Westmoreland certifies primary results; write-in vote tie broken to settle Democratic race for Hempfield supervisor

Rich Cholodofsky, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 5—Results from Westmoreland County's spring primaries are official.

The county's elections board on Monday voted to certify results from the 195 races that appeared on the May ballots, setting the stage for the November general election that will feature county, municipal and school board elections.

Two countywide races will top the ballot in the fall. Incumbent Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew will seek second terms in office on the three-member board against Democrats Ted Kopas and Sydney Hovis.

Democrats will seeking to reclaim a majority on the board. The top three vote-getters will win seats on the board of commissioners.

Incumbent Sheriff James Albert will seek a second term in office when he faces Democrat Tommy John Hamacher. Albert was elected as a Democrat in 2019 but a year into his term switched to the GOP and his making his first run for public office as a registered Republican.

Commissioner and sheriff are the only contested county races in November. Republican incumbents Treasurer Jared Squires, Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton, Controller Jeffrey Balzer and Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer are unopposed.

Meanwhile, in the race to fill two seats on the Hempfield board of supervisors, Republican incumbent George Reese was declared one of two winners in the Democratic primary late last week and will appear on the November ballot representing both political parties, according to Westmoreland County Election Bureau Director Greg McCloskey.

Reese, along with incumbent Jay Anderson won the Republican nominations in May. Joseph R. Svetkovich topped the Democrat race after he received 139 write-in votes and will run against the Republican incumbents. Reese finished in a tie for the second Democratic nomination with Ralph A. Stoup, each having received 133 write-in votes.

Reese was declared the winner of the second Democratic nomination after the election bureau broke a tie late last week through a random drawing.

More than 680 votes write-in votes were cast in the Democratic primary for Hempfield supervisor.

All final certified results from the May primaries are posted on the county's election results website.

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