May 18, 2015 4 min read

The Washington County elections director expects about 20 percent of registered Democrats and Republicans to cast votes today after polls open at 7 a.m.

Larry Spahr bases his prediction on the sparse number of absentee ballots requested compared with municipal elections in 2011 and 2013.

Spahr said the absentee voter level is at “slightly less than 2013, probably almost half of what we did in 2011. It’s been rather quiet, and I’ve gotten that comment, too, from some of the countywide candidates. Some of them described it as being ‘dead.'”

Washington County has 176 voting precincts, down from the previous 184, but most of the newly consolidated precincts require voters to go to the same polling place as before. The exceptions are East Finley Township, where all voters will be heading to the township building, and in Charleroi, where voters from the former 1st Precinct will no longer go to the senior center but to the Char House apartments, which has been the polling place for Precinct 4.

Those affected were sent mailings with new voter registration cards.

Polls statewide close at 8 p.m.

Six Democrats and three Republicans hope to land two nominations from their respective parties for the Washington County commissioner race in the fall.

Democrats are Randy Barli of Coal Center, Judith L. Fisher of South Strabane Township, Larry Maggi of Buffalo Township, Corey McConn of Cross Creek Township, Harlan Shober of Chartiers Township and Allen “AJ” Williams of North Strabane Township. Republicans are Mike McCormick of Peters Township, Nick Sherman of North Strabane Township and Diana Irey Vaughan of Nottingham Township.

Democrats have two additional contested races on their ballots for Washington County row offices.

Kristin Marcy of Stockdale is facing off with Frank Scandale of Canonsburg for clerk of courts while Colleen Murphy Arnowitz of Monongahela is running against Joy Schury Ranko of North Strabane Township for prothonotary. Both offices have open seats due to the impending retirements of incumbents Barbara Gibbs and Phyllis Ranko Matheny, respectively. All county office-seekers are running for four-year terms.

Minor judiciary candidates on the ballot in contested races and their districts include:

Washington and North Franklin Township, Anthony F. Gennaccaro and Robert Redlinger; McDonald, Cecil and Mt. Pleasant townships, Traci McDonald-Kemp of McDonald, Mike Philips of Cecil Township and Jesse White of Cecil Township. All have cross-filed for six-year terms.

In Washington, there is a contest between Brenda Davis and Scott Putnam for mayor for a four-year term.

Local races on the ballot this year include school board; township supervisor, commissioner or council in second-class, first-class and home rule communities, respectively; borough council; plus constable, tax collector and auditor.

Although Pennsylvania bills this year’s contest as a “municipal primary,” voters statewide will choose nominees for three openings on the Supreme Court.

Democrats are Christine Donohue of Pittsburgh; Kevin Dougherty of Philadelphia; John Henry Foradora of Brockway, Jefferson Township; Anne E. Lazarus of Philadelphia; David Wecht of Indiana Township, Allegheny County; and Dwayne D. Woodruff of McCandless Township, Allegheny County. Republicans are Cheryl Allen of Hampton Township, Allegheny County; Anne Covey of Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County; Mike George of Cumberland Township, Adams County; Judy Olson of Franklin Park, Allegheny County; Correale Stevens of Dorrance Township, Montgomery County; and Rebecca Warren of Valley Township, Montour County.

Four Democrats seeking other appellate court seats are in contested races in which one candidate will be nominated, while Republicans are running unopposed. Democrats seeking seats on Superior Court are Robert Colville of Ross Township, Allegheny County, and Alice Beck Dubow of Philadelphia. Those seeking seats on Commonwealth Court are Todd Eagen of Dunmore, Lackawanna County, and Michael Wojcik of Fox Chapel, Allegheny County. All appellate judges run for 10-year terms.