September 19, 2023 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections, State & Region
Election Day is less than two months away, and for the process to go smoothly, Pennsylvania needs a lot more poll workers. Many of the 8.7 million registered voters in the state would be eligible to work at the polls for the November 7th municipal elections.
Lauren Cristella, League of Women Voters board member and president and CEO of the Committee of 70, a voter education group, said 40,000 Pennsylvanians are needed twice a year to ensure elections happen.
The state is also recruiting 17-year-olds to serve as poll workers, if they get permission from their school principal and a parent or guardian.
“Poll workers are our first, best defense against election fraud, anything that would cause disenfranchisement of voters,” Cristella said. “Fully-staffed, well-trained poll workers make voting easier for everyone. So, we took that as an important part of our mission, to make sure that these important roles are filled.”
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May 17, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
(Additional reporting from Jason Togyer)
Incumbent McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko won Tuesday’s primary election, easily defeating two vastly different challengers for the Democratic nomination.
According to incomplete and unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Division of Elections, Cherepko is holding a 20-point lead over his nearest rival, Corry Sanders, 52. Joe Lopretto was in third place with approximately 17 percent of the vote.
However, an official tally may not be available until Friday. Two city precincts — Ward 8, District 4, and Ward 12, District 3 — have not yet reported complete results. Countywide, 29 out of 1,324 precincts have reported incomplete results, elections officials said.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
The race for mayor of McKeesport has a great deal of intrigue, as voters will report to polling places in just a few days.
In many races throughout Allegheny County, including the race for mayor of McKeesport, there are no official Republican challengers. Barring a successful write-in campaign during November’s election, the winner of the primary will be sworn in as mayor.
McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko, 46, has been in office since 2012 and is hoping to secure the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. The Penn State University graduate was a fifth-grade teacher in the district before becoming an elected official. He touts his “Working Together for a Better McKeesport” as a successful motto.
In this year’s Democratic primary he faces two challengers who both emphasize their “outsider” status, Joe Lopretto, 58, a retired McKeesport police officer, and Corry Sanders, 52, a church deacon, barber and business owner.
All three candidates received an questionnaire with identical questions. In addition, reporter Tom Leturgey called Lopretto and Sanders on May 2 and May 12, and sent questionnaires to Sanders and Lopretto via their official Facebook pages.
Lopretto and Sanders did not respond to Leturgey’s phone messages or Facebook messages, though both have been using Facebook to share their campaign statements and positions.
McKeesport has about 17,700 residents as of the 2020 census.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Five of the candidates running for McKeesport Area School Board have offered their views on pressures facing the district, relating to student achievement, building safety and charter schools.
There are 13 candidates filed to run for five seats on the school board, which has nine members in all. In addition to the city, the school district serves Dravosburg, South Versailles Twp., Versailles and White Oak.
School board elections are officially non-partisan and candidates may file to run in more than one party. Of the 13 candidates, 11 are filed as both Republicans and Democrats, while two have filed only as Democrats.
The primary election is this Tuesday. Voters from each party will choose candidates who will run in the general election in November.
In April, Tube City Almanac mailed a questionnaire to all 13 candidates at their homes, and a reminder was mailed one week later. All candidates received the same questions. Five candidates had responded as of May 13:
Jeffery Anderson (Democratic)
Diane Elias (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Matthew Keller (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Matthew Mols (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Cameron L. Preston (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Cameron L. Preston
Address: Craig Street, McKeesport
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Preston: As a lifelong resident and district alumnus, I feel it is my duty to step up in the community in which I reside. I have over 15 years of experience working in social services, both inside and outside of school settings.
Almanac: One constant question at board meetings has been about gun violence. Prior to this election, how have you addressed gun-related violence within the community?
Preston: On Jan. 23, 2023, my then-16-year-old son was critically shot while walking home from school. Prior to that incident, I have spoken at rallies against gun violence and attended many functions and events. But, since gun violence has made it directly to my doorstep, I believe now is the perfect time to step up.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Matthew Mols
Address: Ridgeview Drive, Dravosburg
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Mols: I have multiple master’s degrees in education. I have spent the last 25 years as an educator, with over two decades as an employee of McKeesport Area School District.
