Westmoreland primary election on track as legal challenge progresses

Mar. 29—Uncertainty about whether two Republicans can remain on the ballot in the race for Westmoreland commissioner is not expected to impact the county's preparations for the spring election.

"Our schedule is intact right at this second. We have until April 5 to get answers," election bureau Director Greg McCloskey said this week.

At issue is an appeal asking the state's Commonwealth Court to overturn a lower court judge's decision to allow John Ventre and Paul Kosko — who along with GOP candidate Patricia Fritz are challenging incumbent Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew — to remain on the May 16 Republican primary ballot.

Ventre and Kosko's candidacy was challenged by county Republican Committee Chairman Bill Bretz, who claims the pair failed to file statements of financial interest with the county's chief clerk as required under the state elections code.

During a court hearing March 17, Ventre and Kosko testified they filed the documents with the election bureau as required but were incorrectly told by elections staffers they did not have to file a copy with the county clerk.

In a one-sentence court order, Common Pleas Judge Jim Silvis rejected Bretz's petition.

As part of a scheduling order filed this week, Commonwealth Court ordered Silvis to file an opinion that explains his ruling by 4 p.m. March 30. Bretz was directed to submit the basis for his appeal by noon March 31.

As of Tuesday, the county received about 14,000 applications from voters to receive mail-in ballots this spring, when Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for state judicial seats, county commissioner, county row offices, district justice, city and borough councils, township supervisors and school boards.

The election bureau will conduct a meeting Wednesday afternoon to allow candidates to pull lots to determine their positions on the May ballots. Ventre and Kosko will be included in that process, McCloskey said.

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