February 12, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Politics & Elections
The Allegheny County Elections Division today announced that nomination petitions are available online and in the office for candidates seeking to run in the May 20 municipal primary elections.
Voters throughout the county will go to the polls this fall to elect offices — depending on the communities — such as mayors, city and borough council members, Allegheny County council members, school directors, township commissioners, judges, and district justices.
Petitions, along with instructions, are available online. The nomination petitions must be printed or copied as duplex (double-sided, front-to-back, head-to-head) on plain white 8.5” x 11” (letter size) paper.
This requirement cannot be satisfied by printing each side of the nomination petition on a separate sheet of paper and affixing the sheets together.
Candidates for any of the court offices (Common Pleas, Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme) may obtain nomination petitions by contacting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation via phone at 1-877-868-3772, or online at the state’s Running for Office webpage.
Candidates may begin to circulate petitions and file nomination papers on Feb. 18. The last day to file these nomination petitions is March 11.
February 05, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
(Submitted photo)
West Mifflin Council Member Dan Davis has announced his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for Allegheny County Council District 9.
Davis, a graduate of Ohio State University, is an environmental engineer who currently works as a department manager at DLZ Corp. in Bridgeville.
“With eight years of experience as a councilman for West Mifflin Borough and 35 years as an environmental manager, I am confident in my ability to address the concerns of the 17 municipalities within Allegheny County District 9,” Davis said.
Read More
February 05, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
(Submitted photo)
McKeesport police Capt. Dan Goughnour has officially announced his candidacy for state legislator from the 35th Legislative District.
A 16-year veteran of the city police and a member of the McKeesport Area School Board, Goughnour received the nomination from the Allegheny County Democratic Committee following a meeting Saturday at the Palisades.
Separately, the Republican Committee of Allegheny County has nominated White Oak Council Member Chuck Davis.
Candidates were chosen by parties, rather than in a primary election, because state law requires a special election to be held to fill the empty seat with 60 days of a vacancy. State Rep. Matt Gergely, 45, died unexpectedly Jan. 19 after a brief illness.
Read More
February 03, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
The Republican Committee of Allegheny County announced Saturday that White Oak Councilman Chuck Davis has been nominated to run for the state General Assembly in the 35th District.
A special election is scheduled for March 25 to fill the vacancy left by the death Jan. 19 of state Rep. Matt Gergely.
A lifelong resident of White Oak and a longtime volunteer firefighter, Davis has chaired numerous committees on White Oak council, according to a spokesman, including the borough’s police, fire, public works, health and safety, and planning and zoning committees.
A spokesman said that Davis intends on bringing “a strong vision for economic growth, public safety and government transparency to the voters of the Mon Valley.”
Read More
January 31, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Politics & Elections
(File photo: Vickie Babyak for Tube City Almanac)
As a public service, Tube City Community Media Inc. again will make available this space as a free, public outlet for local political candidates — although there are rules attached.
CANDIDATES: Please do not depend on Facebook messages or posts. Facebook does not always deliver messages or posts.
Please send candidate announcements to us at tubecitytiger@gmail.com, or Tube City Almanac, 409 Walnut St., Suite 200, McKeesport, PA 15132; we will publish candidate announcements as they are received at our office.
Deadline is May 1; announcements will be published at Tube City Almanac in the order they arrive.
Any candidate for a municipal (city, borough or township) or school board office in the Duquesne City, East Allegheny, McKeesport Area, South Allegheny or West Mifflin Area school districts* may submit a candidate announcement or statement for publication at Tube City Almanac.
Profiles received after the deadline will be published at the editor’s option, time permitting.
(Please do not send them as a text message, or as a Facebook message. Handwritten entries and phone calls are not acceptable.)
Read More
January 31, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was retracted and rewritten after publication. We learned after posting it that Joe Pero had also announced his candidacy on Facebook. We apologize to Pero for the omission.
Those are the only two candidates for this office of which we are presently aware.
CANDIDATES: Please do not depend on Facebook messages or posts.
Please send candidate announcements to us at tubecitytiger@gmail.com, or Tube City Almanac, 409 Walnut St., Suite 200, McKeesport, PA 15132; we will publish candidate announcements as they are received at our office. —JT
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko speaks at a Veteran’s Day ceremony. He has announced plans to run for magisterial district judge. (City of McKeesport photo by Jennifer R. Vertullo)
Retired McKeesport police Chief Joe Pero also is seeking the office. Pero is a Marine Corps veteran and graduate of the FBI Academy. (Submitted photo via Facebook)
Two candidates widely known to city residents have announced their plans to run for magisterial district judge.