While at McKeesport, I worked in multiple buildings, serving in many different capacities. I was an in-school suspension coordinator, teacher, counselor, principal, career and technical director, and union president.
I have served as member of council in the Borough of Dravosburg for over 10 years and have volunteered in community outreach programs. Over the past five years, I have had the pleasure of highlighting McKeesport scholar athletes, as the “Voice of the Tigers.” The administration has trusted me to provide the play-by-play call of sporting events over the radio and Internet.
My diverse background has afforded me the opportunity to learn quite a bit about the operations of McKeesport Area School District. I am currently employed as a Head High School principal in an urban school setting with similar demographics to that of McKeesport Area School District. My daily work as an educator and council member focuses on issues that are essential to the skillset of a school board member including: school safety, fiscal management, educational decision making, and community outreach. As a former employee, I have working relationships with personnel, have aided in development of procedures, and have familiarity with school board policies to best streamline services for McKeesport Area School District families. I have family members that are students within the school district, and like your family want what is only best for our students. As a graduate of McKeesport Area School District, I am aware of the rich tradition and pride one can have with a diploma from McKeesport.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Matthew Keller
Address: Fawcett Avenue, White Oak
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Keller: I am running for school board to bring a sense of direction back to he district with a student-first mentality, to support our administration, teachers, and support staff. I want to keep safety and security a top priority. I demand transparency for students, parents and community members.
I am a 2006 graduate of McKeesport Area School District, I went on to get my bachelor of arts from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg in 2012, and completed my paralegal certificate from Duquesne University in 2015.
Almanac: One constant question at board meetings has been about gun violence. Prior to this election, how have you addressed gun-related violence within the community?
Keller: I would look to outside agencies and elected officials on how we can help support them in helping curb gun violence in the community.
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May 13, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Diane Elias
Address: Diehl Drive, McKeesport
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Elias: So I can continue to support our students, staff and taxpayers.
Almanac: One constant question at board meetings has been about gun violence. Prior to this election, how have you addressed gun-related violence within the community?
Elias: I have attended several gun violence meetings and agree to work collectively with other board members, administration and any other community leaders.
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May 13, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Jeffery Anderson
Address: Washington St., McKeesport
Filed as: Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Anderson: I’m running for school board because I believe the district needs a change and new direction. I believe the current board is failing our children. I am very well known for the community work that I do such as my non-profit, the Mentoring Village. I run a weekly food pantry. I am also known for the Buddy Benches I made for the school district last school year.
Almanac: One constant question at board meetings has been about gun violence. Prior to this election, how have you addressed gun-related violence within the community?
Anderson: The recent gun violence is very sad and unfortunate. It’s mainly kids killing kids, but I feel like if these kids had something to keep their minds occupied — keep them off the streets — it would at least eliminate (not take away all of it) but eliminate a lot of the gun violence that is occurring throughout the community.
I also believe holding the parents accountable for the actions of their children would help eliminate some of the violence through the community.
I think that’s why it’s very important to know “if you see something, say something.” It’s not considered snitching when you're protecting the lives of others.
And it also leads back to the safety of our schools — so that what happened in Tennessee a few weeks back, and what’s been happening throughout the country, does not happen in our school district. Upgrading the security in our schools, coming up with new active shooter guidelines, I think is very important. Hopefully with me on the school board we can get a chance to make the changes that need to be made for the safety of our kids, and our staff and our school buildings.
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May 12, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday across Pennsylvania to select candidates who will appear on the November election ballot.
The polls will open at 7 a.m. across Allegheny County for the primary election. Under state law, only voters registered with one of the two major parties — Democratic or Republican — may vote in a primary election, because they are selecting nominees to represent their respective party at the Nov. 7 general election.
All 1,324 polling places across Allegheny County will be open, a county spokeswoman said. Polls will stay open until 8 p.m. and anyone still in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Voters are choosing candidates to run for Allegheny County executive, and many municipalities are selecting mayors, members of borough or city councils, township commissioners or supervisors, and school board members.
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