Vote today
Number of interesting
races on the ballot
Since it lacks the national scope and huge spending of presidential or gubernatorial elections, it may be tempting to overlook local primaries like today’s election. However, it is these local primary elections that can have the most significant impact on our communities.
So, in an effort to provide voters with the best foundation for making a reasoned decision in the polling booth, the Herald-Standard editorial board met with candidates for various local races and weighed their stances on the pressing issues, their history, experiences, priorities and promises. In the end, we chose to endorse those candidates we feel would best serve the residents of the area.
We held forums for 15 local races — from school boards to court of common pleas — and, for the most part, found the candidates willing to take the time to speak to voters about what makes them the best choice. However, we were disappointed that not all candidates took advantage of this opportunity, instead hoping that name recognition or inertia would carry them to victory. Still, we applaud all those candidates who took part in the forum; whether we offered them our endorsement or not, they deserve credit for stepping up to the plate and giving voters a chance to get to know them.
It is our sincere hope then, that voters keep up their end of the bargain by getting out there and participating in this primary election. Local primaries have notoriously low turnouts, which is a shame considering the impact that they can have, particularly when a primary win in some races means an unopposed trip to the ballot in November.
So make time today to get to the polls and cast your ballot — because while it’s a popular pastime in these parts to complain about the state of things, this is the opportunity to actually do something about it.
As mentioned above, after weighing the candidates, the Herald-Standard editorial board endorses the following candidates:
n For two open seats on the bench for the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas: Jack M. Purcell and Joseph M. George Jr.
n For Fayette County Prothonotary: Paul Shipley
n For Fayette County Treasurer: Beth Kerns-Patton
n To fill the office of magisterial district judge in a newly consolidated district: incumbent Jesse J. Cramer
n For Bullskin Township supervisor: David Butler
n For the Democratic nomination for South Union Township supervisor: challenger Santino Guzzo
n For Connellsville mayor: challenger Greg Lincoln
n In the two-man race for Brownsville mayor: Incumbent Lester Ward
n For the three, four-year seats on Brownsville Borough Council: incumbents Jack Lawver and Tracy Sheehan-Zivkovich and challenger Robert F. Kovach
n For four seats on the Connellsville Area School Board: incumbents P.J. Carte, Paul E. Means Jr. and Gary L. Wandell and challenger Bryan S. Kisiel
n For Brownsville Area School Board: challengers Richard A. Gates, Terry Clark and Gary Seelye
n In the race for Albert Gallatin School Board: challengers Michael Dunham, Terry Ryan and Doug Sholtis
n For four seats on Uniontown Area School Board: incumbents Bill Gerke, William Rittenhouse Jr. and Lloyd Williams and challenger Terry Dawson
n For four seats on the Laurel Highlands School Board: incumbents Ira Chrise and Bev Beal and challengers Angelo Giachtti and Tom Landman
n In Frazier, for seats on the school board: incumbents Thomas E. Shutterly and David G. Simmons.