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Democrat emerges to challenge incumbent DA

5 min read
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Business was brisk Tuesday at the Washington County Elections Office, and a rumor a Democrat would come forward to challenge incumbent Republican Gene Vittone for district attorney turned out to be more than just speculation.

Washington attorney Peter V. Marcoline III clocked in a sheaf of Democratic nominating petitions at 10:02 a.m.

Marcoline, 37, of South Strabane Township, has been practicing law in Washington County for a dozen years. In 2004, he joined the law firm Blackwell & Associates, where has maintained a general practice, handling criminal defense, family law, personal injury, construction litigation, juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency cases. A graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and Dickinson Law School, he made a run for judge in 2013 but failed to secure a nomination.

Vittone, 55, of Bentleyville, is trying for his second, four-year term as district attorney. In 2011, he prevailed in a close general election race against Democrat David DiCarlo of Peters Township. Vittone holds master’s degrees in business administration and health administration and a law degree from Duquesne University. He succeeded Republican Steve Toprani, who defeated longtime District Attorney John C. Pettit, after Toprani chose not to run a second time.

The Washington County commissioners race yielded no surprises with three incumbents, a host of announced candidates and one perennial candidate filing for four-year terms. The field includes incumbent Democrats Larry Maggi of Buffalo Township and Harlan Shober of Chartiers Township, plus Democratic challengers Allen A.J. Williams of North Strabane Township; Judith L. Fisher of South Strabane Township; Corey McConn of Cross Creek Township; and Randy J. Barli of Coal Center, who has unsuccessfully sought state and county office repeatedly over the past decade.

On the GOP ticket, incumbent Diana Irey Vaughan of Nottingham Township is one of three candidates, including Mike McCormick of Peters Township and Nick Sherman of North Strabane Township.

Kristin L. Marcy, a Democrat from the Mon Valley community of Stockdale who is now assistant clerk of courts, is seeking the elected row office after Barbara Gibbs announced she will not seek a ninth four-year term.

Also filing for the Democratic nomination was Frank J. Scandale of Canonsburg, president of Center Insurance, Monaca, Beaver County. Republican Gary W. Hoover Sr., a retiree from Roscoe, is seeking the GOP nomination. He is vice president of Hoover Services.

Incumbent Democratic Treasurer Francis L. King of Washington is seeking his sixth four-year term. Filing to challenge him in the fall on the GOP ticket was David A. Borodaty, a retiree from Donora.

For prothonotary, there will be a May 19 showdown between Colleen Murphy Arnowitz, a Democrat from Monongahela, who held the office for one term in the 1990s, and Joy Schury Ranko, deputy prothonotary, of North Strabane Township. The incumbent, Phyllis Ranko Matheny, chose not to seek another term.

Incumbent Democratic Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court Mary Jo Poknis of Fallowfield Township was the sole candidate who had filed for her row office. She is seeking a third four-year term. She had no opponent from either party in 2011.

Incumbent Democratic Coroner S. Timothy Warco filed for a seventh four-year term, and it appears that he’ll have neither a Democratic challenger in the May primary nor a Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 municipal election.

In Washington, incumbent Democratic Mayor Brenda Davis is seeking a second four-year term as the city’s top elected official, and she has a challenger in the Democratic primary from Scott Putnam.

There are two slots open on council, and it appears that candidates filing in advance of the primary will be unopposed until the fall. Incumbent Terry L. Faust, a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor and consultant, is seeking a nomination to a four-year term on the GOP ticket, as is newcomer Georgia Ballentyne, a retiree.

Incumbent Democrat Ken Westcott is seeking one of two Democratic nominations for four-year council seats, as is Monda Williams.

Denny Adams is seeking a fourth four-year term as city treasurer on the Democratic ticket, while incumbent Nick Dubina Sr. is also seeking a four-year term as controller.

Incumbent District Judge Robert W. Redlinger of North Franklin Townhsip, who cross-filed, has a challenger for a six-year term in Anthony F. Gennaccaro, also of North Franklin. Gennaccaro, who is self-employed as owner of Shangri-La Beverage LLC, cross-filed for district judge and also is seeking a nomination as constable.

In the Cecil area magisterial race, Traci McDonald-Kemp, Mike Philips and Jesse White cross-filed. This is the first election in the district since Valarie Costanzo resigned her post to become a Washington County judge in January 2014.

In the Taylorstown area, incumbent District Judge Ethan Ward cross-filed. David Talpas of Lagonda Road, South Franklin, filed nominating petitions for a spot only on the Democratic ballot.

In Monongahela, three candidates are vying for a four-year term and the Democratic nomination as mayor. They are Alan J. Veliky, Ramona Hillman-Menzer and incumbent Bob Kepics. Two council seats will appear on the ballot, and filing were Kenneth J. Kulak, an architect, and Daryl A. Miller, a highway maintenance worker, on the Democratic ballot for four-year terms.

The filing deadline for major-party candidates was 5 p.m., and the traffic in the elections offices died down a half-hour before closing time.

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