Monessen: Challenger disputed in mayor’s race

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Another Monessen resident has tossed his cap into the ring for the mayoral race in the November election, but his status has been challenged in Westmoreland County Court.

In the primary, incumbent Mayor Matt Shorraw and resident Ron Mozer squared off for the Democratic nomination. Mozer won that race and enough write-in votes on the Republican ticket to appear on the Republican ballot in November as well.

In the months since, Ernie Telegraphis got enough signatures on a petition to appear on the November ballot as an independent candidate for mayor.

Petitions require 100 signatures, regardless of party. Telegraphis had about 115, but more than 20 were allegedly signatures from people who had already signed petitions for either Shorraw or Mozer — which is not legal under state election law.

Section 951 of Pennsylvania Election Code states: “No elector shall sign more than one nomination paper for each office to be filled, unless there are two or more persons to be elected to the same office, in which case he may sign nomination papers for as many candidates for such office as, and no more than, he could vote for at the succeeding election.”

Former Monessen mayor Lou Mavrakis said he filed the challenge in Westmoreland County Court after realizing that several members of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee’s Region 3 branch had signed Telegraphis’ petition.

Region 3 covers Monessen, Sutersville, North Belle Vernon, West Newton, Rostraver Township and South Huntingdon Township.

Mavrakis said he believed officers and members of the committee had to endorse Democratic candidates only, but realized several of those who had signed Shorraw’s petition had also signed Telegraphis’ petition as an independent — including Shorraw himself.

When asked if signing Telegraphis’ petition meant he thought Telegraphis should be mayor and he was no longer interested in pursuing the position in November, Shorraw said that wasn’t the case.

Shorraw said he signed the petition because he believes Telegraphis has the right to be on the ballot, adding, “I don’t think Mozer is fit to be mayor.”

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