Nov 5, 2003 5 min read

California Two incumbents and two challengers competed for three open seats on California Borough Council.

With votes in Wards 1, 3 and 4 calculated, the results were as follows: challenger Pasty Alfano received 393 votes; incumbent Councilman John Mariscotti, 385; challenger Jim Maddiex, 389; and incumbent Jon Bittner 349.

Bittner was the only Republican on the ballot.

Votes in Ward 2 were not calculated as of press time Tuesday.

Dunbar

Unofficial results in Tuesday’s general election showed that newcomer Patrick Fitzgerald was the big winner Tuesday in the borough council race, with 430 votes. Incumbent Democratic council members Kathy Anderson Dynes and John R. Maddas tied at 164 votes each.

Republican challenger Harold Hair Jr. received 121 votes, with 100 percent of the votes tallied. Fitzgerald cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. Three four-year seats were open on the council.

Dunbar Twp.

With one six-year supervisor seat open, unofficial voting results showed incumbent Democrat Ronald Keller in the lead against Republican candidate Joe Ross Tuesday night. With 75 percent of the vote in, Keller had 958 votes and Ross had 262 votes.

Franklin Twp.

Unofficial election results showed Democrat Tim Franks re-elected as Franklin Township supervisor with 355 votes, defeating Republican candidate Robert M. Huston, who received 199 votes.

Franks said he will continue to work on the Bittner and Juniata sewage project, secure funds for emergency services, install more guardrails along roadways and provide additional water services to areas in the township.

Franks is a graduate of Uniontown High School and Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School and a former township auditor for two years.

A 15-year resident of Flatwoods and a graduate of Brownsville Area High School, Huston, 71, said he will back Franks in his plans for the township.

North Union Twp.

With four of five precincts reporting, Democratic candidate Curtis Matthews led in the North Union Township supervisor race late Tuesday with 1,676 votes, while Carmen Galderisi III received 995 votes, according to unofficial election results.

New to the position, Matthews said he is looking forward to helping the township to advance, namely by attracting new businesses and providing residents with services.

A Laurel Highlands graduate and a lifelong resident of the area, Matthews, 48, is a business owner and has years of working as a mason and experience dealing with contractors.

During his employment as a full-time supervisor, Matthews said, he will continue regular road maintenance while working to secure grants for water and sewer projects. Also at the top of Matthews’ agenda as supervisor is updating code enforcement laws to keep the township clean and providing fire departments with support.

Galderisi, 50, a Laurel Highlands High School graduate, earned a spot on the Republican ballot through a write-in campaign.

Saltlick Twp.

Democratic candidate Ed Bukovac Jr. was leading Republican candidate Steve Nietfeld 164 to 87 at press time Tuesday night for the six-year supervisors’ seat, with 33 percent of the unofficial votes counted.

South Connellsville

Democratic newcomer Robert L. Ward, former Democratic Councilwoman Lonnie Casini and Republican Councilman Donald L. Clark took the top three spots on the borough council in Tuesday’s general election.

Republican incumbent councilwoman Shelley Mattis lost her bid for council, as did newcomers Jim Swink and Jess Earl Schroyer. Ward received 271 unofficial votes, Casini had 223 votes, Clark garnered 206 votes, Swink had 181 votes, Schroyer received 148 votes and Mattis got 125 votes.

Three four-year seats were open on the council.

South Union Twp.

Democrat James R. Conway led Republican challenger John Hudock on Tuesday night in the race to become the new South Union Township tax collector, the highest-paid elected position in Fayette County.

With 67 percent of the precincts reporting, Conway received 1,320 votes, and Hudock trailed with 839 votes.

Among a crowded field of 16 hopefuls in the May primary, Conway captured the Democratic nomination and Hudock received the Republican nomination.

The present tax collector, Geraldine Nichols, whom township supervisors appointed after her husband’s death, earned $95,981 in 2002 from commissions paid by the county, the township and the Laurel Highlands School District.

Upper Tyrone Twp.

Democratic supervisor Charles B. Cook won the six-year supervisor’s seat Tuesday with 204 unofficial votes. Republican challenger Robert Buck Harrold received 144 votes.

Wharton Twp.

Democratic incumbent Joe Henning will serve another six-year term as Wharton Township supervisor after he defeated Republican candidate Roger Baxter in Tuesday night’s election.

With both precincts reporting, Henning defeated Baxter, 709 to 311.

“I’m glad that the people are behind me and they are supporting what we are doing as a township,” said Henning. “We will continue on the same road with the township since people are happy.”

Henning said the “same road” includes road maintenance projects such as improving drainage, tar and chipping and widening townships roads, constructing a walking trail at the township park as well as installing a 64-residential tap water line extension on Hawes Road.

This makes Henning’s second six-year consecutive term as Wharton Township supervisor. Also, he served two other consecutive terms, from 1982 to 1994.

Henning, 46, is a graduate of Uniontown Area High School and lives in Farmington with his wife, Balinda, and their two children: Nathan and Kelly.

Baxter, 56, was a supervisor for two six-year terms nearly 18 years ago. Baxter is a 1965 graduate of Uniontown Area High School and has one daughter.