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Nehls announces support for Republican commissioner candidate Hardy

By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

Fayette County Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls has stated his support for Republican candidate Joe Hardy in the November election, making Nehls the second high-profile Democrat to take that stance in as many days. But Nehls isn’t supporting any of the other three candidates: Democratic nominees Vincent A. Vicites and J. William Lincoln, or Republican nominee Angela M. Zimmerlink.

Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh already has announced his support of Hardy and Zimmerlink.

Nehls’ support of Hardy, and his nonsupport by omission of Vicites and Lebder, makes him the second incumbent Democratic commissioner to cross party lines in making an unofficial endorsement for the fall campaign.

“Quite honestly, who’s going to pay attention to me?” asked Nehls, who remains bummed out about his fifth-place finish in a five-way Democratic primary election. ” But, if Mr. Hardy is serious, he’s going to get my vote. I think he has the potential of doing things that have been unprecedented for a commissioner serving Fayette County.

“He can call people all over the country and encourage them to locate businesses here, to invest here. He can say, ‘I’ll send my jet after you; you can come up and stay at this fabulous place (Nemacolin Woodlands), and you’re going to sit down and listen to me.'”

However, Nehls said that if Hardy is elected, it remains to be seen whether that type of high-powered potential gets translated into reality.

When pressed on whether he’d consider supporting former state senator Lincoln or incumbent chairman Vicites, Nehls politely ducked the issue by rephrasing the question.

“I think the words I would use are, ‘Who am I going to vote for?’ And for me that’s Hardy. He’s the only one I’m planning to vote for at this stage of the game,” said Nehls.

Kim Ward, Hardy’s campaign manager, said, “We’re very happy to have Ron Nehls’ support. Mr. Nehls can be assured that Joe Hardy will do what he says he’s going to do.”

Democrat Vincent Zapotosky, who finished fourth in the party primary, said he intends to support the party and its goals as the fall election draws near.

“I’m a Democrat, first and foremost, so I believe in supporting the party,” said Zapotosky. “Obviously, I will allow those who supported me to make their own decisions on who to support, in terms of what is in the best interest of Fayette County. But personally, I’m a Democrat and will work to achieve the goals of the Democrat Party.”

Added Zapotosky, “I do have preferences as far as candidates go, but my goal is to work within the Democrat Party. Overall, I want three commissioners to keep this county going.”

Vicites, with 13,832 votes, and Lincoln, with 9,406 votes, captured the Democrats’ two nominations for commissioner. Cavanagh was third with 8,448, followed by Zapotosky with 7,947 and Nehls with 4,971.

On the Republican side, Hardy, with 4,851 votes, and Zimmerlink, with 2,073 votes, won the GOP’s two nominations. Dave Lohr, with 1,711 votes, finished third, Donald M. Miller III, with 1,643, finished fourth, Ken Firestone, with 1,051, finished fifth and John C. Evans, with 751, finished sixth.

While disappointed in his finish, Nehls still garnered 120 more votes than Hardy in the primary election, although that comparison is skewed by the fact that Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-1 in Fayette County.

Voters in November will elect three commissioners from the entire field, which will feature Democrats Vicites and Lincoln, Republicans Hardy and Zimmerlink, and any independents who file before the summer deadline.

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