Former Westmoreland Commissioner Kopas tapped to fill Cerilli Thrasher's seat

Former Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas will return to the job he held for more than a decade.

The county’s 11 Common Pleas Court judges on Monday appointed Kopas to complete the remaining five months of the unexpired term of Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher, who will resign July 31 to take job as a worker’s compensation appeals board member.

Kopas, 49, of Hempfield, is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in Aug. 1.

“I am refreshed, reenergized, renewed and ready to roll,” Kopas said.

Kopas was one of five individuals who sought the appointment and bested former Commissioner Tom Ceraso and Thrasher’s chief of staff Donald O’Brien for the job.

Kopas also is a candidate in the November election for a full term as commissioner. He finished as the top vote-getter in the May Democratic primary.

Sydney Hovis of Scottdale, the only other Democrat on the ballot, secured a second nomination. Hovis did not seek the judicial appointment to serve out the remainder of Thrasher’s term.

Judges heard five-minute presentations from the five men seeking the commissioners’ job and deliberated about 15 minutes before President Judge Christopher Feliciani announced Kopas was appointed by a “majority vote.”

Kopas outlined his experiences as commissioner and his commitment to the job. He also pointed to his support in the spring primary when he received about 25,000 votes, the most of all candidates, both Republicans and Democrats, who appeared on the ballot.

“Hopefully, you will respect (the voter’s) judgement when you make your decision,” Kopas said.

Kopas was originally appointed county commissioner in 2010 to replace Ceraso, who resigned to take a job with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.

Kopas served as commissioner through the end of 2019 until he left office after losing his bid that fall for a third term in office when he fell about 200 votes behind Thrasher for the minority seat on the board of commissioners.

Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew topped the ballot four years ago to form a new GOP majority and along with Kopas and Hovis are seeking new four-year terms this fall. The top three finishers in the race will serve as the next board of commissioners.

Thrasher last month endorsed O’Brien as her replacement.

“I wish Ted Kopas the best in his role as commissioner again,” Thrasher said on Monday.

Westmoreland County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Michelle McFall said the party continues to gear up for the fall election with an eye towards reclaiming a majority on the board of commissioners. She said she was surprised Hovis did not seek the appointment to be Thrasher’s replacement.

“I think based on who applied it made sense for the judges (to appoint Kopas) because we talked about where the votes fell in May. It suggested and reflected where the voters are,” McFall said. “Had the other candidate submitted her name maybe there would have been a conflict but that’s not the case.”

Ceraso, citing that potential conflict, lobbied for the appointment as a way for the judges to avoid making a political statement by selecting a current candidate for the office.

Ceraso served as commissioner from 2000 to 2010 before he exited the job to become an assistant manager with the county water authority. He said would take a leave of absence from his current job to serve out the end of Thrasher’s term.

“I wanted to give you a second option of someone who did the job and is not on the ballot,” Ceraso told the judges.

O’Brien touted his experience as Thrasher’s chief of staff

“I have gained invaluable experience and during the commissioner’s maternity leave (last fall) I stepped in to do the duties of commissioner in her absence,” O’Brien said.

George Hawdon, an Arnold city councilman, said he wanted to bring local government concerns to the county commission and would focus on election integrity during his short stint in office.

Adam Shaffer, the general manager of the Washington Symphony Orchestra and a former news reporter in Florida and one-time owner of local community newspapers, said his work in the media and as a secretary and treasurer in New Alexandria gave him government experience needed for the commissioners’ job.

“I will not run and will not endorse anyone for commissioner,” Shaffer said.