Several school board races on May 20 ballot

Many candidates are crossfiled to represent both political parties.

By STACY WOLFORD
Managing Editor
swolford@yourmvi.com

The races for open seats on Valley-wide school boards promise to be among the most competitive in the May 20 primary election.

While Pennsylvania is a closed primary state where independents have no say in the Democratic or Republican nominations in May for a number of local races, it’s not uncommon for candidates in school boards to “crossfile” for both parties.

School board members make important decisions about school districts’ budgets, curriculum and leadership.

Here’s a look at candidates on the ballots around the Mon Valley:

Allegheny County
Elizabeth Forward

In Elizabeth Forward, voters will choose candidates for four, four-year seats. The district is in the midst of a major renovation project due to the 2023 fire at the high school and is looking at possibly consolidating some schools, which may have prompted a field of 10 candidates to run for a seat.

All candidates have crossfiled.

Incumbent school board members Richard Cummings, Jamie Evans, Ryan O. Hemminger and Dorothy Wycoff are seeking reelection.

They face opposition from Mason Markland, Joshua B. Giran, Elizabeth Township police Chief Kenneth D. Honick Jr., Daniel J. Novacek, Chad J. Licht and Margaret Morgan.

McKeesport Area

As the McKeesport Area School District moves past several serious issues from last year, including the loss of its superintendent, the arrest of the school police chief and an investigation of multiple employees, a large field of candidates want to serve on the school board.

There are four, four-year seats open on the city school board.

All candidates crossfiled. Seeking reelection are incumbents David Donato and Matthew Holtzman. They face opposition by candidates Tom Filotei, Julian Thomas, Bob Boyle, Tiffany Wampler, Kevin Kovach, Mike Shelly and Arla Payne.

Incumbents Dan Goughnour, who won the special election to represent the 35th Legislative district as state representative, and Latoya Wright are not seeking reelection.

South Allegheny

There are four, four-year seats up for grabs on the South Allegheny School Board.

Seeking reelection are incumbents Shawn DeVerse and Sheri Campbell. Also seeking a seat are candidates Elaina Skiba and Ed Stockett.All four candidates crossfiled. Incumbent school board members Pete Lotz and Lou Borrelli are not on the ballot seeking reelection.

West Jefferson Hills

In the West Jefferson Hills School District, there are four, four-year seats and one, two-year seat on the ballot.

Seeking reelection are incumbents Kimberley S. Finnerty, Adam Rice, Chris Zacur and Kristin Shoemaker. They all crossfiled.

Democrat Katie Noel, who did not crossfile, is on the ballot for both the one, two-year seat, and a four-year seat.

West Mifflin Area

There are four, four-year seats on the ballot in the West Mifflin Area School District.

Incumbents Kevin Squires, Judith Ahern and Mark Donahoe are seeking reelection.

Also on the ballot are candidates Nicholas Alexandroff, Chuck Krebs and Steven Arbasak.

Donahoe, Arbasak, and Ahern all crossfiled.

Democrats Squires, Alexandroff and Krebs did not crossfile.

Board member Mark J. Yuhas is not on the ballot for reelection.

Westmoreland County
Belle Vernon Area

Running for four, four-year seats on the Belle Vernon Area School Board are incumbents Michelle Callaway-Rodriguez of Rostraver Township and John A. Habel III of Belle Vernon. Also running are Jack Curran of North Belle Vernon and William Hrach of Belle Vernon, Joseph Malaspina of Fayette City and Adam R. Spitznagel of Rostraver Township. With the exception of Republican Mapaspina, all candidates crossfiled. Current board Directors Jason Gross and Tara Jurczak are not seeking reelection.

Monessen City School District

In Monessen, there are four, fouryear seats on the ballot. Incumbent school board members Marc D. Bellora, Cheryl Galilei and Teresa Dzurko Speicher are seeking reelection. Dan McFadden is also running. Dzurko Speicher is the lone candidate to crossfile. The other candidates only filed to run on the Democratic ballot.

Yough

There are plenty of candidates for one of four, four-yeats seats on the Yough School Board.

Jason Cooper of West Newton is running only on the Democratic ticket.

Incumbents Jared P. Filapose of Sutersville, Matthew A. Gardner of Ruffsdale, Linda L. Knor and Monica Ustazewski, both of Herminie, all crossfiled for reelection.

Washington County
Bentworth

The Bentworth School District in Bentleyville has four, four-year seats on the ballot. Candidates who crossfiled are Brad Carlisle, Holly Detts-Dranzo, Matthew Harding, Kathleen Lammay Franks, Kathy R. Novotney, John M. Petrisek and Steven Stowinsky. Misty Lustik is running only on the Republican ballot.

California Area

California Area’s Region 1 has two, four-year seats. Candidates are Democrat Barry R. Niccolai and Joseph Grodz, who crossfiled.

For Region II’s one, four-year seat, Bethany D. Hatalsky and Susan Baumgard crossfiled.

For one, four-year seat representing Region III are candidates Dominnic Fuller and Gina Martin, who both crossfiled.

Charleroi

For four, four-year seats on the Charleroi Area School Board are candidates Susan Cappelli Benning, incumbents Joseph Caruso, Larry Hopkins, Thomas Nutting, Barbara L. Pepper and newcomer Adam Wilkinson, who each crossfiled.

Ringgold

For one of three, four-year at-large seats in the Ringgold School District are incumbents Sherrie Crawley Garry, Gail Glaneman, Sarah Fine and Paul Mountain, as well as candidates Heather Dougherty, Gene Kennedy and William C. Stein. Each candidate crossfiled.

Seeking only the Democratic nomination for the at-large seat is Gilbert P. Szakal Jr.

For Region 1, candidates for one, four-year seat are Mountain and Szakal Jr. Mountain crossfiled for this seat as well.

Seeking, one, four-year seat representing Region 2 are incumbent Carol Fida Flament and Kattreena Amodeo, who both crossfiled.

Fayette County
Frazier

Candidates for four, four-year seats on the Frazier School Board are incumbents Michael D. Tretinik, Douglas P. Clingan, Jill Devine and Thomas E. Shetterly, and Michael A. Rendina and Michaelle Anderkovicth. They all crossfiled.