Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas said Thursday he will seek re-election for the seat he has held since 2010.
Kopas, 45, a Hempfield Democrat, touted his role in enhancing economic development, upgrading county parks and reducing blight in communities throughout the county as well as his support of initiatives to improve public safety and to institute programs such as drug court to help reverse the county’s ongoing opioid addiction epidemic.
In announcing the launch of his campaign, Kopas said he wants to focus on advancing the county’s growth over the next four years.
“We have set the framework to build upon all of our success through the county’s new comprehensive plan. We’re rethinking the way we allocate resources, coordinate with local governments and engage our residents. County government is working more closely than ever with the private sector and education system to grow our economy, re-position our towns and maximize our assets to make the county a leader in the region,” Kopas said.
Kopas, who previously worked as chief of staff to former Commissioner Tom Balya, was appointed to the board by county judges in 2010 to replace Commissioner Tom Ceraso, who resigned to take a job with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.
Kopas was elected to his first full term in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, forming a Democratic majority on the board of commissioners with Gina Cerilli. Kopas and Cerilli said they will run independent campaigns this year, as they did four years ago.
“Despite serving in elected office, my reputation is not one who is partisan but one who is a problem-solver. I have always believed that the solutions to our challenges require forward-thinking people of all political persuasions who seek common ground and common sense for the common good. My allegiance is to the residents of this county,” Kopas said.
He is a 1995 graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville. He was born and raised in the village of Westmoreland City in North Huntingdon. He lives in Hempfield with his wife, April, and their five children.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.
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