58th Legislative District
Harhai rolls by Painter Incumbent Ted Harhai of Monessen easily defeated challenger Scott Painter of Smithton for the Democratic Party nomination for the 58th Legislative District seat in the state House of Representatives, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary. In Westmoreland County, where the majority of the district lies, Harhai received 5,765 votes, or just more than 75 percent, and Painter received 1,908, or just less than 25 percent with all 56 precincts in the district reporting, according to unofficial results.
In Fayette County, Harhai received 432 votes, or 87 percent, while Painter received 65, or 13 percent, with all four precincts in the district reporting, according to unofficial results.
By winning the nomination, Harhai of Monessen will face Republican candidate Rob Ferguson of East Huntingdon Township to represent the district, which encompasses Fayette City, Belle Vernon and wards 2 and 3 in Washington Township in Fayette County and part of Westmoreland County, for the next two years.
Ferguson received 3,484 votes in Westmoreland County and 105 in Fayette County, according to unofficial results. He ran unopposed in the primary.
Harhai has represented the district since 1998.
During his campaign, Harhai said he helped secured grants for infrastructure projects for the smallest boroughs and the largest townships in the district.
He said he obtained $2 million for a sewer system in Arona, the smallest borough in the district, $23 million for a project at the Smithton interchange on Interstate 70, $20 million for work on the Donora-Monessen Bridge and $40 million to replace the Charleroi-Monessen Bridge.
He serves as chairman of the House environmental resources and energy subcommittee on mining, the local government subcommittee on boroughs, and the coal and steel caucuses, and is a member of the liquor control and transportation subcommittees.
In his campaign finance reports, Harhai said carried over $79,711 in contributions and receipts from reporting cycles dating from last year through March 29 this year and spent $5,623 on advertising, making donations and other campaign expenses between Feb. 1 and March 29.
He carried over $74,124 in funds to the March 29-May 3 reporting cycle, received $8,465 in small contributions and receipts and spent about $2,900 on advertising and other expenses. He ended the reporting cycle with a $79,685 cash balance.
Painter, of Smithton, has been a South Huntingdon Township supervisor for 20 years.
In his campaign, he called for reducing the size of the Legislature by 40 percent by eliminating 80 seats in the House and 20 in the Senate and eliminating or reducing legislators’ pensions.
Painter’s March 29-May cycle campaign finance report states that he spent $2,818 on signs and billboards.
He reported no contributions.