May 9, 2007 By Amy Zalar 5 min read

Although he said he is running a positive campaign with the platform of “cooperation, unity and progress,” Republican Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III nonetheless took a verbal swipe at former Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh Monday when Hardy said the negative image of the county was “before when we had commissioners prizefighting.” Hardy said the negative image of the county has changed in the last three or four years. “I think that is more (in) history,” Hardy said of the perceived negative image.

Cavanagh, who was involved in two publicized fights with fellow Fayette County Commissioner Harry Albert several years ago, later was not content to let the jab drop. In his closing remarks, Cavanagh said that at the time of his conflicts with Albert he was fighting to expose voter fraud, and added that he was also arrested at the Fayette County Housing Authority and taken away in handcuffs for exposing corruption, ordeals much like Jimmy Stewart’s character in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

Cavanagh then took aim at Hardy, saying that although he is a billionaire and everyone fears him, he was no longer getting a free pass. “You haven’t done that much for the image of the county yourself,” Cavanagh said.

Hardy, 84, has been the talk of the town lately on the heels of his May 5 wedding to 22-year-old Kristin Georgi, whom he met when she was working for Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa which is owned by Hardy’s 41-year-old daughter Maggie Hardy Magerko. The wedding marks Hardy’s third trip down the aisle.

The remarks were made at a Fayette County commissioner candidate forum held at the State Theatre Center for the Arts sponsored by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Despite instructions that personal attacks would not be permitted, most of the candidates were critical of others in promoting their own agendas.

In addition to Cavanagh, four other Democratic candidates are seeking two party nominations in the May 15 primary. Hardy and Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink are the only two candidates seeking the two Republican nominations.

Hardy, who has poured out millions of dollars to revitalize downtown Uniontown, said he would like to see Zimmerlink and Democratic Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites get re-elected along with him. Late last year, Hardy donated $20,000 to Vicites campaign.

Vicites, the only Democratic commissioner currently in office, said he is the “right Democratic choice.” He is seeking his fourth term in office. Vicites said he is stressing the future of Fayette County and he has a plan but he can’t do it alone. “You need two votes to get something done,” Vicites said. He added that he doesn’t have any other jobs and is committed to dignified conduct. Vicites also said he is running a positive campaign.

Cavanagh, who previously served two terms in office, is running as a “New Democratic Team for Working Class Families” with Vincent Zapotosky.

Zapotosky mentioned in opening remarks that the current board of commissioners gave county taxpayers a 60 percent tax increase in one year. Zapotosky said although Hardy mentioned that progress is moving out of downtown Uniontown into outlying areas, he doesn’t see it. “I don’t see the trickle-down effect,” Zapotosky said, adding that he didn’t agree when President Ronald Reagan advocated the trickle-down effect, either.

John “Toots” Croftcheck, a retired steelworker, said reform is needed in Fayette County, and said he wanted to alert everyone about the “Fred Lebder so-called dream team,” referring to the Cavanagh/Zapotosky alliance. Lebder is the long-time chairman of the Fayette County Democratic Party.

Croftcheck said he knows the policies of Cavanagh and Zapotosky would hurt the families of Fayette County. Croftcheck then read from a script that Cavanagh and Zapotosky support tax-free Keystone Opportunity Zones for residential areas. “People that buy $75,000 Mercedes don’t pay taxes and we do. Don’t vote for Zapotosky and Cavanagh,” Croftcheck said.

Later Zapotosky said he is not in office yet and therefore has not voted for KOZs for residential purposes.

Croftcheck later retorted that Zapotosky went on the radio voicing support for residential KOZs. Cavanagh previously voted to change the zoning that would allow some residential construction in a KOZ for a development plan that was to feature two new golf courses. However, after Cavanagh left office, Crystal Springs, a proposed development in Springhill Township, changed its original plan under new ownership and sought further zoning changes to permit more widespread construction of homes in the KOZ. That request was denied by a 2-1 vote of the current commissioners, and no home construction has begun at the site.

Democratic candidate John “Sonny” Mikita also took aim at Zapotosky and Cavanagh. In addressing the fact that Zapotosky and Cavanagh got the UMWA endorsement, Mikita said he and Croftcheck are the only two candidates who have carried union cards, and he urged union members to vote for Mikita and Croftcheck.

In addressing Croftcheck’s remarks, Cavanagh said it is obvious why some people are in the race. “I was born at night but not last night,” Cavanagh said. “I’m proud to be here and running with Vincent Zapotosky.” Cavanagh said he has done more for reform than any other candidate, and he wants to take back the Democratic majority on the board of commissioners.