Nehls, Cavanagh enter campaign
Although this time it isn’t technically a public office, former Fayette County Commissioners Sean M. Cavanagh and Ron Nehls have one again proverbially thrown their political hats into the ring. The names of both men will be on the ballot May 16 for the position of Democratic state committeeman. Fayette County voters will choose two committeemen from a field of four. The other two men seeking the unpaid four-year positions are Perry Township Supervisor Andrew J. “A.J” Boni and Menallen Township Supervisor Joseph Petrucci.
Cavanagh and Nehls separately said they initially had no intention to run, but were talked into it. Ironically, both former commissioners lost re-election bids three years ago. In the 2003 primary, Cavanagh narrowly lost the second Democratic nomination for county commissioner behind Vincent A. Vicites and former state Sen. William Lincoln, and Nehls finished fifth in the field of five.
Cavanagh said he had no intention to run for state committeeman, but when he recently opened up his new business, Vinny’s Great Pizza and More, he was asked by “many, many people” to run. “I told them if they get the signatures to get me on the ballot, I’ll do it,” Cavanagh said.
The decision was not difficult for Cavanagh, who said he believes the Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania has lost its way, citing the pay raise fiasco. “Legislators are not looking out for common ordinary working people and seniors,” Cavanagh said. “This is a way to tell people like (state House Minority Leader H. William) DeWeese, (Democratic Whip Mike) Veon and local legislators that you are accountable to the taxpayer.”
Cavanagh added, “If I’m involved, I will let the people’s voice be heard.”
Cavanagh said he wouldn’t be on the committee to “go along and get along.” He said legislators are becoming spoiled like “the fat, lazy Romans before the decline of the Roman Empire.”
In addition to owning and running the pizza shop, Cavanagh is also a realtor and said he is building new homes and volunteering as a soccer coach. He said opening the restaurant put him back in the public eye.
“People know I’m the voice for anti-corruption,” Cavanagh said. He mentioned that his legacy as commissioner was exposing voter fraud and corruption at the Fayette County Housing Authority, and he noted that both incidents led to indictments. “I think people know I’m no-nonsense,” Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh said he is also pro-business, noting that he was a force behind development of the county’s industrial park and business park. He added that he has always towed the line on taxes.
In addressing speculation that he will run for county commissioner next year, Cavanagh said he has been asked “a zillion times” and admitted it is on the burner, but he said he wants to first seek the committeeman position. “If I’m elected, I’m going to have a say in what’s happening in Harrisburg. My children are here and I want Fayette County to do better,” he said.
Nehls, who is working as a consultant with Multi Media Management and Accent Media Group in Greensburg, as well as working with commercial printing outlets, said he initially said no to the requests to seek the position.
Eventually, Nehls changed his mind because he said he was dissatisfied with the Democratic Party leadership. While admitting he briefly changed his voter registration to Republican following the 2003 primary, Nehls said essentially he has always been a Democrat.
“I’ve been a Democrat all my life except for six weeks,” Nehls said. He added that, although he said three years ago he was done with politics, this is not a public office.
Nehls said he has no desire to compete with others for a political office, but after seeing an agenda for state committee asking for a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, he felt he could make a difference if elected state committeeman. Nehls said he feels more information was needed that a simple blanket statement to withdraw all the troops. “That was when I made my decision,” Nehls said.
Nehls said he realized he still wants to serve the Democratic Party and possibly begin to offer solutions.
Although his name is on the ballot, Nehls said he wouldn’t be mounting an aggressive campaign. “You won’t see me out there knocking on doors. If people want it, they want it – if not, it’s OK by me,” Nehls said.
The two men who most recently held the committee positions, Vicites and Fayette County Treasurer Robert F. “Bobby” Danko, did not seek re-election to the positions, as both are seeking state office.
Vicites is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 51st Legislative District for the state House of Representatives, the seat being vacated by the retirement of state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union).
Danko is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 50th Legislative District for the state House of Representatives, the seat held by state Rep H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg), who also serves as House Minority Leader.
Fayette County voters will also select two Democratic committee women from a field of three. Committeewomen Gloria Dillon and Rita J. Yantko are on the ballot, along with Vicki Hartsek.
On the Republican ballot, voters will select one committeeman and one committeewoman.
Whitney Wendy Baur is the only woman seeking the one committeewoman position, while Michael J. Hosier and John E. Hlatky are seeking the one committeeman position.