1 new face to join Youngwood council, 3 incumbents to return

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1 new face to join Youngwood council, 3 incumbents to return

Quincey Reese | Wednesday, November 5, 2025 8:55 a.m.

Courtesy of the candidates

Row 1: Matthew Peoria, William “Billy” Cowherd, Diane Klingensmith Fernandez Row 2: Randell Chapman, Charles Lutz, Irvin Shipley

One new face will join Youngwood council, according to unofficial Westmoreland County election results.

Republican Irvin Shipley, a sergeant in the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office, won a term on council alongside three incumbents — Democrats Charles Lutz and William “Billy” Cowherd and Republican Matthew Peoria.

Lutz, a retired special education teacher, earned about 463 votes, or about 20%. Shipley, 48, came in shortly behind Lutz, with about 18% of votes, or 422.

Cowherd, 53, who works for Wilkinsburg health and human services nonprofit Hosana House, earned 384 votes, or nearly 17%. Peoria, 56, a defense contractor, received nearly 15% of votes, or 340.

Shipley, Lutz, Cowherd and Peoria beat out newcomer Randell Chapman, 48, and incumbent Diane Klingensmith Fernandez, 65.

Chapman fell just one vote behind Peoria, with 339. Fernandez was five votes behind Peoria, with 335.

Though Fernandez, 65, came up short in her run for council, her mayoral campaign was a success. The insurance appraiser earned nearly 96% of votes in the mayoral race, or 589, according to unofficial election results.

Managing borough finances, replacing public works equipment, updating stormwater infrastructure, fostering community and addressing blighted properties were among the candidates’ priorities.

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