washington County bench to its full complement of six.
There are no intraparty races for the Washington County row offices. Recorder of Deeds Debbie Bardella, a Democrat, and James Roman, a Republican, are unopposed for their respective party’s nominations. There are no potential Republican opponents on the ballot to eventually face County Controller Michael Namie and Sheriff Sam Romano, also Democrats, although Romano is also seeking a GOP write-in nomination.
Magisterial contests are taking place in the Monongahela area, where incumbent Mark Wilson of the city has a challenger in Peter Seth Hoosac of New Eagle. Both have cross-filed. Carroll Township and Donora round out the district. Three Peters residents – only one of which, Jacob Machel, is on the ballot – are hoping for nominations. Write-in candidates are Diane DiSalle and William Merrell. Machel has cross-filed. Nottingham and Union townships, plus Finleyville, also make up the district.
A slew of supervisor candidates have filed in several townships, and in Donegal, the three-person board is expanding to five in the wake of a local referendum last November. West Alexander Borough merged with the township in 2009, becoming the first such consolidation in Washington County since 1954.
School board, mayor and council are also on today’s ballot.
Greene County Elections Director Tina Kiger said they normally don’t see more than 30 percent turnout in a municipal primary election, but they might reach 35 percent this year.
“We have a few contested races, so we might get there,” Kiger said. “Get out and vote.”
There are several competitive township supervisor races and three candidates – David Balint, Owen Coffman and Jody Pierce-Craig – are vying for nominations for the district judge’s seat in the western half of the county previously held by Greene County Judge Lou Dayich.
The only change to a precinct in Greene County is in Greensboro Borough, where the polling place has been moved to the former Holy Family Catholic Church, which is now the Greensboro-Monongahela Township Volunteer Fire Department.
A realignment of Washington County’s voting precincts, rolled out earlier this year, won’t be put in place until the Nov. 7 general election, so anyone heading to the polls today should report to the same location as last November.
For state Supreme Court, Democrat Dwayne Woodruff and Republican Sallie Mundy are running unopposed for their party’s nomination.
Pennsylvania has two mid-level appellate courts. On Superior Court, there will be four openings. Democrats seeking nominations include Carolyn Nichols and Maria McLaughlin of Philadelphia; Debbie Kunselman of Center Township, Beaver County; Geoff Moulton of Montgomery County; and William Caye of South Fayette Township, Allegheny County. Republican candidates are Emil Giordano of Northampton County, Craig Stedman of Lancaster County, Wade A. Kagarise of Blair County, Mary Murray of Moon Township, Allegheny County and Paula Patrick of Philadelphia.
Voters from each major party will choose two standard-bearers for Commonwealth Court. Democrats include Timothy Barry of Dormont, Joe Cosgrove of Luzerne County, Ellen Ceisler of Philadelphia, Todd Eagen of Lackawanna County, Irene Clark of Pittsburgh and Bryan Barbin of Cambria County. Running unopposed for the Republican nomination are Paul Lalley of Upper St. Clair and Christine Fizzano Cannon of Delaware County.
Regional Editor Mike Jones contributed to this report.