May 16, 2007 By Amy Zalar 3 min read

Only one member of a Democratic team seeking two party nominations for Fayette County commissioner was successful in the quest Tuesday when Vincent Zapotosky was the top vote-getter, according to unofficial election results.

With 102 out of 103 precincts reporting, Zapotosky received 9,791votes and one of the Democratic nominations. Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites secured the second nomination with 8,672 votes despite a campaign push against him by Zapotosky and Sean M. Cavanagh.

Cavanagh, who had officially teamed up with Zapotosky late last month to form “The New Democratic Team for Working Class Families,” finished behind Vicites and without a nomination. Cavanagh received 7,801 votes.

Zapotosky and Cavanagh had run numerous advertisements in the days leading up to Tuesday’s municipal primary, criticizing Vicites, who is seeking his fourth term in office. Cavanagh is a former two-term commissioner who lost his bid for re-election to a third term four years ago.

Among the criticisms Zapotosky and Cavanagh levied were that Vicites is the highest taxing commissioner in Fayette County history, and also a charge that Vicites sold out the Democratic Party by accepting a $20,000 campaign contribution from incumbent Republican Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy.

Zapotosky is a former coordinator of constituent services for U.S. Reps. Austin Murphy and Frank Mascara. Four years ago he took his first run at politics and county commissioner, finishing fourth in a field of five seeking the two Democratic nominations, just behind Cavanagh.

Although Vicites, Cavanagh and Zapotosky were all three in the Democratic primary four years ago, the results were much different. Vicites was the top vote-getter in the 2003 primary with 13,847 votes, while former State Sen. Bill Lincoln finished second with 9,406 votes, ahead of Cavanagh with 8,452 votes and Zapotosky with 7,961 votes and former Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls with 4,949 tallies.

Zapotosky and Cavanagh officially teamed up in late April. Cavanagh formerly served two terms in the office, and last year got back into the political arena when he was elected as Democratic State Committeeman.

Vicites, who vowed to run a positive campaign, focused on accomplishments during three terms in office. He stressed the fact that the commissioners reduced taxes in the past two years and talked about all the development that is happening in the county.

The other two candidates, and certified appraiser John “Sonny” Mikita and retired steelworker John “Toots” Croftcheck finished fourth and fifth respectively. Mikita received 2,853 votes and Croftcheck received 2,525.

On the Republican ticket, incumbent Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink was the top vote-getter with 3,434 votes while Hardy received 3,315 votes. There were the only two seeking the two party nominations. Four years ago, Hardy was the top vote-getter.