February 06, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Persons who want to run for municipal offices this year should submit their nominating petitions no later than March 7, an Allegheny County spokeswoman announced.
The Elections Division today announced that nomination petitions are now available online and in the office for candidates seeking to run in the May 16 municipal primary.
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, the county said.
Petitions, along with instructions, are available online.
Voters will be electing mayors in some municipalities, including McKeesport, along with members of city and borough councils, township commissioners, school board members and other municipal offices.
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February 05, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
The 35th Legislative District seat has been vacant since December, after former state Rep. Austin Davis of McKeesport won election as Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor.
Two endorsed candidates and an independent write-in candidate are vying to replace Davis in a special election to be held this Tuesday (Feb. 7). We asked freelance writer Elizabeth Laughlin to interview each of them.
In alphabetical order by last name, they are:
Matt Gergely is the finance director for the City of McKeesport. He previously served in a similar capacity for the McKeesport Area School Board, and as McKeesport’s city administrator. This is his first run for elected office. He is the endorsed Democratic candidate.
Tube City Almanac’s story | Candidate’s website: www.facebook.com/TeamGergely
Don Nevills is a business owner from Clairton and a retired chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. He has served as a member of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Clairton and on the Clairton Municipal Authority Board. Nevills previously challenged Davis as a write-in candidate. He is the endorsed Republican candidate.
Tube City Almanac’s story | Candidate’s website: www.electdonnevills.com
Paul Shelly Jr. is the owner of Paul Shelly Restorations, a home-remodeling company in McKeesport. He previously served as a McKeesport city councilman and was a volunteer on John Fetterman’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. Shelly is running as an independent write-in candidate.
Tube City Almanac’s story | Candidate’s website: www.facebook.com/paul.shelly
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February 05, 2023 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Website: www.facebook.com/paul.shelly
Paul Shelly Jr. is running a write-in campaign for the 35th Legislative District seat. The election is Tuesday (Feb. 7).
Tell me about yourself.
I was born and raised in McKeesport—I’m a Mon Valley boy—and I am committed to the community. I love it here, and I love to see our people prosper. I raised four children, and I would say that’s what I’m most proud of. I started out by working for Westinghouse, and I have a master’s degree in computer science. I mentored and coached kids basketball, football, and baseball at the Boys & Girls Club, as well as at McKeesport High School. I also have my own painting company, Paul Shelly Restorations—we paint houses.
Why is running for state representative so important to you?
Truthfully, I have never wanted that role. I was working for the Fetterman campaign, and someone said, “Why not you?” I wanted to get Mon Valley guys elected. I think we have a lot of career politicians—what have they done? It’s humbling to win an election. I have Democrats, independents, and Republicans backing me up. We need to get new people involved—fresh ideas. Nobody has a monopoly of good ideas. I aspire to be a leader, and I like meeting people and hearing their concerns.
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February 05, 2023 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Website: www.electdonnevills.com
Don Nevills is the endorsed Republican candidate for the 35th Legislative District. The election is Tuesday (Feb. 7):
Tell me about yourself.
I’m a 14-year Navy veteran and a business owner of 28 years. I’ve owned various tattoo shops, including one in the Southside of Pittsburgh, and a cotton candy store. I was a member of the Clairton Redevelopment Authority Board and the Clairton Municipal Utilities Authority Board. I live in Clairton, and I represent the people—not a party, not an agenda. I believe that in the 35th District, we’re underrepresented [in Harrisburg], if represented at all.
Why is running for state representative so important to you?
I’ve always served the people—I’ve always enjoyed helping others, speaking with them. I’ve done over 20,000 tattoos, and through talking to others, I learned that people just want to live a comfortable life.
I started my political campaign in 2019, when I ran for Congress. But I refocused to my local community and being able to bring change. What can I bring back to the local community? I’m tired of the politicians doing what they want. I take this job like the military—it’s 24/7. I’m always on call.
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February 05, 2023 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Website: www.facebook.com/TeamGergely
Matt Gergely is the endorsed Democratic candidate for the 35th Legislative District. The election is Tuesday, Feb. 7:
Tell me about yourself.