Saying that he looks forward to stepping out of the limelight — but continuing community service — McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko announced his plans on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, former McKeesport police Chief Joe Pero also announced his candidacy, via Facebook. Pero retired from the police department in 2010 after a 30-year career.
Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi, who has served in that role since 2007, confirmed Friday that he is not seeking re-election. Riazzi, who previously served as a McKeesport police officer, chief of detectives, and as an Allegheny County sheriff’s deputy, is eligible for retirement under state law.
Read More
January 30, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
From top left, in alphabetical order, Tim Eads of Munhall, Rikell Ford of Clairton, Dan Goughnour of McKeesport, Mary Nesby of Homestead, Lou Ransom Jr. of Munhall and Dexel Tolliver of Clairton. (Submitted photos)
The six Democrats vying for the nomination to run for the 35th Legislative District seat in a special election share a common focus on jobs, public safety, education and blight removal.
And the candidates also share a common goal of working with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to advance his legislative agenda, they said during a closed-circuit conference call on Thursday night.
The Allegheny County Democratic Committee will meet Saturday in McKeesport to choose a candidate to run in the special election being held March 25 to fill the remainder of State Rep. Matthew Gergely’s two-year term in office.
Read More
January 25, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
A memorial wreath is visible through the window at State Rep. Matt Gergely’s office as it reflects scenes of Lysle Boulevard. The office was closed this week following his death Sunday. (Almanac photo)
A special election will be held March 25 to fill the 35th Legislative District seat left vacant by the death of State Rep. Matt Gergely of McKeesport.
The Pennsylvania Department of State said official papers were filed this week by Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton and nomination certificates will be accepted through Feb. 5 from both the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as minor parties.
Objections to any candidate’s nomination must be filed by Feb. 6. Persons who want to vote in the special election must register by March 10.
Read More
November 05, 2024 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Amid concerns of election denialism, a report from a nonpartisan watchdog organization highlights the robust protections in place to help safeguard Pennsylvania’s election process.
More than 8 million registered voters in the commonwealth are expected to cast a ballot in today's presidential election. Polls are open in Pennsylvania until 8 p.m.
Jenny Gimian, director of legal research and senior policy counsel for the nonprofit Informing Democracy, said counties in Pennsylvania have significant authority to interpret and implement state laws, while the Secretary of State has limited oversight powers. It comes into play if defective ballots need a “cure.”
“Pennsylvania doesn’t have a cure law,” Gimian said. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently issued a decision confirming that counties can decide whether or not they are going to notify voters if they discover a defect with their ballot before election day. Some counties go out of their way to notify voters and allow them to cast a provisional ballot to fix the issue, others do not.”
Read More
November 01, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Politics & Elections
In Allegheny County, nine ballot return sites will remain open through Nov. 4.
Voters had until Oct. 29 to request a mail-in or absentee ballot in Pennsylvania.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, more than 257,000 Allegheny County voters requested mail-in ballots for the Nov. 5 election. Of those, about 201,000 have already been returned.
“We strongly encourage voters who are still holding on to their mail-in ballots to use one of our 10 ballot return sites across the county,” Allegheny County Elections Division Manager Dave Voye said. “If we receive a ballot after 8 p.m. on Election Day, even if it is postmarked Election Day or earlier, we cannot accept it.”
In addition to the South Park ice rink, locations include:
• Duquesne: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
• Avalon: Public Library
• Dormont: Pool
• Homewood: Community College of Allegheny County
• Moon Twp.: Allegheny County Emergency Services Building
• Pine Twp.: North Park ice rink
• Plum: Boyce Park Four Seasons Lodge
• Squirrel Hill: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
The hours of the above locations are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Voters who send or drop-off an absentee ballot may not vote in person at their neighborhood polling place, state officials have warned.
However, Allegheny County officials said voters who requested an absentee ballot, but did not return it, should bring it to their poling place and ask to vote in person instead. This process is known as “spoiling a ballot.”
Voters who are not in possession of their mail-in ballot and have not had confirmation that their mail-in ballot was received by the Elections Division should ask to cast a provisional ballot, the county said.
The United States Postal Service earlier this week suggested that all ballots be in the mail back to the County Elections Division by Oct. 29.
The County Office Building on Ross Street in downtown Pittsburgh also will be open for voters returning their mail-in ballots, a spokesperson said. The lane on Ross Street closest to the building is available for people to temporarily park and return their ballot.
The County Office Building hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
