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Voters guide: What you need to know about the upcoming 2019 local elections

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Voters guide: What you need to know about the upcoming 2019 local elections

With the 2020 election heating up, it would be easy to overlook Nov. 5, 2019.

That’s the general election that will likely shape the governments of your cities and the county and judge’s chambers for years to come. In Allegheny County, it’s a referendum on the district attorney and county executive, two of the region’s most powerful politicians. In Pittsburgh, it’s the City Council up for grabs. Statewide, there are two seats up for the Superior Court and a ballot measure to amend the state constitution.

“With lower turnout in an off year, citizens who do vote have more of a say,” said Philip Harold, professor of political science at Robert Morris University. “Also, with Pennsylvania as a crucial swing state next year, and impeachment on the agenda in Washington, these election results of will be looked at closely by our congressional representatives, even though they are not on the ballot, as a guide to public sentiment.”

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Want to cast a ballot? Let’s prep. First, you’ll want to find out if you’re registered. Click here for that. If you’re not, don’t panic! You have until Oct. 7 to register for these elections, and you can do so online right here, or by delivering a completed registration form to your county voter registration office in-person or by mail (as long as it’s postmarked by Oct. 7.)

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Don’t worry about your party affiliation for this election; general elections permit all registered voters to cast ballots for any candidate they choose in their applicable races.

If you’re already registered to vote, all you have to do is show up at your designated polling place when it’s open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your polling place here.

If you can’t physically make it to the polls because you’re a college student, a person with a physical disability or illness that prevents you from making the trip, on a work trip or vacation, a member of the military or have a conflict due to celebration of a religious holiday, you’ll want to apply for an absentee ballot by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. For more information on how to request one (online, by mail or in person), click here.

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Want to know exactly what to expect on your ballot? Enter your address here and get a detailed look at the races you will help decide.

Got other questions? The state has you covered.

Now, here’s what you’ll be tasked with deciding in the 2019 municipal elections:

* * *

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. during a news conference at the Allegheny County police headquarters in Green Tree in September.
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Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., left, and Lisa Middleman, right, in 2019 photos.(Steve Mellon and Caitlin Lee/Post-Gazette)

Can an *independent* knock off Allegheny County’s longtime incumbent DA?

District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. has already had to fend off one electoral challenger this year — but observers say his next opponent could be even more formidable.

Lisa Middleman, a veteran public defender, has spent her 30-year career representing some of Allegheny County’s most high-profile defendants. Now, she’s on the ballot as an independent for district attorney, and hopes that her platform — which includes ending cash bail and reducing the county jail population — can help her overcome the advantages of Mr. Zappala’s two-decade incumbency.

Mr. Zappala beat the county’s chief deputy public defender, Turahn Jenkins, in May’s primary. Mr. Jenkins had argued that Mr. Zappala wasn’t a visionary, and that he needed to more proactively address the ‘big picture’ issues in the criminal justice system. Voters didn’t necessarily agree, as about 59 percent chose Mr. Zappala.

Their closing arguments:

Mr. Zappala has relied on his record, saying he’s helped create diversionary courts including for drug abuse, mental health, DUIs, domestic violence and veterans. He’s also said he made advancements in holding police officers accountable by pushing the issue of body cameras and installing surveillance cameras around the county.

Ms. Middleman is running on a platform that includes eliminating cash bail, creating diversionary programs for the period before a person is charged with a criminal offense, reducing the county jail population and reducing racial disparity within the system. She’s criticized Mr. Zappala for “remaining stalled in the failed policies of the past.”

The main story-line: Can Lisa Middleman tap into the same energy that pushed Bethany Hallam, Summer Lee and Sara Innamorato past incumbents?

— Longtime Democrats haven’t been safe in recent elections. Just ask John DeFazio and Paul and Dom Costa, who were beat by Ms. Hallam, Lee and Innamorato respectively. Those challengers shaped their campaigns around grassroots energy and ignored the traditions and right-of-passage associated with the establishment. 

— Worth noting: Ms. Middleman has the same campaign manager as Ms. Hallam, and she carries the endorsements of Ms. Lee and Ms. Innamorato.

