Westmoreland political leaders eye state judicial contests to lure voters

Westmoreland County’s political leaders said Election Day 2023 could set the stage for the following year’s presidential election.

With a ballot devoid of high-profile contested county races this fall, officials said they expect to work overtime to ensure voters are motivated to head to the polls or vote by mail with an eye toward what is expected to be consequential elections for control of the White House, Congress and the state Legislature in 2024.

“The 2023 election is a dry run for next year,” said Bill Bretz, chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee.

Election season swings into high gear two months before the Nov. 7 general election, when Westmoreland voters will fill its slate of county offices. There are just two countywide contested elections, for commissioner and sheriff, on the ballot. Races for local offices and school boards also are expected to drive interest among voters.

Westmoreland County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Michelle McFall said the party is eyeing the statewide judicial races as the draw for voters.

“We know it’s not the sexiest races in the world, but the courts are our last line of defense. We’ve seen what a partisan judiciary can do,” McFall said.

State voters will fill vacancies on the state Supreme Court, currently controlled by Democrats. Vacancies also will be filled on two other state appellant courts, the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Harry Smail Jr. is one of two Republican candidates seeking seats on the Superior Court.

Meanwhile, Westmoreland voters also will be asked to vote to retain Common Pleas Judges Christopher Feliciani and Meagan Bilik-DeFazio for new 10-year terms on the county bench.

Bretz also identified the judicial races as a focus heading into November.

“The statewide judicial races are critical for us because it is important for us who are conservative minded to have judges on the bench to make sure we don’t drift too far to the left,” Bretz said.

Judicial races aren’t typically the highlight of election season. But with so few contested countywide races, political leaders are looking to bolster voter turnout in November.

Republican incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew are seeking second terms and a continued GOP majority at the courthouse. They are running against Democrats Ted Kopas, who was appointed as a commissioner in August, and Lisa Gephart for three seats on the board. Gephart was added to the ballot last month after Democrat Sydney Hovis withdrew from the race.

Republican Sheriff James Albert is running against Democrat Tommy John Hamacher. Albert was elected as a Democrat in 2019, changed parties a year later and is seeking his second term in office. Incumbent Republican row officers Controller Jeffrey Balzer, Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer, Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton and Treasurer Jared Squires are unopposed.

McFall said that, despite obstacles that left Democrats struggling to find candidates to run for county offices and a substantial disadvantage in terms of voter registration in Westmoreland County, the party expects competitive races for the two county offices this fall.

“We think we can take back the majority despite our obstacles,” McFall said.

She and Bretz said voter turnout this fall will be crucial in setting the stage for next year when Westmoreland voters are expected to have an important say in the outcome of presidential and U.S. Senate races.

Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 30,000 registered voters in Westmoreland County.

“We will be cautious to avoid complacency, and we have to remain diligent to make sure we get the turnout we need,” Bretz said. “It is important for us to win by wide margins to help us win the commonwealth.

“We have a role here in Westmoreland County that is beyond just winning on the county and municipal level.”