Race Begins for Local Primary Hopefuls

The local election cycle kicked into gear last week as Feb. 15 marked the first day for candidates to circulate nomination petitions for local offices.

Candidates will vie for a number of borough positions in Forest Hills, Edgewood and Swissvale, as well as five seats on Woodland Hills School Board. The filing deadline for candidates seeking to run in the May 17 primary is March 8.

Independent candidates or those affiliated with minor political parties have between March 9 and Aug. 1 to file nomination papers.

In Forest Hills, three council terms will expire this year — those of democrats Bill Burleigh, Devon Wood and Steve Karas. Wood, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat in November 2009, said she will likely run but has not made a final decision. Burleigh and Karas said they will seek another term.

Edgewood Mayor Mal Hellett, a Republican and former councilman after former Mayor Jean Davin resigned, will face election. On council, terms expire for Democratic council members Pat Schaefer and Audrey Waldock — president and vice president, respectively — as well as republican council members Gregg Bowers and George Fuller. 

In Swissvale, expiring borough council terms include those of Democrats Patricia L. Gionta, Sharon Kuhn Hanchett and Vice President Martin F. Busch.

Incumbents from Edgewood and Swissvale could not be reached by deadline for comment on whether they will wage election bids.

The district magistrate position in Forest Hills — whose includes Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, Forest Hills and Swissvale — is also on the ballot this year. is running to keep that spot, with and challenging.

Neither Swartzwelder nor Petrarca have to resign from their current positions to run for magistrate unless one wins the position in November.

Five seats on the Woodland Hills School Board will be included on this year’s ballot: those of Barry Driscoll and Bob Rinsma in region one, Marilyn Messina and Randy Lot in region two, and Bob Tomasic in region three.

School board candidates previously were elected by district. But from which candidates are pooled. Region one includes Churchill, Chalfant, Turtle Creek and Wilkins. Region two covers Braddock, Edgewood, Rankin and Swissvale. And region three encompasses Braddock Hills, North Braddock, Forest Hills, and East Pittsburgh. 

The nine-member board will include two members from each of the three districts, with an additional three “at-large” seats.

According to Maria McCool, communications director at Woodland Hills, candidates can run for both an at-large seat and a regional one. That means a person could win the popular vote for both positions, forcing them to choose one or the other.

“The board would appoint someone to the position [the candidate doesn’t select],” McCool said.

Local elections often draw a number of first-time candidates, said Sarah Welch, outreach and communications manager at the Local Government Academy.

Because of that, the LGA offers a course titled “Contemplating Governing” that introduces potential candidates to the workings of local government.

“We hope the course enhances the competitiveness of the election process by producing more informed candidates,” Welch said.

The LGA, an independent, nonpartisan program, aims to help people who are on the fence about running by providing them with information about local officials’ responsibilities, as well as procedures for filing for office and running a campaign.

“We don’t really try to influence you one way or the other,” Welch said. “It is a big responsibility. This program just gives you that information so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.”

The LGA hosts two separate installments of the program, each costing attendees $45 and including three sessions spread over three weeks. The first, held at the Greentree Municipal Building, wraps up Feb. 24. Anyone interested can still register for the second program, which meets March 9 at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.

More information on requirements for candidates seeking local office can be found at the Allegheny County Elections Office’s website.

Correction: An earlier edition of this story misstated the method by which school board members were elected previously.