— What the experts are saying: “Political scientists generally think incumbents are safe because parties are so powerful, especially in closed-primary states like Pennsylvania,” said Kristin Kanthak, associate professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh. “...But in 2018, we saw a lot of new voters who were mobilized by people other than the parties, and we ended up seeing incumbents losing elections to high quality candidates who weren’t willing to wait until the party said it was OK for them to run. I expect turnout will probably be low again this year, but if it isn’t, and an independent candidate like Lisa Middleman does well – even if she doesn’t win – that will make for some very nervous parties and incumbents in the runup to 2020.”

— Keep in mind: Mr. Zappala received enough write-in votes in May to qualify as the Republican candidate on the general election ballot, too.

 * * *


Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, left, and Matt Drozd, right, in file photos. (Nate Guidry and Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)

Will roadside campaigning be enough to give Matt Drozd a shot at county executive?

You may have seen former Allegheny County Councilman Matt Drozd on the side of the road in recent months, waving a sign advertising his campaign and his pledge to cut taxes.

“I wave the sign, I wave to people, I wave a flag,” he said recently. “It’s a 4x4 sign. And people honk. They give me thumbs up. People have even said, ‘we’re going to vote for you.’ I'm taking this campaign truly to the people.”

But what he faces in challenging incumbent County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is less of a road than a steep hill. The Democratic stalwart has massive advantages in name recognition and money, and says the county under his leadership has “developed a reputation of getting things done and doing them cost-efficiently.”

Mr. Drozd, a Republican who served on county council from 2005 to 2013, has claimed Mr. Fitzgerald isn’t a visionary, and has referred to the incumbent as a "caretaker during his eight-year term, lacking the vision to lead our county into becoming a premier showcase among other counties throughout our state and country."

Fun fact about term limits: If Mr. Fitzgerald wins, this would be his third and final term. 

In their own words:

Mr. Fitzgerald: "I think what we see now in Pittsburgh is a real diversity of opportunity, and industries that are growing -- whether it be IT, robotics, energy, finance, manufacturing, hospitality or culinary. Across the spectrum, whatever your talents are, you have an opportunity if you have the skills to match the jobs that are there."

Mr. Drozd: “I don’t want people to vote for me because I'm a Republican. I want people to vote for me because I'm truly bipartisan and i will truly put people before party.”

Elsewhere in countywide races...

— Incumbent County Controller Chelsa Wagner, a Democrat, has a challenger: local Republican committeewoman and gun rights activist Brooke Nadonley, who qualified through a successful write-in campaign during the primary.

— Incumbent Treasurer John Weinstein is running unopposed, and holds both the Democratic and Republican nominations.


Pittsburgh City Council District 1 Democratic nominee Bobby Wilson holds his son, Chester, 2, as he enters his election night party to announce his projected primary win on May 21, 2019.(Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)

Did the primary elections already decide the five races for Pittsburgh City Council?

In the five odd-numbered City Council districts that are due up for election Nov. 5, the winners of the Democratic nominations appear poised for a clean sweep.

But in three of those districts, independents and third-party challengers hope to spoil the party:

District 1: Democratic nominee Bobby Wilson, who beat longtime incumbent councilwoman Darlene Harris in the May primary, faces two independent challengers: Chris Rosselot, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and Socialist Workers Party candidate Malcolm Jarrett. Mr. Rosselot tried to run in the May primary but was ousted from the ballot due to problems with his nominating petitions. Mr. Wilson, a technologist at the University of Pittsburgh’s Emphysema COPD Research Center, won the primary with 56% of the vote.

District 3: Council President Bruce Kraus is on the ballot as the Democratic nominee against independent challenger Jacob Nixon, a construction worker. Mr. Kraus, who is seeking his fourth term on council, won more than 54% of the vote in the May primary against two opponents.

District 9: Incumbent Councilman Ricky Burgess faces three challengers: Barbara Daniels, Randall Taylor and the Rev. B. DeNeice Welch. Rev. Burgess, who was first elected in 2007, won the may primary with 38% of the vote against a different set of four challengers.

A lucky pair unopposed: In District 5, incumbent Corey O’Connor, who ran unopposed in the primary, is on the ballot alone again. Same goes for incumbent Deb Gross in District 7 — though Ms. Gross had a challenger in May and won by about 17 percentage points.

Also worth noting in Pittsburgh: Incumbent Controller Michael Lamb is running unopposed to retain his seat.

