Challenge questions Republican state Senate candidate’s residency
Buchtan facing off against Bartolotta in GOP primary
The residency of Republican state Senate candidate Al Buchtan is being challenged in an effort to remove him from the May 19 primary ballot, which he says is a “bogus” ploy as he tries to unseat state Sen. Camera Bartolotta.
Three registered Republicans living in the 46th state Senate District filed paperwork Tuesday challenging Buchtan’s candidacy, claiming he still maintains a residence near Carmichaels despite moving to Canonsburg last year.
“The challenge is bogus,” Buchtan said in a phone interview Thursday. “They’re weaponizing lawfare. It’s the same thing they did with Trump.”
The district includes all of Washington and Greene counties, and the southern sliver of Beaver County. Bartolotta, who is a Republican living in Carroll Township, is seeking her fourth term in office. This would be the first time Bartolotta has faced a Republican primary challenger since she was elected to office in 2014 by unseating then Democratic state senator Tim Solobay.
The challenge states that Buchtan lists his former Cumberland Township address in Greene County on his “Statement of Financial Interest” filed with the state to run for office. However, Buchtan moved to a rental home in Canonsburg in October and is registered to vote there.
Washington County elections records show Buchtan moved his election registration to the Canonsburg address Oct. 2 through the state’s “motor voter” law when he updated his driver’s license. The state formally processed his voter registration address change on Oct. 27, and he voted as a Republican in the Nov. 4 general election, where he was required to show some form of identification as a first-time voter at his new Canonsburg precinct. He has been a Republican since 2016, according to registration records.
“I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about it,” Buchtan said of the challenge. “I’ve been living in Canonsburg. I acquired my place in September and have been living there since October. I don’t know what they’re trying to get me to prove.”
The financial interest statement allows candidates to list their home address or a business office, and Buchtan said he chose the Greene County location because the form states to list the “previous year’s address” on the form. The challenge also notes that Buchtan’s wife, Melinda, lives at the Cumberland Township home and is registered to vote there.
Buchtan acknowledged that his wife still lives in Greene County, but one of their daughters attends school in Washington County, and he said drove her to class Thursday morning. He added they’re currently looking to purchase a home in the Peters Township, Canon-McMillan or Trinity Area school districts, although they have been unable to find the right place yet.
“There aren’t a lot of homes for sale. We’re going to move there with the whole family, but right now my one daughter goes to school in Washington County,” Buchtan said. “I love the area. My neighbors and everyone have been so good to me. I’ve become friends with all of them.”
A hearing on the challenge is scheduled to go before the state Commonwealth Court on March 27 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 707 of City-County Building at 414 Grant St. in Pittsburgh. Both of Buchtan’s addresses are within the 46th state Senate District, but he said he’s prepared to provide his cellphone records, driver’s license, utility bills and even receipts from dining in the area to prove he is now living in Canonsburg.
The Republican primary battle between Bartolotta and Buchtan has become feisty with a salvo of mailers and social media posts from their campaigns and political organizations in recent weeks ahead of the May 19 election. If Buchtan remains on the ballot, the winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Evan Snyder of Nottingham Township in the Nov. 3 general election.
“This is a ploy and a tactic because (Bartolotta) knows she is in trouble with the polling numbers,” Buchtan said. “This is the reason why voters don’t like to vote because they’re sick of these tactics. … They’re sick of it, and people wonder why voter turnout is so low.”
Bartolotta could not be reached for comment Thursday on the challenge to Buchtan’s nominating petitions or the state of the race.
Former Washington County Republican Party chairman Dave Ball of Peters Township, Steve Bucar of West Brownsville and Jeff Stewart of Franklin Township are listed as the Republican objectors to Buchtan’s candidacy. They are represented by attorneys Shohin Vance and Joshua Voss of Saxton & Stump LLC, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.