Washington County races listed
While two Republican candidates are all but assured spots on the November ballot for Washington County commissioner, a slate of seven Democrats will vie for two nominations in the May primary.
Earlier this year, longtime commissioner Bracken Burns announced that he would not be seeking re-election. Burns served for 16 years as a county commissioner and previously served as the county’s director of Emergency Medical Services and head of the county’s Emergency Management Agency.
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan of Eighty Four will seek her fifth term as county commissioner as will Republican Bill Northrop Jr. of Peters Township.
Republican Monica Merrell of Peters Township, who had announced her candidacy for commissioner earlier this year, recently withdrew from the race.
On the Democratic ticket, incumbent Commissioner Larry Maggi of Charleroi will seek a third term in office and will be pitted against six challengers for the two Democratic nominations, including Wayne E. Watson of Canonsburg, Joe Manning of Washington, Greg Sulc of Canonsburg, Randy J. Barli of Coal Center, Harlan Shober of Washington and John M. Petrisek of Ellsworth.
Four candidates will seek a seat on the county bench and all four cross-filed as Democrats and Republicans.
Candidates for judge are Judge Phil Melograne of Peters Township, county solicitor Lane Turturice of South Strabane Township and attorneys Gary Gilman and Charles Kurowski.
District Attorney Steve Toprani announced that he will not seek a second term. Assistant District Attorney Republican Eugene A. Vittone of Bentleyville will seek the GOP nomination, while Dave DiCarlo of Peters Township will seek the Democratic bid.
Democrat incumbents including Treasurer Francis L. Ling and Register of Wills Mary Jo Poknis are unopposed on the May 17 primary ticket.
Incumbent Democrat Coroner S. Timothy Warco will run unopposed on the Democratic ticket while two Republicans, Mark W. Adams of West Alexander and Robert F. Balogh of North Strabane Township will seek the Republican nomination.
Tuesday was the deadline for nominating petitions to be filed in the primary.