Voters in Westmoreland County’s 57th Legislative District will be asked on Tuesday to select a temporary replacement for former state Rep. Tim Krieger, a Republican who had to give up his seat when he won election to the county Common Pleas Court last year.

Two separate elections will be held for the seat this year. The first, during Tuesday’s special election, will select a person to fulfill the remainder of Judge Krieger’s term, through the end of this year.

The full-term replacement will be elected during the April 26 primary and Nov. 8 general election.

The same people are permitted to run for both the temporary and full-term seat, and that is what has happened.

Running for both the temporary and full-term seat will be Democrat Linda Iezzi and Republican Eric Nelson. Mr. Nelson served an appointment on the Hempfield Area school board in 2005. Ms. Iezzi was on South Greensburg council from 2005-2013.

A third independent candidate, James P. Smith, had planned to run for the temporary seat, but he will not appear on the ballot due to clerical errors with his petitions.

Mr. Smith, 72, a retired mechanical engineer and Vietnam War veteran from Hempfield, said he plans to run a write-in campaign for the temporary seat and wants to gather enough support to be on the ballot in November.

Mr. Nelson, 47, of Hempfield, is a professor in the Department of Safety Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and operates a small family farm. He is a husband and a father of six children ages 8 through 16.

As a former U.S. Marine and small-business owner, Mr. Nelson said he believes he is best suited for the job due to his diverse life experience.

“I understand how the government hurts — and can help — job creation and will fight for initiatives that spark economic growth across Pennsylvania,” Mr. Nelson said. “The fact is, economic and job growth is the best way to ensure financial stability for everyone — this should be a top priority in Harrisburg and dealt with by realistic people who can use practical experience to make a positive impact.”

As a state representative, Mr. Nelson said, he would put his education experience to work for constituents.

“I am a professor at IUP with hands-on experience in the lab and classroom. I know firsthand that improving education isn’t just about money,” he said. “We need to put our children first and encourage greater local control with enhanced focus on teaching applied skills in math, science, reading and writing.”

Mr. Nelson describes himself as “pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, a life NRA member and hunter.”

Ms. Iezzi, 50, of South Greensburg, is the owner of a local salon, a wife, mother of three and grandmother of two.

She said she has hands-on experience with operating a business, raising a family and serving in elected office.

“I understand the needs and share the same values of my hometown community,” Ms. Iezzi said. “While I served on the South Greensburg City Council, I made many decisions that helped solve problems that affected the daily lives of our residents. One initiative I fought for and am proudest of is the implementation a drug task force in our community to help battle the growing drug epidemic that has plagued our community for far too long.”

If elected, she said, one of her goals would be to work with colleagues across the aisle to pass a state budget on time and to get more drug treatment resources for the county.

Funding for education would also be a top priority, Ms. Iezzi said.

“Advocating for vocational education funding, especially here at home, is absolutely essential for giving the next generation the skills they need to get family-sustaining jobs,” she said.

Unlike the primary, Tuesday’s election is open to all registered voters — regardless of party — in the 57th District, which encompasses the Westmoreland County communities of Delmont, Greensburg, Hunker, part of Hempfield, New Stanton, Salem, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and Youngwood.

Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1159 or on Twitter @janicecrompton.

First Published: March 11, 2016, 5:00 a.m.