Three Republican hopefuls — two seeking a seat on the Westmoreland County board of commissioners and the third hoping to get reelected as Hempfield supervisor — are allowed to continue their campaigns for the May primary, a judge ruled Friday.
Judge Jim Silvis denied petitions that sought to toss the names of John Ventre and Paul Kosko, commissioner candidates, and George Reese, supervisor candidate, off the ballot.
Westmoreland GOP Committee Chairman Bill Bretz contended in a petition that Ventre and Kosko failed to properly file financial documentation needed to run for office with the chief county clerk. Ventre and Kosko testified Friday that the rules related to the filing of such documents were vague.
“These instructions are not clear,” Ventre said.
Vera Spina, chief county clerk, testified she previously received the documents from Kosko and Ventre during their unsuccessful 2019 bids for commissioner as part of her job duties.
Kosko said someone from his campaign filed his paperwork that year, and Ventre testified he could not remember what forms were filed where.
“It’s our position that we do not have to file with Vera Spina,” argued David Colecchia, who represented Kosko and said he filed the candidate’s paperwork in 2019.
Reese fought off a challenge from fellow Hempfield Supervisor Doug Weimer, who sought to have Reese removed from the Republican ballot because Weimer claimed Reese failed to properly file his financial disclosure with the township.
Weimer is a Republican. He testified that he requested to look at all of the financial disclosures that had been received by the township at the end of the business day March 7, the day they were due. Later, he submitted a request under the Right-to-Know law to obtain video surveillance, which was presented in court.
The video showed Reese go to the township building after 7:30 p.m. and drop off the paperwork on the manager’s desk. They then spoke by phone.
“Mr. Reese informed me that he had left a statement of financial interest on my desk,” township Manager Aaron Siko testified.
Reese said he regularly visits the township building at early and late hours because of work. That day, he had a migraine in the afternoon and fell asleep, according to testimony.
Attorneys argued over whether dropping the document off on Siko’s desk and the subsequent phone conversation qualified as a filing.
Kim Ross Houser, representing Reese, said it was akin to putting the document in the mail.
“This is a locked area, so it is within the custody, control of the township,” he argued.
Attorney Brian Adrian argued that because the document was not received by a person it was not technically filed.
“You can’t acquire custody of something over the phone,” he said.
Other election-related matters decided by Silvis:
• Steve Felder cannot run for county sheriff. Thirty-seven people who signed his nominating petition were either not registered to vote or registered as a Democrat at the time, according to testimony.
“We can only do so many things, ask so many questions,” Felder said.
• Michael Wolford’s name will be removed from the Republican ballot for Hempfield supervisor. A township voter claimed Wolford did not properly file a financial disclosure form with the township. Wolford testified that he followed instruction from the elections bureau.
“I am new to politics, brand new,” he said.
• Nina Totin’s name will appear on the Democratic ballot only for the Norwin School Board as her nominating petition for the Republican side was tossed out. She did not have enough Republican signatures, according to a challenge by school Director Alex Detschelt.
He withdrew his objection to Totin’s use of her married name, rather than her maiden name, after she produced her driver’s license during the hearing.
• The elections bureau was directed to accept the nominating petition for Trafford Council candidate Casey L. Shoub Sr.
Shoub served six terms in office before he was defeated for reelection in November 2021. He was appointed to council in February 2022 after one of the candidates to whom he lost resigned. Shoub, in his lawsuit, contends Trafford failed to certify his seat as a two-year term and the county elections officials improperly denied his revised nomination documents seeking a four-year term.
He will be permitted to run for a four-year term.
