Westmoreland Democrats prepare for last stand as Republicans seek full government takeover

It’s a last stand of sorts for Democrats in Westmoreland County.

The once-dominant political party in November will try to hold on to its last vestiges of power as Republicans seek to claim every elected office at the courthouse.

Four row office seats are up for grabs Nov. 2, including three held by Democrats in a county that is turning more red by the year through rising voter registration totals and a surge of GOP ballot box victories in state, county and local races.

“Have the Democrats hit rock bottom? Not yet, since they still have incumbents,” said Democrat Tom Balya, a former county commissioner who retired in 2012. “If the Democrats don’t win these races, then they’re pretty much at rock bottom.”

Next month’s election features four races where Democrats appear to have name recognition advantages and a record of successes.

District Attorney John Peck, a New Kensington Democrat, has held office since 1994. He is being challenged by Republican Nicole Ziccarelli, a lawyer from Lower Burrell who narrowly lost a bid for the state Senate last year.

Democrat Ken Bacha, a five-term incumbent coroner from Greensburg, faces former Scottdale Mayor Tim Carson, a former Democrat who switched over to the GOP a decade ago.

Tom Murphy, a Democrat from New Kensington, previously served four terms as the county’s elected Recorder of Deeds before being ousted in 2019. He is running for prothonotary against Unity Republican Gina O’Barto, a staffer in the county controller’s office. They are seeking to replace Democrat Christina O’Brien, who is retiring after serving three terms in office.

The Clerk of Courts office, where the GOP’s resurgence in county government was signaled after Republican Bryan Kline knocked off a long-time Democratic incumbent in 2009, is the lone county race this year with a Republican in office.

Acting Clerk of Courts Megan Loughner of Unity is seeking her first four-year term to replace Kline, her former boss who resigned this year to become warden of the county jail. She is challenged by Democrat Muzzy Colosimo, another first-time candidate. Colosimo is the football coach at Valley High School after a long stint as the coach at Greensburg Central Catholic.

Republicans hold every other elected position at the courthouse other than the commissioner seat held by Gina Cerilli Thrasher. Each party, by law, is assured of at least one seat on the board of commissioners.

“This is a big year for us and an opportunity to secure the remaining balance of row offices at the courthouse,” said Bill Bretz, chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee. “It’s important we have good candidates with a good track record. Our folks are fully galvanized, and, with our advantage, it’s now about turnout.”

Republicans, long a minority in the county, surged past Democrats a few years ago and now hold a voter registration edge of about 21,000. Republicans account for about 49% of the county’s 235,000 registered voters, compared to nearly 40% for Democrats. More than 11% of county voters are registered to third parties or are listed as independents.

Three decades ago, Democrats held a substantial edge in voter registration and held nearly every political office at the courthouse.

Tara Yokopenic, chairwoman of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee, said the 2021 election isn’t a referendum on her party.

“We do think of this as a long game,” Yokopenic said. “We have 250 candidates on the ballot this year, so the Democratic Party is nowhere near extinct.”

She noted the recognition advantages for the Democrats’ countywide candidates certainly will help this year. But party officials consider 2021 a starting point to implement new electoral strategies that are envisioned to reverse nearly three decades of declines.

Still, the future is now, Yokopenic said.

“Our job is to find races we can win and be competitive now,” she said.

Bretz said, despite his party’s momentum, Republicans will continue to campaign with fervor.

“We have a challenge, and we’re not taking it lightly,” Bretz said.