The letter “Petty election decisions will be costly” (May 28, TribLive) is right about one thing: Petty decisions are costly. Just not in the way the writer thinks.

Let’s clear up the record — again. In just two election cycles, the faction the writer supports has lost nine out of nine school board seats. That’s a blatant rejection from the taxpayers.

The writer blasts conservative Judge Harry Smail for tossing candidates over so-called “petty processing errors.” Bold play-by-play from someone who wasn’t even in the bleachers — let alone the courtroom. I was. It was my lawsuit.

They weren’t errors. These were three candidate petitions with blatant copy-paste jobs — same names, same order, same handwriting, same fabrications. Hardly subtle. Definitely illegal.

They knew. One candidate ghosted the hearing. Another — Alex Detschelt — made a U-turn, a three-point turn, and then crashed into his own story. First, he claimed he saw every signer. Then it was just “the pen moving.” Next, he was simply “in the room.” By the end, he guessed it might’ve happened while he was in the bathroom. Honestly, Pinocchio would’ve held up better under oath.

The writer also leaves out that a Trump-appointed federal judge, Scott Hardy, ruled against Detschelt again, this time siding with the Norwin School District (aka, the taxpayers). Hardy didn’t hold back, calling Detschelt’s ego-driven claims — already costing taxpayers over $60,000 — “utterly illogical.”

Petty decisions are costly, sure — but losing nine straight school board seats? That’s priceless.

Justin Lokay

North Huntingdon

The writer is a former Republican chairman and local elected official.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)