Pecarchik wins over GOP incumbent in Westmoreland register of wills primary

Westmoreland County Republicans Tuesday nominated former acting Register of Wills Katie Pecarchik to serve an abbreviated two-year term to head the office, apparently ending the short tenure of her replacement.

Pecarchik, 57, of Hempfield defeated incumbent Jon Wian, who was endorsed by the GOP committee, and Kimberly Horrell, a former office co-worker.

With 295 of 306 precincts reporting, Pecarchik held a substantial lead with 45% of the vote; Wian 33%; and Horrell 21%. All results are unofficial until certified by the county election bureau.

Pecarchik’s victory comes as she attempts to regain control of the office that oversees estate records, adoptions files and marriage licenses that she headed for about five months until Wian was appointed to the job in February by Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“My hard work paid off, and I appreciate the people of Westmoreland County for voting me in,” Pecarchik said Tuesday night. “If something is meant to be, it is meant to be, and I worked hard for this.”

Three-term Republican Sherry Magretti Hamilton resigned in September under pressure after she was convicted of contempt of court for violating judicial orders to correct a series of office deficiencies that included a backlog of filings, personnel shortages and bookkeeping failures.

Pecarchik claimed she was the most qualified candidate in the field, having worked in the office for 20 years before her brief resignation in 2024. She was named by a court-appointed conservator last summer as the register of wills first deputy and elevated to the top job in September upon Hamilton’s departure.

Pecarchik said she was responsible for a turnaround that saw filing backlogs corrected and new employees hired and trained.

Because Pecarchik changed her political affiliation to Republican last year, she was ineligible for the gubernatorial appointment to replace Hamilton.

Wian, 43, of Salem is a former chief of staff to Republican Commissioner Sean Kertes and had no role in the register of wills office before his appointment.

Throughout the campaign, Wian pitched voters a plan to improve office functions that had deteriorated during Hamilton’s final years in office and which ultimately led to her being found in contempt of court for failure to make improvements required by two county judges.

Wian touted his experience in county government and his willingness to better integrate the office into courthouse operations.

Horrell, 60, of Greensburg said her experience working as register of wills administrator from 2016 to 2018 gave her insight to serve in the top job. She said she was among the first to notice office failures under Hamilton’s leadership.

Pecarchik’s s path to winning in November won’t be determined until early June.

No Democrats appeared on the primary ballot, but several candidates, including the Republicans hopefuls, could pursue write-in campaigns.

Westmoreland County Election Bureau Director Scott Ross said write-in candidates for row office seats will need at least 250 votes to qualify for the fall election ballot.