I was born and raised in McKeesport. I’m a ’98 graduate of McKeesport High School and an IUP college graduate of 2002. I have been involved with politics life-long, such as being a part of political consulting and the city administrative staff for the mayor. I was also business manager of the McKeesport Area School District for three years.
Why is running for state representative so important to you?
I contemplated running for a long time, from the day Austin Davis won his election. And I realized this [position] is something you can’t pass up—it’s what I want to do, and I was a step ahead of everything with my experiences.
But I will say the most important thing I want people to know is that this election is not about me, at all. It’s about the constituents of the 35th District and their issues and concerns. We are going to do everything in our power to address the addiction to crime and violence that unfortunately plagues our communities at times.
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January 31, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Applications for absentee and mail-out ballots are being sent this week to approximately 300,000 registered voters in Allegheny County, the Elections Division has announced.
A state law passed in 2019 allows voters to place themselves on a “permanent” list for an absentee or mail-in ballot, and requires the applications to be distributed before the first Monday in February.
Anyone on the permanent list should receive their application by Friday.
County officials said the so-called “permanent” ballot list has been confusing for voters. Signing up for the “permanent” list does not mean a voter automatically gets a mail-in ballot each year. Instead, they receive an application for a mail-in ballot.
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January 17, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Allegheny County President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark administers the oath of office to new Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, with his wife, Blayre Holmes Davis, by his side. (Submitted photo courtesy Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor was sworn into office on Tuesday morning and credited his upbringing in McKeesport — and the support of his family — with his success.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, 33, a lifelong resident of the city and a graduate of McKeesport Senior High School, took the oath of office in Harrisburg from Kim Berkeley Clark, Allegheny County president judge, with his wife, Blayre Holmes Davis, by his side.
One hour later, Davis’s running mate, former Attorney General Josh Shapiro, was sworn in as the commonwealth’s 48th governor, replacing Tom Wolf, who was limited to two terms by the state constitution. Both men are Democrats.
“Growing up my parents instilled in me the values of hard work, compassion and empathy,” Davis said. “The very values that we hope are instilled in all of our leaders. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without my parents Kathy and Ankarie Davis. Thank you for all the life lessons you’ve taught me.”
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December 07, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections, State & Region
Summer Lee and Austin Davis, shown here at their Mon Valley Youth Expo in 2019, have resigned their respective state legislative seats. Lee has been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, while Davis is slated to become Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor. (Submitted photo courtesy Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
Mon-Yough area voters will be asked to choose replacements for two state legislators who have been elected to higher offices.
State Rep. Austin Davis of McKeesport and State Rep. Summer Lee of Swissvale, both Democrats, submitted their resignations on Wednesday. Davis has been elected lieutenant governor, replacing John Fetterman of Braddock, while Lee has been elected to the congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, who is retiring.
On Wednesday, state House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia announced that a special election will be held Feb. 7 to replace Davis, Lee and state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, who died in October.
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October 24, 2022 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections, State & Region
In Pennsylvania, today is the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration before the Nov. 8 midterm election.
You have until midnight to register to vote.
In the 2020 General Election, which included the presidential race, 71 percent of Pennsylvanians cast their ballots. Meg Pierce — executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania — said the state saw a huge surge in participation in the 2020 presidential election.
Then the numbers dipped a little in 2021. But Pierce predicted a high turnout again this November.
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August 05, 2022 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: Politics & Elections, State & Region
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled this week that so-called “no excuse” mail-in voting in the state is constitutional.
The ruling is seen as a setback to 14 Republican lawmakers who challenged the expansion of absentee ballots in court.
Meg Pierce, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, said mail-in ballots are important to ensure elections are accessible to everyone.
“Voting by mail is convenient and secure, and has resulted in an incredible boost in voter turnout in Pennsylvania's recent election,” Pierce said. “About 170,000 (additional) registered voters voted in Pennsylvania elections when they were allowed to vote by mail.”
Until 2019, Pennsylvania voters could only use an absentee ballot under certain conditions, such as illness, disability or being out of town on Election Day. That year, the Pennsylvania General Assembly voted to implement “no excuse” mail-in ballots for anyone who requests them.
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