Several contested races await area voters in May

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Throughout the Mon Valley, there are relatively few races that will be contested in the primary — but of those, most will be decided in May.

In Westmoreland County, the only contested races next month are in the City of Monessen.

Monessen Council incumbents Gil Coles and  Anthony Orzechowski will seek re-election as they are challenged by fellow Democrats Jim Earl and John Scott Nestor. 

Only two spots on council are open.

In the race for Monessen’s mayor, incumbent Matt Shorraw will face off against fellow Democrat Ron Mozer.

Democrat Rosalie Nicksich, who was appointed to the role of controller last year, will seek a four-year term. She is being challenged by fellow Democrat Ed Lea.

In all three races, there are no Republicans who have filed to run in the election so the winners of the seats will likely be decided next month.

Washington County has slightly more activity.

In the race for four open spots on Charleroi Area School Board, there are eight candidates who have all crossfiled.

Incumbents Barbara Pepper, Thomas Nutting and Joseph Caruso and Ken Wiltz are all running for re-election. 

The other candidates are Evonne Henderson, Michael Ciserano, Nick Bongiorno and Melanie Lauritzen.   

In Speers Borough, the mayoral election is between Republicans Tim Herd and Charles Balieu. 

Herd, the incumbent, was appointed to the position  after former Mayor Bill Lee passed away in December due to complications from COVID-19.   

Allegheny County features two contested races next month, and both are for school board spots. 

The McKeesport Area School Board has four openings and 11 candidates running. Of those, seven have crossfiled and four are running as Democrats only.

Three incumbents — David Donato, Tom Filotei and Jim Poston — have crossfiled. Incumbent Ivan Hampton has not filed to run for re-election.

Other candidates who have crossfiled are David Seropian, Matthew Holtzman, Phil Williams and Dan Goughnour.

Four candidates who are only on the Democrat ballot are Nikita Crumb, Gilbert Smith, Tiffany Wampler and Latoya Wright.

South Allegheny School Board has four openings and five candidates running.

Incumbents Pete Miller Jr. and Dino DiFelice have not filed to run for re-election. 

Incumbents Louis Borrelli and Shawn DeVerse have crossfiled.

Candidates Peter Lotz Jr., Edwin Stetz and Sheri Campbell all crossfiled.