Candidates Prepare for Primary Election

The primary election is May 17, which means local candidates and campaigners already are knocking on doors and reaching out to voters as the date quickly approaches.

In Edgewood, a shake-up early in the year is creating a new race for the position of mayor in the borough. from the post in December, Councilman was appointed to the seat in January. Because of that appointment, he is now running to get the Republican nomination for the mayor’s position for a two-year term. He will face a Running on the Democratic ticket for mayor is J. Edward Cook.

Edgewood Council President Pat Schaefer, a Democrat, will face newcomer Cynthia Randazzo, for a four-year term on council.

Forest Hills Borough Council has three seats open for four-year terms. Paul J. Palko has no opposition for the Republican nomination. But four Democrats — Steve Karas, Devon Wood, William Burleigh and Harry R. White Jr. — are running in the primary for those seats on the Democratic slate.

Swissvale Council has three seats open for four-year terms. No Republicans are running. Candidates on the Democratic ticket include Patricia L. Gionta, Jason Zaleska, Sharon Kuhn Hanchett and Darrell Rapp.

Previously, nine school board directors were elected from nine different regions. With the change, six directors are elected from three regions, with two representing each area.

The other three directors will then be elected "at-large," which means anyone can run for the spot from any of the electoral regions.

Cross filed on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in the primary for two, at-large seats include incumbents Robert J. Tomasic, and Randy G. Lott, and newcomers Mike Belmonte, Hans F. Lessmann, Selena P. Johnson and Tara Lafferty Reis. Also running for one of the two at-large seats on only the Democratic ticket is Jeff Hanchett.

In Region 1, which includes Churchill, Wilkins, Chalfant and Turtle Creek, there is one seat open for a four-year term. Vying for a nomination on the Democratic ticket are incumbent Regis Driscoll and newcomers Selena P. Johnson and Sean Vinsick. Vinsick is the lone candidate on the Republican ballot as he cross filed.

In Region 2, which includes Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Edgewood, there is one open seat for a four-year term. The cross filed candidates are Marilyn W. Messina, Alfred J. Nogrady, Randy G. Lott. Seeking only the Democratic nod for the seat is Jeff Hanchett.

In Region 3, which includes Forest Hills, Braddock Hills, North Braddock and East Pittsburgh, there is one open seat with a four-year term. The candidates are newcomer Mike Belmonte and incumbent Robert J. Tomasic, both of whom cross filed on both tickets.

In the Magisterial District Judge race in district 2-08, which includes Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, Forest Hills and Swissvale, the candidates for the primary include: , David K. Trautman, , all of whom cross filed on both the Republican and Democratic tickets. Running only on the Democratic ticket is Richard Jordan.

In the District Judge race for the 2-10 district, which covers Edgewood and Wilkinsburg, candidates include Marc V. Taiani, who cross filed on both tickets, and Kim M. Hoots, whose name is only on the Democratic ballot in the primary.

In the District Judge 2-35 race, which covers the 7th and 14th wards of Pittsburgh, the candidates include Joe Weinroth and Dan Butler, all of whom cross filed. Douglas Shields is seeking the post but filed only on the Democratic ticket.