Commissioner positions draw 9 candidates
WAYNESBURG – A total of nine candidates are seeking four nominations for Greene County commissioner in the May 17 municipal primary, including six Democrats and three Republicans.
The top two vote getters from each party will garner the two nominations.
Tuesday marked the final day to file nomination petitions and the election office released the list of Greene County candidates.
All three incumbents, Democrats Pam Snyder and Charles J. Morris and Republican Archie Trader, are seeking their party’s nominations.
In addition to Trader, the two other Republicans include Travis P. Barkley of Greensboro and Richard Yeager of Jefferson. While Barkley, a former Marine, is making his first run at public office, Yeager twice ran for state representative.
Also seeking a Democratic nomination are Waynesburg Mayor Blair Zimmerman; Barb Wise of Waynesburg, an executive assistant at RJ Lee Group Inc.; Gregory A. Niverth of Morgan Township, a retired steel worker and former member of the Jefferson-Morgan school board; and former Greene County employee Mark W. Starostanko, who sought the office four years ago. Commissioners and elected officials in other row offices serve four-year terms.
For clerk of courts, Sherry Wise and Robin S. Ketchem are both seeking the Democratic nomination. No Republican candidates filed. Incumbent Shirley Stockdale is not seeking re-election to the position. Incumbent Greene County Controller Dave Balint is seeking the Democratic nomination. No Republicans are running.
Democratic incumbent Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox is seeking the nomination, while David J. Russo is seeking the Republican nomination for the position.
Democratic incumbents Greene County Prothonotary Susan Kartley White and Greene County Register & Recorder Thomas M. Headlee, are unopposed in seeking their nominations and no Republicans filed for either position.
Incumbent Democratic Greene County Treasurer Cory L. Grandel is seeking his party’s nomination, while Daniel M. Alexander is seeking the Republican nomination for the position.
Two incumbent magisterial district judges are seeking re-election and are the only candidates who filed. Both Lou Dayich of District 13-3-01 and Glenn Bates of District 13-3-02, cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican nominations. Magisterial district judges serve six-year terms.
Voters in Greene County will also make a selection for judge of the court of common pleas.
Three attorneys, including incumbent Judge Farley Toothman of Waynesburg and challengers Linda Chambers of Rices Landing and Kelly A. Stepp of Morgan Township, have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. Judges serve 10-year terms.