Write-in votes will shape council races in Export, Delmont

Pending official certification by the Westmoreland County Elections Board, local council races in Export and Delmont will be shaped in at least some way by write-in votes.

In Export, where there are three council seats up for election in the fall, incumbent Councilman Joe Ferri ran a write-in campaign. He did not file for reelection by the county’s deadline.

And despite being a Republican, Ferri will appear as a candidate on the Democratic side of the ballot after earning 11 write-in votes. Incumbent John Nagoda was the sole candidate to appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

In borough and municipal council races, 10 votes is the minimum to make it through and secure a spot on the general election, according to county officials.

“I’m happy that I’ll be on the ballot, and if I don’t win, it’s nice to see other people getting involved,” Ferri said.

One of those other people is borough public works employee Stephen Opsitnick Jr., who is poised to appear on both sides of the ballot with 12 Democratic write-in votes and 22 Republican write-in votes — 23 if the write-in for “Stephen Opi” is determined to belong to him.

“This is something I was asked to do,” Opsitnick said. “I wasn’t really thinking about (running), but a couple people said, ‘Who knows the town better than you?’ If I get in, I’ll do the best I can. I may not always agree with everyone, but sometimes you have to speak your mind.”

In Delmont, Republican incumbent David Weber also did not file for reelection. But he received 14 write-in votes in the Republican primary, which will add him to the list of candidates alongside incumbent Chris Bigley and newcomer Krista Krautbauer, both of whom were on the primary ballot.

Weber could not be immediately reached for comment.

Finally, in Murrysville, only primary Republican candidate Matthew Olszewski earned double-digit write-in votes on the Democratic side. With 10 votes, Olszewski will appear on the Democratic ballot in November.