Staffer for Westmoreland Commissioner Charles Anderson seeking boss' post

Sean Kertes, chief of staff to Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson, said Wednesday he wants his boss’ job.

Kertes, 32, of Greensburg formally announced he will be a candidate for county commissioner, seeking to replace Anderson who will retire at year’s end after more than 11 years in office.

“Having worked in county government for nearly eight years, I have gained the knowledge and experience necessary to be commissioner-ready on day one,” Kertes said. “I intrinsically understand the mechanisms of keeping our county running and will work to make those processes more efficient and beneficial for the taxpayers. I also plan on being a full-time commissioner and will work every day to eliminate wasteful spending.”

Kertes is the second Republican to announce his candidacy for the three-member board of commissioners. Hempfield resident Paul Kosko, 57, announced his candidacy last week.

Democratic incumbents Gina Cerilli and Ted Kopas have yet to announce their re-election intentions.

Kertes has worked as Anderson’s chief of staff since 2016 after serving a four-year stint as deputy to county Treasurer Jared Squires.

Kertes is a graduate of Hempfield Area High School and California University of Pennsylvania.

He said his focus in office will be to continue Anderson’s agenda and focus on business and economic development issues in the county.

“We must allow small businesses to flourish in our county,” Kertes said. “Small-business owners are the backbone of our economy. I will also stand proudly to bring jobs back to Westmoreland County. With the help of other organizations such as the Industrial Development Corporation, Economic Growth Connection and the chamber of commerce, we will continue to expand and build better opportunities for future generations.”

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.