58th District candidate Prah gets backing of SEIU

Robert Prah, a Democrat seeking the vacant state House seat for the 58th District in next month’s special election, picked up an endorsement this week from the Service Employees International Union.

Prah, 38, of Rostraver, is the director of Military and Veterans Affairs at California University of Pennsylvania. He’s a former U.S. Army infantryman and current officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He was mayor of Smithton from 2006-09 and served on Smithton council before moving to Rostraver in 2017. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Prah, along with Republican Eric Davanzo, a 43-year-old union carpenter from South Huntingdon, and Libertarian Ken Bach, 52, of South Huntingdon, a member of the Yough Area School Board, are the three candidates in the special election on March 17 to replace the seat held by former state Rep. Justin Walsh, who was elected to be a judge on Westmoreland County’s Court of Common Pleas.

The district includes Adamsburg, Arona, East Huntingdon, parts of Hempfield, Jeannette, Madison, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, Penn Borough, Rostraver, Sewickley, Smithton, South Huntingdon, Sutersville and West Newton.

Union officials endorsed Prah as well as another Democratic candidate participating in a special election next month to fill a state house vacancy in Bucks County.

“For too long, Harrisburg has been governed by anti-union politicians who have made it their mission to dismantle union rights while cozying up to major corporations who serve as their campaign donors,” said Steve Catanese, president of SEIU Local 668. “On March 17, we have the opportunity to send two union leaders to Harrisburg who will work tirelessly to tip the balance of power in favor of working people.”