Three Fayette Countians headed to Democratic conventions
Three Fayette Countians will represent the 9th Congressional District at the Democrat National Convention in Philadelphia later this year following their respective delegate wins in the primary.
Attorneys James Davis, Melinda Kay Deal (Dellarose) and Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites were three of the top vote-getters on Tuesday.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of participating at the convention,” said Davis on Wednesday. “This will be historical, as we will likely nominate the first woman to be the President of the U.S.”
The number of delegate nominees are selected proportionally to the registered voter population in Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts.
The 9th District is allotted five positions, two males and three females, to represent it at the convention.
Six females and three males were listed on the ballot. All had to declare which presidential candidate they would support at the convention.
Davis and Vicites were the top two male vote-getters, with 27,887 and 27,522 votes, respectively. Both had declared their support for former New York Sen. and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Clinton was the clear winner in the state’s primary election Tuesday, besting her challenger, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Madeline R. Snyder of Greene County, Kathleen Hendricks of Fulton County and Deal were the top three female vote-getters, securing 30,265, 27,222 and 25,980 votes, respectively.
Snyder and Deal had declared their support for Clinton, while Hendricks supported Sanders.
Davis described Sanders as a “formidable candidate” who has sparked the interest of young people to be engaged in the political process.
“I hope they stay engaged and interested,” said Davis.
Others on the ballot and unofficial vote counts, included Sanders supporters Mike Cordaro of Fayette County, 26,833; Alexis Waksmunski of Cambria County, 24,125; and Sheri Morgan of Franklin County, 25,024 votes. Clinton supporter Gillian Kratzer of Blair County received 24,765 votes in her delegate bid.
The district includes all or parts of Fayette, Washington and Greene counties.
The voters in the 12th Congressional District chose five Clinton supporters and one Sanders supporter to represent the district at the convention.
Cindy Shapira, Elaine Bellin and Lisa Tronzo Giorgetti, all of Allegheny County, were the top female vote-getters with 45,833, 44,300, and 39,525 votes, respectively, with Dwan B. Walker of Beaver County, Kevin Kinross of Allegheny County and Randy Shannon of Beaver County the three male winners in the delegate race, securing 42,076, 40,119 and 39,525 votes, respectively. Shannon was the lone declared Sanders supporter.
Other Sanders’ supporters and their vote tallies included Allegheny County residents Anita Prizio, 39,479 and Devan M. Yenerall, 37,626 votes and Beaver County residents Linwood Alford, 36,347; Kerri Theuerl, 34,366; and Debbie Lambert, 38,726 votes, according to unofficial results.
The 12th District includes a portion of Westmoreland County.
The 18th District also chose three males and three females to represent it at the national convention.
Franco Harris of Allegheny County, Ted Kopas of Westmoreland County and Dave Coder of Greene County topped the vote count list with 50,849, 49,059 and 42,299 votes, respectively, with Norma Jean McCuen, Joyce Ann Bender and Michelle Winowich Zmijanac, all of Allegheny County, securing the top three female spots with 45,120, 44,359 and 42,932 votes, respectively, in the primary election.
All the elected delegates are Clinton supporters.
Other Sanders’ supporter delegate candidates and vote counts included Allegheny County residents Mykie Reidy, 36,858; Joan M. Buchewicz, 37,935; and Craig Grella, 36,737 votes.
The 18th District includes portions of Greene, Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
In the 9th District on the Republican ballot, incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, of Bedford County, Debra D. Taylor of Franklin County and Judith F. Ward will represent the district at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Three candidates are selected from each district and are not required to declare their support for any of the presidential candidates.
Shuster garnered 43,193 votes in his bid for a delegate spot with Taylor, 32,853 and Ward, 32,367 votes.
Others seeking a delegate position and their vote count included Lois M. Kaneshiki of Blair County, 22,263; Robert L. Thomas of Franklin County, 28,941; Clayton David Show and Cody Raymond Knotts of Fayette County, 17,229 and 25,761 votes, respectively, and Joseph Lamantia of Indiana County, 28,550 votes, according to unofficial results.
Monica Morrill of Somerset County, George F. Steigerwalt of Allegheny County and James Vasilko of Cambria County will represent the 12th District in Cleveland, according to voting results.
Morrill received 23,459 votes, with Steigerwalt garnering 23,253 votes and Vasilko, 23,110 votes.
Other candidates and vote counts included Allegheny County residents Christopher H. Fromme, 10,504; Robert C. Howard, 11,065; David J. Majernick, 16,120; Michael P. McMullen, 13,855; Samuel G. Miclot, 6,259; Gabriel C. Keller, 11,605, Jill Cooper, 19,863; and Louis Roger Valente, 6,020 votes.
Also, Lawrence Borland of Westmoreland County, 14,663 votes; Bruce Keeler of Beaver County, 11,605, and Cambria County residents, ; Michele T. Trevorrow, 9,209 and Joseph M. Sernell, 18,189 votes.
In the 18th District, Thomas Petrarca of Westmoreland County, Justin Deplato of Allegheny County and Thomas J. Uram of Washington County will represent the district at the RNC convention, according to unofficial results.
Petrarca received 33,831 votes, with Deplato and Uram securing 30,963 and 27,879 votes, respectively.
Other candidates and their vote tallies, included Westmoreland County residents Scott E. Avolio, 20,090 votes; Charles T. Konkus, 8,479; Virginia J. Strain, 11,081 and Mary Jo Silvis, 16,277 votes.
Also, Allegheny County residents Richard Saccone, 20,526 votes; James R. Means Jr., 18,706; Sue Ann Means, 23,067 and Albert E. Quaye III, 8,005 votes.