Westmoreland election director resigns 3 months out from election day

Westmoreland County officials Monday confirmed the resignation of the elections bureau director, a move that comes as preparations continue for the presidential general election just three months away.

Commissioner Doug Chew said Beth Lechman last week notified county leaders of her decision to exit the job she has held since 2016 and, in doing so, leaves a vacancy in the office gearing up for what is expected to be a high turnout election amid a supercharged political season and an ongoing pandemic.

“I am very confident we can execute this election. The elections bureau is more than the director. I am confident we can push this process forward,” Chew said.

Lechman, 46, of Unity, was hired by the county in 1997 as a technology professional. She moved into the elections bureau in 2006 as the deputy director before taking over leadership of the office four years ago. She last earned an annual salary of about $69,000, according to the controller’s office.

Lechman could not be reached for comment Monday. Officials said she had been off the job for the last several weeks.

Commissioner Sean Kertes declined to comment on the circumstances of Lechman’s departure.

“We have faith in the operations of the elections bureau. Our employees have really stepped up,” Kertes said.

Deputy Director Scott Sistek, who was transferred to the elections bureau in May as Lechman’s second in charge, will assume duties as interim director, Kertes said. The county Monday announced it will seek applicants for the director’s job through Saturday.

The vacancy comes as the county prepares for the first general election using new voting machines bought last year for what is expected to be a massive turnout as voters will cast ballots for president as well as in contested races for U.S. Congress as well as state Senate and House.

Over 75% of the county’s more than 240,000 registered voters turned out during the last presidential election in 2016.

The most recent balloting in June saw turnout reach 40% in the county, where few primary races were contested amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

About 40,000 votes were submitted by mail this spring, the first time that option has been available in Pennsylvania, and officials anticipate that number to grow substantially this fall.

Sistek said the elections bureau is ready for that challenge.

“I am going to do everything I can to keep this thing moving forward,” Sistek said.