Herald-Standard endorses Cavanagh and Zapotosky
For the first time ever, the Herald-Standard editorial board endorses Democrat Sean M. Cavanagh in the race for Fayette County commissioner, believing that the former two-term commissioner deserves a return to office because he has the necessary good-government credentials of honesty, vision and backbone to do what’s right.
In the five-way race, the board also endorses Democrat Vincent Zapotosky, a decision we reached before Zapotosky and Cavanagh announced that they were running as a team. It is our belief that Zapotosky, a former coordinator for constituent services for U.S. Reps. Austin Murphy and Frank Mascara, brings sincerity and a burning desire to improve Fayette County to the table.
In our view, Cavanagh has a demonstrated track record of government reform, starting down that path long before it became fashionable with the July 2005 pay raise regarding the state Legislature. In credentials unmatched by any other candidate, Cavanagh exposed corruption at the Fayette County Housing Authority as a citizen activist and, as a minority commissioner, doggedly pursued voter fraud at a personal care home that culminated with three indictments.
The board strongly believes that Cavanagh, now in his early 40s, running a pizza shop and raising three children, has matured in demeanor and outlook. We think he will be able to harness his considerable political and people skills for the greater public good, including working with U.S. Rep. John Murtha, with whom he has a close relationship.
Zapotosky, who finished a strong fourth in his first try for commissioner four years ago, wants to address the county’s continued high poverty and unemployment, and is refreshingly candid by noting he wants a winning campaign based on “progress, not propaganda.” Cavanagh addresses the economy by noting that he wants to develop four new business parks throughout the county, copying the success of the one being overseen by the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority near Uniontown Mall. That’s the kind of bold thinking needed in a county that continues to rank among the poorest in Pennsylvania.
That Zapotosky and Cavanagh have formed an alliance prior to Tuesday’s election is an affirmation, in our view, of our belief that the two of them can work well together to solve the county’s many pressing problems. The same cannot be said of either of them and incumbent Democrat Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites, who worked to oust Cavanagh from office four years ago and with whom Zapotosky has no desire to partner.
While Vicites had some editorial board support – it was a close vote between him and Zapotosky for the second spot – we believe Fayette Democrats should give Cavanagh and Zapotosky a chance to show what they can do.