Cindy Kirk secures GOP nomination in 30th State House District

Former Allegheny County Councilwoman Cindy Kirk won her Republican primary race in the 30th State House District by more than a 4-to-1 margin, according to unofficial tallies.

As of Wednesday morning, with nearly 98% of precincts reporting results, Kirk had collected more than 81% of the votes counted compared with 18.7% for Tom Fodi, a pastor and veteran who works in hospice care, the unofficial tallies showed.

Kirk, 65, a nurse from McCandless, said during the campaign that her top priorities included finding ways to provide better mental health services and a more robust response to the region’s addiction crisis. She also suggested temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax to alleviate financial pressure on many Pennsylvanians.

Kirk, who describes herself as pro-life, also advocated for additional support for new mothers and infants, as well as better adoption and foster care services.

Fodi, 39, of Kilbuck, credited Kirk for running “a great race.”

“Regardless of the outcome, I’m grateful for the way it worked out,” he said.

Dr. Arvind Venkat, an emergency-room physician, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The district includes the Allegheny County communities of Ben Avon, Emsworth, Franklin Park, Kilbuck and McCandless, as well as parts of Hampton.

State Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Shaler, had represented the district, but this year’s redistricting process reshaped the boundaries of the 30th State House District, moving Shaler to a new district. Mizgorski earned the GOP nomination in the 38th Pennsylvania Senatorial district Tuesday night. She will face incumbent state Sen. Lindsey Williams in November.