Westmoreland Dems announce Army vet as candidate for state house special election

Robert Prah Jr. will be the Democratic candidate in an upcoming special election for a state House seat, Westmoreland County Democrats announced.

Prah, 38, of Rostraver, is the director of Military and Veterans Affairs at California University of Pennsylvania. He’s a former U.S. Army infantryman and current officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He was mayor of Smithton from 2006-09 and served on Smithton Borough Bouncil before moving to Rostraver in 2017.

Prah is running for the seat recently vacated by Republican Justin Walsh, who resigned at the end of December after being elected a Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge.

Each party will select a candidate for the special election, which will be held March 17. The Democrats made their selection on Tuesday. County Republicans are expected to pick a candidate on Thursday.

“I am grateful for the support of community leaders in Westmoreland County,” Prah said in a statement. “With their faith and trust, I look forward to working together to flip the 58th Legislative District.”

Democrats chose Prah over Yough School Board President Ken Bach of South Huntingdon, who, in November, announced his intention to run.

“Prah’s leadership in his community and country make him an outstanding candidate to serve the needs of working families in the 58th district,” state Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, said in a statement.

The 58th district covers Adamsburg, Arona, East Huntingdon, parts of Hempfield, Jeannette, Madison, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, Penn Borough, Rostraver, Sewickley, Smithton, South Huntingdon, Sutersville and West Newton.

The special election could pose financial problems for Westmoreland County, the Tribune-Review has previously reported. Costs are expected to be more than $200,000 for poll workers and polling location rentals. The state will reimburse the money, but that will take months and the county might not be able to find the room in its budget to pay the up-front costs, according to elections officials. The county may borrow money to cover the expense.