Republicans keep majority in Westmoreland County

Republicans will retain control of the Westmoreland County board of commissioners.

Incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew were reelected Tuesday to second terms in office and will continue to serve as the board majority along with Democrat Ted Kopas.

Democrat Lisa Gephart finished fourth.

With all 307 precincts reporting, Kertes received 30% of the vote; Chew 26%; Kopas 24%; and Gephart 19%. All results are unofficial until verified by the county election board.

Kertes, 37, of Greensburg has served as board chairman since 2020 and has been a courthouse fixture for more than a decade, having worked previously as chief of staff to former Commissioner Charles Anderson and deputy to Treasurer Jared Squires.

Chew, 53, of Hempfield, worked as a biochemist before he was elected to the county commission four years ago.

Kopas, 50, of Hempfield, served as county commissioner from 2010 through 2019. He finished about 200 votes behind now former Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher in the 2019 election for the minority party’s board seat.

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He returned to office after she resigned this summer following a gubernatorial appointment to serve as a judge on Pennsylvania’s workers compensation appeals board.

Gephart, 56, of Mt. Pleasant Township, is a retired school security officer and van driver. She entered the commissioners race in late August as a replacement candidate after Democrat Sydney Hovis withdrew from the ballot.

“I couldn’t be happier to keep the Republican majority here in Westmoreland County. It shows what we are doing for Westmoreland County and how we are moving the county forward,” Kertes said from the Republican’s victory party at All Saints Brewing in Greensburg.

Chew said he was excited for the next term.

“I am glad Westmoreland County has faith in Sean Kertes and myself to continue what we’ve been able to accomplish for the last four years,” Chew said.

Kopas suggested Tuesday’s vote provided Democrats with optimism for the future.

“I am absolutely thrilled for this opportunity to serve and I will continue to work with Commissioner Kertes and Commissioner Chew for the citizens of Westmoreland County. This is a very strong showing (for Democrats). It shows people want better county government,” Kopas said.

Republicans sweep offices

Westmoreland voters also returned incumbent Sheriff James Albert to office.

Albert, a first-term Republican, easily defeated Democratic challenger Tommy John Hamacher. Albert, 73, of New Alexandria received 62% of the vote and Hamacher, 59, of Unity, garnered 38%.

Albert, a former deputy sheriff, Greensburg police officer and long-term district judge, was elected four years ago as a Democrat but changed his party registration less than a year after taking office.

Four other Republican row officers, Controller Jeff Balzer, Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer, Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton and Squires were uncontested for re-election.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judges Christopher Feliciani, 64, of Hempfield, and Megan Bilik-DeFazio, 48, of North Huntingdon, were retained to the bench for new 10-year terms. Feliciani, the county’s president judge, received 73% approval, while Bilik-DeFazio received 74% approval.