Reilly defeats Terravecchia to gain Dem nod for Fayette coroner

Longtime Fayette County Coroner Dr. Philip Reilly received the support of Democrat voters, securing the party’s nod on Tuesday.
Reilly, who is seeking a seventh consecutive term as coroner, defeated John Terravecchia, a deputy coroner, and will face Republican Dennis Heath Jr., who has no opposition in the primary, in the November general election. The coroner serves a four-year term.
According to unofficial vote totals, Reilly received 11,209 votes to Terravecchia’s 4,077 votes or about 73 percent to Terravecchia’s 27 percent of the votes cast with all 81 precincts reporting.
Heath received 4,365 votes in his uncontested primary bid with all 81 precincts reporting.
Reilly, 80, has worked more than 40 years as an emergency room physician at Uniontown Hospital as well as serving patients through his family practice. He said he is the senior practicing physician in the county.
Reilly said his many years of experience as coroner helped him win the primary. He called Terravecchia and Heath “gentleman” and hopes they continue to serve as deputy coroners.
“We’re very pleased with the outcome of the primary,” Reilly said.
Terravecchia, 41, of Brownsville has served as a deputy coroner in the county since 2008. He is also a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and Pennsylvania State Funeral Directors Association.
Terravecchia was unable to be reached for comment in time for this report.