Commissioner candidate has surgery for injuries suffered in 2021 Election Day attack

Sep. 9—A Democratic candidate for Westmoreland County commissioner is temporarily off the campaign trail after having surgery Thursday to repair lingering injuries suffered during an attack at the polls on Election Day in 2021.

Lisa Gephart, 56, of Mt. Pleasant Township remained hospitalized Friday and is recovering and expected to return to active campaigning, said Michelle McFall, chairwoman of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee.

"She will build back into the campaign," McFall said. "She's tough, and she's proving it with her body. She was traumatized by this."

Gephart was campaigning at a poll two years ago in East Huntingdon when she confronted a man who was shouting an expletive-laden rant against President Joe Biden, according to court records.

Zachary Lambing, 36, of Alverton slammed Gephart's head into a car after she offered a similar taunt directed toward former President Donald Trump, police said.

Police attempted to interview Lambing at the scene but was unable to speak with him as he continued to yell that "Facebook told him he could stop people from spreading misinformation," according to court records.

Lambing had to be subdued with a Taser and was charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and a summary charge of harassment. His criminal case is still pending.

In May, a Westmoreland County judge declared Lambing incompetent to stand trial because of ongoing mental health issues related to what doctors diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury suffered in a prior vehicle crash and two work-related accidents that resulted in head injuries.

Lambing's competence is to be reevaluated by Nov. 1, according to court records.

Meanwhile, Gephart is expected to return to the campaign trail before the November election.

Gephart, a longtime Democratic committee member, was tabbed last month as a replacement candidate for county commissioner after the one of the party's two nominees, Sydney Hovis of Scottdale, withdrew. Gephart, along with Democrat Ted Kopas, face Republican incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew for control of the three-member board of commissioners.

Gephart scheduled her surgery before she accepted the party's nomination for commissioner in August, McFall said.

McFall, in a social media post, praised Gephart for filling the ballot vacancy and called for Democrats to help with her campaign.

"We cannot let Lisa face this challenge alone. It is important for all of us, especially women, to do our part so that she can run the best campaign she possibly can. That means we need to help her at the grassroots level in any way we can, and we need to help her raise money," according to the committee's Facebook post.

"Just as Lisa has done for the Democratic Committee in Westmoreland County and for all of us, we need to step up for her."

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .