Westmoreland ballot set with primary races for commissioner, sheriff

Westmoreland Republican Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew will have three challengers in the May 16 primary election as the field of candidates for countywide offices appears to be set.

Meanwhile, Democrats will have two candidates seeking the party’s two nominations in a bid to reclaim a majority at the county courthouse.

Former Commissioner Ted Kopas and newcomer Sydney Hovis of Scottdale filed documents with the county elections bureau to run for commissioner. Democratic incumbent Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher announced last month she would not seek a third term in office.

Kopas served a decade as a county commissioner and was edged by Thrasher in his reelection bid in 2019 by about 200 votes.

Hovis, a 27-year-old Fayette County native who moved to Westmoreland County in 2019, said she decided to run for commissioner after Thrasher made her announcement. Hovis ran unsuccessfully last fall for the state Senate.

“Sidney Hovis is a rising star in the party and has an important voice. I think we have a tremendous opportunity to take the majority in the fall,” county Democratic committee Chairwoman Michelle McFall said. “Our game plan is to let the Republicans fight among themselves who their nominees will be. We don’t have that problem.”

Democrats will have just three candidates seeking county offices.

“It’s tough to be a Democrat in Westmoreland County,” McFall said. “I’m happy we have the candidates we do have.”

The Republican field of candidates challenging Kertes and Chew includes John Ventre, a retired UPS executive; Paul Kosko, a retired computer manager for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County; and Patricia Fritz, a former chief deputy sheriff for the county.

Ventre, Kosko and Fritz were unsuccessful candidates for commissioner four years ago.

Kertes and Chew have said they will run independent but parallel campaigns for reelection.

Kertes had more than $71,000 in the bank for his campaign at end of 2022, according to financial reports on file at the courthouse. Chew paid a $250 fine when he filed his campaign finance report Tuesday, more than a month late. He said his campaign was nearly $155,000 in debt from a personal loan he used to finance his 2019 campaign.

The county’s Republican committee last month endorsed Kertes and Chew and the incumbent row officers for reelection.

County Republican committee Chairman Bill Bretz said he isn’t concerned about the contested primaries.

“We’re in a good place and will be out there making our case,” Bretz said.

Republicans will have one other contested primary race in May.

First-term incumbent Sheriff James Albert, who was elected as a Democrat four years ago and since changed his party registration to Republican, is being challenged by retired deputy sheriff Steven Felder. A former president of the sheriff’s deputy union, Felder is making his fourth bid to head the office.

Tommy John Hammacher, a Unity constable, is the lone Democrat running for sheriff. He is also the only Democrat who filed to appear on the spring ballot in any of the available row office seats.

Republican incumbent Controller Jeffrey Balzer, Treasurer Jared Squires, Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer and Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton are unopposed in the primary.

A complete list of candidates who filed nominating petitions Tuesday will be available on the county website in the coming days.