Greene County election races take shape
WAYNESBURG — When the March 7 deadline to file nominating petitions for the May 16 primary came and went, two incumbent county office holders learned they will have opposition, but not until the fall.
Democrats Gregory Rohanna, who will be seeking his sixth four-year term as county coroner, and Brian Tennant, first elected county sheriff in 2013 and who has filed nominating papers for a second term, are unopposed in the primary.
Challenging Rohanna in the general election will be Republican Gene Rush of Rogersville, a retired funeral director. Rohanna, who has served as coroner since 1994, is also a funeral director with Behm Funeral Home Inc.
Tennant, who served as a police officer with Waynesburg Borough before launching his first bid to become sheriff, will face opposition from Ed DeBolt of Crucible, a U.S. Marine veteran and a former employee with the state Department of Corrections.
Another race that has drawn some candidate interest is for the District 1 magisterial seat in Waynesburg.
That seat is presently held by Senior Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer, who was appointed when Louis Dayich was elected in 2015 to the bench of the Greene County Court of Common Pleas.
Filing petitions for both the Republican and Democratic nominations (candidates for this position are permitted to cross-file) were Owen Coffman of Center Township; Jody Pierce Craig of Waynesburg; and David Balint of Waynesburg, who presently serves as the Greene County controller.
Balint was elected to his third four-year term as controller in 2015. He was first elected in the November 2007 general election.
The magisterial district covers Aleppo, Center, Freeport, Gilmore, Gray, Jackson, Morris, Perry, Richhill, Springhill, Washington, Wayne and Whiteley townships and Waynesburg Borough.
Also cross-filing for another term was incumbent Glenn Bates, who represents Magisterial District 2. Bates is unopposed as no other candidates filed. Bates has served as a district judge since January 2005.
He was a 28-year veteran of the Waynesburg Borough Police Department and replaced District Judge Neil Canan, who retired.
His district includes Clarksville and Jefferson boroughs and Franklin, Jefferson and Morgan townships.
Also filing nominating petitions with the county’s election office were candidates running for school director and a host of municipal offices.
Those who filed petitions have until March 22 to decide whether to withdraw them.
The last day to register to vote before the primary is April 17.
The last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot is May 9, and the last day for the board of elections to receive a absentee ballot for the primary is May 12.