Candidates listed for Somerset County's township, school board races
On May 16, local voters will cast their ballots to elect candidates for township supervisor and school director positions across Somerset County.
In some municipalities, the incumbent candidates are running unopposed for reelection, and in others – Conemaugh Township and Somerset Township, for example – several candidates are vying for a limited number of seats.
Here’s a listing compiled by the Daily American of the candidates running in these local races:
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Township Supervisor candidates
Addison Township: appointed supervisor Eric J. Nichols, a Republican, is running for a 4-year term;
Allegheny Township: incumbent David K. Sarver, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Black Township: incumbent Harry W. Mosholder, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term and appointed supervisor Samuel Q. Sanner, also a Republican, is running for a 4-year term;
Brothersvalley Township: incumbent Jason D. Ickes, a Democrat, is running for a 6-year term;
Conemaugh Township: one seat open; incumbent Matt A. Mlaker and challenger Terry W. Jamerson, both Republicans, are running for the 6-year term;
Elk Lick Township: appointed supervisor Luke J. Holler, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term, and incumbent Charles W. Short, Jr., a Democrat, is running for a 2-year term;
Fairhope Township: incumbent Richard E. Tunstall, a Democrat, is running for a 6-year term and appointed supervisor Ted Persuhn, a Republican, is running for a 4-year term;
Greenville Township: incumbent Steven A. Schrader, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Jenner Township: one seat open, but no candidates have announced to run in the primary;
Jefferson Township: incumbent David J. Pyle, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Larimer Township: one seat open; one candidate, Christopher A. Brown, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Lincoln Township: appointed supervisor Michael E. Barndt, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Lower Turkeyfoot Township: one seat open, but no candidates have announced to run in the primary;
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Middlecreek Township: incumbent Leland W. Henry Jr., a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Milford Township: incumbent Robert B. Huston Jr., a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Northampton Township: incumbent Timothy R. Ackerman, a Democrat, is running for a 6-year term;
Ogle Township: incumbent Dana E. Sklinar, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Paint Township: one seat open; candidate Wendy A. Senior, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Quemahoning Township: one seat open; incumbent Fred A. Weyand and challenger Mark A. Corden, both Republicans, are running for a 6-year term;
Shade Township: one seat open; two candidates, Robert Kline and Michael E. Rapsky, both Republicans, are running for a 6-year term;
Somerset Township: one seat open; three candidates, Travis P. Meyers, Jason C. Paugh and Thomas D. Halverson, all Republicans, are running for a 6-year term.
Southampton Township: one seat open; incumbent Clyde S. Kennell, a Democrat, and challenger Timothy W. Emerick, a Republican, are both running for a 6-year term;
Stonycreek Township: incumbent Daniel R. Klotz, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term;
Summit Township: one seat open, but no candidates have announced to run in the primary;
Upper Turkeyfoot Township: incumbent William J. Kreger, a Republican, is running for a 6-year term.
