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Wednesday, May 21, 2003

By Rose Domenick

The incumbent Democratic commissioners, Chairman Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso, won their party nominations last night in trying to maintain the Democrat's' longtime domination of the commissioners' offices. They weren't running as a team, but they often vote the same way on issues and voters were agreeing with them yesterday.

	More Primary 2003 Click to Westmoreland County's election site for detailed results on primary races. Download a .detailed .pdf file of unofficial primary voting results for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties published in the late edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file. Tables with primary results for Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties will be published in Thursday print editions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I'm happy with the support I have from the Democrats and I'm looking forward to support from all the voters this fall," Balya, 45, of Greensburg, said last night as he was on his way to winning nomination for a third term.

Ceraso, 39, of New Kensington, a former employee of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, won nomination to his second term.

Challenger Virginia Oplinger, 67, of South Greensburg, a retired employee of Westmoreland Manor, the county's geriatric home, came in third in her first try at elected office.

Rick Wajdic, 50, of Unity, ran fourth. He is a developer who ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for commissioner in 1999 and for state representative in 2000.

Republicans, who haven't held the majority on the three-member board since 1956, were selecting two new candidates after Commissioner P. Scott Conner decided not to seek re-election. Conner said he was fed up with Democratic colleagues who refused to pay any attention to him.

Democrats hold a voter registration edge of about 138,000 to 79,000.

Gene Porterfield, 56, of Hempfield, who is trying to make a political comeback, led on the Republican ballot in unofficial returns. He had been a state senator for eight years before he was defeated by Allen Kukovich in 1996.

In the second spot just behind Porterfield was Terry R. Marolt, 57, a former commissioner from Ligonier Township who did not seek re-election four years ago. He previously held office for 13 years.

Lawyer Harry F. Smail Jr., 37, of Greensburg, ran third and Michael Korns, 21, was a distant fourth.

In the race for judge, two candidates cross-filed for the one open seat.

Michele Bononi, 42, of Unity, was making her second bid for judge against Christopher A. Feliciani, 44, of Hempfield. Bononi won the Republican nomination and Feliciani won the Democratic nod, so they will face off again in November.

In the race for recorder of deeds, incumbent Tom Murphy, 39, of Arnold, was on his way to a narrow victory against Roland J. Martino.

In the Democratic race for controller, Carmen Pedicone, 54, of Jeannette, decisively beat Nat Lamolinara, 44, of Derry Township.

In the Democratic race for sheriff, incumbent Chris Sherer, 37, of Lower Burrell, won nomination for his second term. No Republican filed for sheriff.

Rose Domenick is a freelance writer.