A Republican candidate for Westmoreland County commissioner apologized Monday for automated campaign telephone calls sent out after midnight.
About 33,000 calls on behalf of John Ventre were expected to be made Sunday afternoon, but some were not received until well after bed-time and into early Monday.
“It obviously didn’t go as planned and was not intended to occur at late night. I am very sorry that I disturbed the receiver’s sleep and immediately started issuing apologies,” Ventre said in a statement.
He said calls were slated to start at 3 p.m. Sunday. He blamed a programming error for the late hour of some calls.
Ventre is one of seven Republicans seeking two GOP nominations for county commissioner. The other Republican commissioner candidates are: Doug Chew, Heather Cordial, Ron Gazze Patricia Fritz, Sean Kertes and Paul Kosko.
The Republicans are seeking to replace retiring GOP Commissioner Charles Anderson.
The primary election is Tuesday. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