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School Director candidates
Berlin-Brothersvalley School District
Region No. 1 (Berlin Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Larry Ogline, a Republican, and Donna Dively, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republication ballots;
Region No. 2 (Brothersvalley Township): One seat open, 4-year term; candidates are incumbent Cathy E. Webreck, who has cross-filed on both the Republican and Democrat ballots, and challenger Jeremy Stair, a Republican;
Region No. 3 (Allegheny Township, Fairhope Township, New Baltimore Borough and Northampton Township): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Allison Rohrs, a Republican, and Jenna Zorn Ogburn, who has cross filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Conemaugh Township Area School District: A total of 8 candidates are running for 5 open seats, all with 4-year terms; incumbent candidates are Rocco M. Mantini, Jeffrey Alesantrino, Michelle M. Stumpf, Susan Saylor-Stahl and Melanie Byer; challengers are Ethan D. Phillippi, Jeremy M. Sotosky and William J. Brotz. All have cross-filed to appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Meyersdale Area School District
Region No. 1 (Meyersdale Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms: candidates are Mandy A. Marteney and appointed director Mark P. Ferris, both Republicans;
Region No. 2 (Garrett Borough, Summit Township), 4-year term: One seat open, candidate is incumbent Ronald Donaldson, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 2, 2-year term: One seat open, candidate is appointed director Melissa S. Platt, a Republican;
Region No. 3 (Callimont Borough, Greenfield Township, Larimer Township, Southampton Township and Wellersburg Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Bryan K. Stanczyk, a Republican, and Brian K. Deist, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
North Star School District
Region No. 1 (Jenner Township No. 1 and Jenner Township No. 3): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are appointed director Lance H. Shawley, a Republican, Jared D. Christner and Angelo R. Codispoti, both of whom have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 2 (Boswell Borough, Jenner Township No. 2 and Jennerstown Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Michael E. Revak and Martin E. Blough, both of whom have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3 (Hooversville Borough, Quemahoning Township and Stoystown Borough): 1 seat open, 4-year term; candidates are Melissa A. Pristas and Lyndee S. Walker, both of whom have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Rockwood School District
Region No. 1 (Casselman Borough, Middlecreek Township, Seven Springs Borough and Upper Turkeyfoot Township): 1 seat open for a 4-year term; candidate is incumbent Bradley S. Pletcher, a Republican;
Region No. 2 (Milford Township and New Centerville Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; incumbent candidates are Irvin H. Kimmel and Ashley L. Baker, both Republicans; a new candidate, Matthew D. Pritts, has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3 (Black Township and Rockwood Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbent Adam J. Sembower, a Republican, Seth R. Foreman, a Republican and Ami R. Miller, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Salisbury-Elk Lick School District: 5 seats open, all 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Janis Remington, Randy A. Bluebaugh, Camala D. Lowery and Rebecca L. Jones, all Republicans;
Shade-Central City School District: 5 seats open, all 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Dorothy L. Gindlesperger, Joetta L. Mincek and appointed director Jon M. Coleman, all of whom have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Shanksville-Stonycreek School District: 5 seats open, all 4-year terms; incumbent candidates are Ryan W. Weaver, a Republican, Daniel Kovacs and Trisha L. Bozovich, both of whom have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots; new candidates are Joseph S. Swank, Robert G. Norris, Shyla J. Leipchak and Jana L. Musser, all of whom have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Somerset Area School District
Region No. 1 (Somerset Borough, Northwest and Southwest): One seat open for a 4-year term, but no candidates have announced to run in the primary;
Region No. 2 (Somerset Borough East, Somerset Township No. 1 and No. 2): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents John C. Barth and Brian P. Brant, both of whom have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3 (Jefferson Township, Lincoln Township, Somerset Township No. 3 and No. 4): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Barbara A. Lynch and Bert Ries, both of whom have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3, 2-year term: one seat open; candidate is James D. Summers, a Republican;
Turkeyfoot Valley School District
Region No. 1 (Addison Borough, Addison Township): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; incumbent candidate is Terry L. Bender, a Democrat;
Region No. 2 (Confluence Borough): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbents Frank J. Ryan, a Democrat, and appointed director Gerald P. Conn, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3 (Lower Turkeyfoot Township, Ursina Borough): One seat open for a 4-year term; candidate is Nathan R. Enos, a Republican;
Windber Area School District
Region No. 1 (Ogle Township, Paint Borough, Paint Township No. 1 and No. 2): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are incumbent Roger D. Birkhimer Jr. and Mark F. Sotosky, both of whom have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 1, 2-year term: One seat open; candidate is appointed director David J. Decewicz, who has cross-filed on both parties’ ballots;
Region No. 2 (Windber Borough No. 1 and No. 2): One seat open for a 4-year term; candidate is Antoinette D. Rummel, who has cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots;
Region No. 3 (Windber Borough No. 3 and No. 4, Scalp Level Borough No. 1 and No. 2): 2 seats open, both 4-year terms; candidates are Ronald W. Walker, Jeffrey L. Slatcoff and Thomas J. Greathouse, all of whom have cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County's township, school board candidates for May 16 primary
