Shorraw defeats incumbent Mavrakis in Monessen mayor race
Challenger Matt Shorraw defeated incumbent Lou Mavrakis in the race for Monessen’s mayoral seat.
According to Westmoreland County returns Tuesday night, Shorraw garnered 52.12 percent of the votes while Mavrakis, who is nearing the end of his first term in office, captured 47.4 percent.
Phone calls to Shorraw and Mavrakis Tuesday night were not returned.
Shorraw, who is 26, campaigned on platforms of economic development, connecting to the community’s youth and tackling the opioid problem.
“I’m obviously very surprised. You always hope for the best but you never know,” Shorraw said. “I’m humbled and I’m thankful.
“I want to hit the ground running.”
He said wants to get community collaboration in order to move Monessen forward.
Mavrakis said he wanted to rid the city of blight, including a vacant former Monessen Savings & Trust building, a landmark that Shorraw said he wants to save and restore.
Both are Democrats.
Mavrakis said last week he took some hits from the Democratic party over accusations he is a supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, who appeared in Monessen in June.
He denied supporting Trump.