Democrats scrambling after Hovis withdraws from Westmoreland commissioner race

Aug. 14—Westmoreland Democrats are scrambling to fill a vacancy on the November ballot after learning through a social media post Monday that one of the party's two candidates for county commissioner withdrew from the race.

Sydney Hovis, 28, of Scottdale announced via Facebook she formally petitioned to have her name removed from the ballot and, in doing so, blasted Democratic Commissioner Ted Kopas and the leadership party committee chairwoman Michelle McFall.

"Although I admit that this decision is personally liberating in many ways by allowing me to focus on my family and rapidly growing business, my withdrawal comes as something far greater; I believe I am better positioned to help this region by acting independent of a party and outside of the self-servant political arena," Hovis wrote.

Hovis came on the political scene last year in an unsuccessful run for a seat in the state Senate. She, along with Kopas, were the only Democrats to run this year for seats on the Westmoreland County board of commissioners and, until Monday, she was poised to face Republican incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew for three seats on the board.

In her social media post, Hovis blamed the Democratic party's backing of Kopas, whom she described as an entrenched politician with no substantive accomplishments, as a factor in her decision to withdraw from the race.

"More-so, this decision is a testament to the severity of the Democratic Party's failures to adapt to changing times and to improve the prospects of its base. I wish to shine a spotlight upon the dangers of entrenched politicians like Ted Kopas, the neglect of and inability for the Democratic Party's leadership to implement a longterm strategy and the poison that is our partisan political system — without question being raised of my own political agenda," Hovis wrote.

Kopas served for a decade as county commissioner and was not reelected to a third full term in 2019. He was appointed last month by the county's judges to fill the remaining five months in the term of Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher, who resigned after being appointed by the governor to serve on the state's Workers Compensation Appeals Board.

Hovis did not seek the appointment to replace Thrasher.

In an interview Monday night, Hovis said she felt let down by local Democratic leaders.

"In March when I made the decision to run I did so at the request of Michelle McFall, who said Ted Kopas was recycled and we needed to move the county in a new direction. She assured me if I got my signatures (to run) I would get all the support I needed. Her support just evaporated and she just disappeared," Hovis said.

McFall last spring described Hovis as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Hovis said she will remain a Democrat but believes party leadership is lacking.

"We, as Democrats need to take a long look at what we are doing. I'm very hopeful the party will take this as an opportunity to elevate someone who is not a typical candidate," Hovis said.

She said her decision not to seek the judicial appointment last month was not based on her dissatisfaction with party leadership. She said she believed she was not eligible for the appointment because she moved to Westmoreland County after Thrasher was elected in November 2019.

Kopas said he respects Hovis' decision to withdraw from the race.

"I am proud of my record, proud of what I accomplished and excited about what we are going to do in this county and this government with the support of both Democrats and Republicans," Kopas said.

County Elections Bureau Director Greg McCloskey said Democrats have until Aug. 24 to select a ballot replacement for Hovis.

McFall said she learned of Hovis' decision to withdraw from the race from her Facebook post and that party officials will work to clarify the process to select a Democratic candidate for the vacant ballot spot.

"This is Sydney's choice. We've not seen much of her since the circulation of (nominating petitions). It's her decision, she's a young mother of three kids and it's a tremendous burden (to run for office) and one she was not prepared for," McFall said.

Hovis had been a no-show at campaign events even as party officials attempted to help steer her campaign, McFall said.

"I was a champion for Sydney Hovis and was excited at what she could become. We provided a great deal of personal and political capital for her, and she did not deliver on those opportunities," McFall said.

McFall said Kopas will be given an opportunity to have a role in selecting Hovis' replacement on the ballot.

"I certainly plan to be part of the conversation but to be clear — in this upcoming election, I am not running with anyone or against anyone in particular. I think we will find someone who is qualified and can compete on their own merits," Kopas said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .