Boyd, Brown, Rovedatti, Fryman win race for Ligonier Valley board; Fitchwell gets 2-year term

Newcomers Sarah Rovedatti and Robert Fryman and incumbents Christy Boyd and Cindy Brown were the apparent winners in Tuesday’s six-way race for four, four-year terms on the Ligonier Valley School Board, according to unofficial results.

John Fitchwell appeared to defeat Maureen Ittig in the contest for a two-year term on the board — with about 57% of the vote to 43%.

With all 17 precincts reporting, Boyd received 18.4% of the vote for a full term on the board, followed by Rovedatti, Brown and Fryman with respective vote shares of 17.1%, 17% and 16.4%.

Rounding out the field of candidates in that race were incumbents Donald Gilbert Jr., with 15.4% of the vote, and Josi Bennett, with 15.1%.

Ligonier Township residents Boyd, a retired quality manager in manufacturing, and Rovedatti, a compliance consultant in the financial services industry, campaigned together in pursuit of four-year board terms. Their fellow Democratic nominee and running mate Jason Botti dropped out of the race.

Boyd was appointed by the Westmoreland County Court to temporarily fill Vella’s seat only through early December.

Fitchwell, selected by Republican Party leaders, and Ittig, chosen by the Democratic Party, were vying to fill out the remaining term of board member Joseph Vella, who died April 29.

Ittig, of Ligonier, has worked for Penn State since 2008, as an extension educator and a professor at the university’s Fayette campus.

Fitchwell, of Ligonier Township, is the retired president of an automotive and truck parts distributor. He was part of a Republican-backed slate along with Gilbert and Brown, both of Ligonier Township, and Cook resident Bennett — along with Fryman, also of Cook, who previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board.

Gilbert is a golf course owner/operator who is semi-retired. Brown and Fryman are former teachers.