Candidates set for Allegheny County court, municipal races

Registrants of each major party will go to the polls to choose nominees in closed primaries on May 20.

The primary election is less than a month away as voters registered as Democrats and Republicans will choose nominees who will move on to the fall general election.

The primary election is May 20. Independent and minor party candidates have until Aug. 1 to file to be on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In Allegheny County, Mon Valley voters will choose a new county council member for District 9, eight new judges for the Court of Common Pleas and a host of municipal seats.

Here’s a look at the Allegheny County races that will be on the ballots for Mon Valley voters:

Judges standing for retention elections

Judges in Pennsylvania serve 10year terms, and run for reelection in retention elections. Instead of choosing between multiple candidates, voters see a yes-or-no question next to a judge’s name to decide if they get another term.

Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County up for rentention are Edward J. Borkowski, Alan D. Hertzberg, Beth A. Lazzara, Jennifer S. McCrady, Hugh F. McGough, Dan D. Regan and Dwayne D. Woodruff.

Court of Common Pleas open seats

Eight seats on the Allegheny County’s Common Pleas are up for grabs, thanks to several retirements this year. Twenty-two candidates are vying for a seat on the bench.

While judges run in party primaries, the job is considered non-partisan, which means candidates can file to “crossfile,” running as both Democrats and Republicans.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Court handles cases involving everything from criminal charges to child custody disputes, addressing civil disputes and the disposition of wills. Its 43 judges are divided into four divisions — criminal, civil, family and orphans’ court.

Judges are paid $227,411 a year and serve 10-year terms, after which they must survive an up-ordown retention vote by voters.

Running on the Democratic ballot are Simquita Bridges, Anthony R. Deluca, Amanda Green Hawkins, Jaime Marie Hickton, Elizabeth Hughes, Lauren Marie Leiggi, Amy Mathieu, Bryan S. Neft, Carmen Latrice Robinson, Matthew V. Rudzki, Heathyer Lynn Schmidt Bresnahan, Craig C. Stephens, Michael B. Sullivan, Dennis Very, Hilary K. Wheatley and Ilan Zur.

Candidates who crossfiled are Julie Capone, Alyssa B. Cowan, Daniel L. Miller, Jacqulyn Ann Obara, Michele Santicola and Sarra Terry.

County Council — District 9

For the first time in nearly 20 years, District 9 residents will have new representation on County Council. Incumbent Democrat Bob Macey announced earlier this year his plan to retire.

Democrats Aaron Adams of Duquesne, Dylan Altemara of Elizabeth, and Kelliane Frketic of Boston (Elizabeth Township) are seeking to represent the district, which comprises Dravosburg, Duquesne, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Forward Township, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, Munhall, Port Vue, South Versailles, Versailles, West Mifflin, Whitaker and White Oak.

With no registered Republican candidates, the primary election will likely determine who will hold the seat for the next four years.

Municipal Races Dravosburg

In Dravosburg, Mayor Kevin R. McKelvey, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

Seeking one of three, four-year council seats are incumbents John R. Palcsey, Jay E. McKelvey, William Snodgrass Jr. James C. Sikora is also seeking a council seat.

Tax collector Charles E. Gross is unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

Elizabeth Borough

Longtime Mayor Barry G. Boucher, a Democrat is running unoppposed.

Seeking one of three, four-year council seats are incumbent Democrats Chad Rager, Charles Smith Jr. and Republican Cole Buchina. Emily McNeil, a Democrat, is also running for council.

Tax collector Robin Schmidt is unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

Elizabeth Township

Incumbent Commissioners Kyle

Walk, a Democrat (Ward 2), Joshua Walls, a Republican (Ward 4) and Republican Chris Thoma (Ward 6) are unopposed for reelection.

Mary E. Walos, a Republican, is unopposed for tax collector.

Forward Township

On the ballot for one, six-year seat on the Forward Township Board of Supervisors are Democrats Thomas D. Prentice Jr. and Timothy Bell. Republican candidates on the ballot are Amy L. Cline and Jayme Stoffer.

The winner of each party’s nomination will square off in the fall general election.

Republicans Susan Molnar and Wendy Buza are both running for the tax collector position.

Glassport

Glassport Mayor Keith S. DiMarco, a Democrat, is running unopposed for reelection.

Seeking one of three-four year seats on council are incumbent Democrats Paul Trunzo, Anthony Colecchi and Meghan DeVerse. Republican Wendy J. Boor is also running for council.

Tax collector Jennifer Pasinski Bell is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Jefferson Hills

Jefferson Hills Mayor Carrie Nuss-McCaffrey, a Republican, is unopposed for reelection.

Seeking reelection to council are Republican incumbents Melissa Girman-Steffey, Diva Mares and Hilary Kingsley-Budd. Nicholas F. Horgan will also appear on the GOP ticket for council.

Liberty

Democrat S. Larry Sikorski is running for mayor. Seeking one of four council seats are only three candidates, Timothy W. Sloss, Michael Matlos and Linda M. Surgeon, all Democrats.

Shelley Aquilante is running unopposed as tax collector.

Lincoln

Republican James Beisler is on the ballot for mayor of Lincoln Borough.

Tammy Firda, a Democrat, and Jeff Bertok, a Republicam, are both seeking one of two council seats.

City of McKeesport

There will be a race for one of three, four-year council seats in the City of McKeesport.

On the ballot are incumbent Democrats Jill Brewster Lape and Brian Evans. They face opposition by Democratic candidates Joe Lopretto, Jessica Johnson and Adam Alfer.

City Controller Ryan Sturgess is unopposed for reelection.

Port Vue

Democratic Mayor Brien A. Hranics is unopposed for reelection.

Seeking one of four, four-year council seats are incumbent Democrats Deborah Thomas, Mark D. Tortorice, Doug Junecko and Robert Betters.

Tax collector Lori DiMarco is unopposed.

Versailles

Democrat James Fleckenstein is unopposed for mayor.

Running for one of four, four-year council seats are Lisa Fleckenstein, Mike Kisan, James Sheedy and Evelyn Schillaci., all Democrats. Republican Melanie D. Beresford is unopposed for tax collector.

West Elizabeth

Republican Cathy A. Welty is unopposed for mayor.

Seeking one of four, four-year council seats are Democrats Raymond P. Dodds Jr. and Lisa Morris. Republican council candidates are Bonnie Reynolds, Gary W. Halt and Betty Kay Swartz.

Emaly A. Welty is unopposed for tax collector.

West Mifflin

Mayor Chris Kelly, a Democrat, faces opposition by fellow Democrat Dale R. Pavlik.

Vying for one of four, four-year council seats are incumbent Democrats Anthony J. Olasz, Daniel Davis, Karen Santoro and Scott Stephenson. They face competition by Democratic candidates Carla Payne-Harrison and Travis D. Knapp and Republican Jeffrey A. Kuzma.

Jonathan R. Hess is unopposed for tax collector.

White Oak

Longtime Mayor Ina Jean Marton, a Republican, is unopposed for reelection.

Running for one of four, four-year council seats are incumbent Republicans Julie Opferman, Loree L. Scharritter, Jason D. Russell, and Joelle Harbert. Brian Dinkfelt is the lone Democrat running for council.

Tax collector Lisa Pitchford is unopposed for reelection.