Two candidates competing in Monessen’s city controller’s race
John Mandarino and Ernie Telegraphis took different paths to get their names on the general election ballot.
As voters prepare to head to the polls Nov. 4, the race for Monessen’s city controller features a rare scenario — a contest shaped not by the spring primary, but by writeins and an independent bid.
Incumbent Controller Rosalie Nicksich, elected in 2021, is not seeking another term, leaving the seat open.
The May 20 primary produced no filed candidates, so the position was decided entirely by write-in votes.
Retired city police chief John Mandarino emerged as the top choice on both Democratic and Republican ballots in the spring primary, receiving 113 and 55 votes respectively, securing his place on the November ballot as the nominee of both major parties.
Joining him on the ballot is Ernest “Ernie” Telegraphis, who entered the race as an independent by filing nomination papers after the primary.
His name will appear alongside Mandarino’s on the general election ballot, pending final confirmation from Westmoreland County’s posted sample ballots.
Under Pennsylvania election law, major-party nominees are determined through the primary process, while independent and minor-party candidates qualify for the general election by submitting nomination papers with voter signatures after the primary concludes.
This means Mandarino reached the ballot through the traditional write-in process, while Telegraphis earned access through the independent filing route — two distinct paths converging in Monessen’s November race for fiscal oversight.
The city controller serves as Monessen’s fiscal watchdog, responsible for auditing receipts, verifying disbursements and maintaining financial accountability across departments.
The office, created under Pennsylvania’s Third Class City Code, operates independently from the mayor and council, providing an internal check on how taxpayer dollars are handled.
The role carries a four-year term, and the incoming controller will serve from January 2026 through January 2030.
Here is a look at both candidates:
Mandarino
Mandarino said his top priority as city controller would be to keep Monessen on solid financial ground.
“I guess my three top priorities would be to ensure the city is
John Mandarino
fiscally responsible with our taxpayer monies,” Mandarino said.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration between city leaders, saying, “I will try to make sure that the mayor and council work together to develop and maintain a balanced budget.”
Above all, Mandarino said he is committed to avoiding the worst-case scenario: “My main priority is to do everything in my power to keep the city from filing for bankruptcy.”
Telegraphis
Telegraphis said Monessen needs a controller who will act as a true fiscal watchdog rather than a political ally to city leadership.
According to Telegraphis, “Monessen hasn’t had a city controller in our Pennsylvania third-class city who was ever an independent, competent and responsible fiscal watchdog for auditing city accounts and expenditures in order to ensure the proper use of city funds.”
He said that for decades, the city’s financial oversight has lacked independence.
“Instead, what has been going on for decades is a ‘Kumbaya’ on-board consensus by the controller who has always approved the financing and spending spree of the five elected city council members (mayor included) on their purchasing that never seems to address the real ‘two’ problems ailing the taxpayers,” he said.
Telegraphis pointed to two issues he believes are being overlooked: infrastructure maintenance and revenue generation.
“Tax dollars aren’t really being used for the maintenance and repair of local roads, streets, traffic signals, and other infrastructure,” he said. “Instead, our city officials rely mainly on securing ‘grant money’ to bridge the gap between what revenues come in and what their ‘increasing’ expenditures keep shortchanging the annual budget.”
He added that council should do more to attract business and employment opportunities. “I’ve never been to a city council meeting where there were any involved entrepreneurs or industry CEOs invited or welcomed to actually produce commerce, employment and/ or product or service manufacturers that will bring prosperity to our city in order to lessen the tax burden,” he said.
Telegraphis said his goal is to bring objectivity and accountability to the role. “As city controller, I’ll serve the taxpayers by providing objective financial oversight for second opinions as well as for alternative suggestions on funding what counts first in the face of the city’s limited funds — not simply rubber stamping any collusive claims or unchallenged bids by City Hall.”
He warned that without such independence, “the voters will elect another ‘doing- as-usual-business’ insider who will do nothing more than to increase fees and/or taxes while not addressing what is needed to get Monessen prosperous again in order to attract the vibrant businesses and productive residents who will build livelihoods for our future.”
Polls for the Nov. 4 election will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
