Election forum planned for Westmoreland commissioner candidates

Four candidates running for Westmoreland County commissioner will have their first, and most likely last, chance this week to appear together publicly to discuss campaign issues leading into the Nov. 5 general election.

Democratic incumbents Gina Cerilli and Ted Kopas are seeking new four-year terms on the three member board. Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew are the Republican candidates.

A candidate’s forum will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Westmoreland County Community College, inside the Science Hall Auditorium on the Youngwood campus. The event is sponsored by Tribune-Review, Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, Westmoreland County Community College, Westmoreland Sports Network and the chambers of commerce for Norwin, Ligonier Valley, Mountain Laurel, Greater Latrobe and Alle-Kiski Strong.

“We want the voters to understand what perspectives the candidates have for the future of all Westmoreland County,” said Chad Amond, the president of the county chamber of commerce and one of the event organizers.

Candidates are expected to address issues such as county spending, financial priorities and taxes; economic development and land use; education and workforce development; county authorities and other government subsidized agencies; health care and human services; demographic and population trends in the county; transportation and infrastructure priorities; county parks, recreation, casino and tourism; and promoting the county.

Questions were formulated by event organizers and from suggestions solicited online by the chamber, Amond said.

Candidates will choose questions at random from a general category and will have two minutes to answer. The event is not a debate, and candidates will not get to answer every question. Organizers said the candidates will have two opportunities during the forum to answer questions posed to another candidate.

“The exclusive aim of this event is to provide an opportunity to voters to make as an informed decision as possible on voting day,” Amond said.

Democrats Cerilli and Kopas are operating independent campaigns, as they did four years ago.

Kopas, 46, of Hempfield is the longest current-tenured commissioner, having been appointed to the board in 2010, elected to his first term in 2011 and reelected in 2015.

Cerilli, 33, of Hempfield serves as the board chairwoman. She was elected to her first term in office four years ago.

Republicans Kertes and Chew also are running separate campaigns.

Kertes, 33, of Greensburg works as the chief of staff to retiring Commissioner Charles Anderson. He is seeking his first run for public office.

Chew, 49, of Hempfield is a biochemist who works as a private consultant. He also is making his first bid for public office.