* * *


Bethany Hallam, the Democratic nominee for Allegheny County Council, at-large, talks to a supporter at her election night party on May 21, when she beat incumbent Councilman John DeFazio. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazett)

What will change look like, once and for all, on Allegheny County Council?

It’s no secret that the county’s 15-member council has struggled recently to pass legislation — and when it does, it’s mostly on ordinances, resolutions and motions sponsored by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

But after November, the council could look quite different, with three seats contested in the election, two new members destined for victory (officially) and another newly-installed interim member given the all-but-certain chance at finishing the term:

The Contested Races

District 2: Republican incumbent Cindy Kirk is facing Democratic nominee Christine Allen. Both ran unopposed in their primaries.

District 5: Republican incumbent Sue Means is up against Democratic nominee Thomas Matthew Duerr. They, too, ran unopposed in May.

District 6: Democratic incumbent John Palmiere, who triumphed over his first ever primary challenge, is now facing Republican Michael Friedman, a retired businessman who received enough write-in votes to be the GOP’s nominee.

The Uncontested

Districts 7, 10 and 11: Democratic incumbents Nick Futules, DeWitt Walton and Paul Klein are unopposed, just like they were in May.

District 8: Democratic Councilman Paul Zavarella is running unopposed to finish the remainder of late Councilman Charles Martoni’s term. Mr. Zavarella has already been serving in an interim capacity.

District 13: Democrat Olivia Bennett is alone on the ballot after ousting incumbent Councilwoman Denise Ranalli Russell in the May primary.

Council’s two at-large seats: Democrat Bethany Hallam and Republican Sam DeMarco are unopposed. Ms. Hallam upset Council President John DeFazio in May.

* * *


(Getty Images)

Who will take hold of the school boards, judges chambers and municipal governments?

On the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors …

There are four seats up for election.

— In District 2, Republican Kirk Rys faces Democrat Devon Taliaferro.

— In District 4, community activist Pam Harbin is running unopposed after winning both parties’ nominations in the primary.

— In District 6, William Gallagher, a retired teacher, is running unopposed as a Democrat.

— In District 8, incumbent Kevin Carter is running unopposed as a Democrat.

On the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas …

There is one open seat.

Mary McGinley is running unopposed after winning both parties’ nominations in the primary.

On the Superior Court of Pennsylvania …

There are two vacant seats, sought by two Republicans and two Democrats who emerged from their respective primary fields. This time, the top two vote-getters regardless of party will win the seats.

— The Democratic candidates are Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Daniel McCaffery and United Steelworkers attorney and former Allegheny County Councilwoman Amanda Green-Hawkins.

— The two Republicans are Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Christylee Peck and Chester County Deputy District Attorney Megan King.

On local school boards …

From Bethel Park to North Allegheny, there are numerous open and contested seats across Allegheny County for local school directors.

You can find a list of candidates broken down by school district by going to this website and clicking on “List of Candidates.”

On Magisterial District Court …

Six seats are up for election.

— In District 05-02-13, incumbent Eugene Riazzi is running unopposed, having won both the Democratic and Republican nominations.

— In District 05-02-14, incumbent Richard Olasz is running unopposed, cross-filed as both a Democrat and Republican.

— In District 05-02-25, Democrat Michele Santicola and Republican Max Feldman are facing each other.

— In District 05-02-26, incumbent Beth Scagline-Mills is running unopposed, cross-filed as both a Democrat and Republican.

— In District 05-02-28, incumbent Oscar Petite is running unopposed, having beaten a Democratic challenger in the primary. He is also cross-filed in both parties.

— In District 05-03-17, incumbent Anthony Saveikis is running unopposed, cross-filed as both a Democrat and Republican.

In municipal governments …

Several hundred candidates are vying to be council members, mayors, commissioners, supervisors, tax collectors, controllers and auditors for their municipal governments.

You can find a list of candidates broken down by municipality by going to this website and clicking on “List of Candidates.”

What about the statewide ballot question?

In Pennsylvania, everyone will see a "yes" or "no" measure on their ballots.

Voters will be tasked with deciding whether or not to add specific rights of crime victims, known as “Marsy’s Law, to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Pennsylvania's constitution -- along with that of eight other states and the U.S. Constitution -- does not extend enumerated rights to victims of crime. Marsy’s Law, which has been passed in 11 states, is named after Marsalee "Marsy" Nicholas, a college student who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983 and whose family was confronted by the accused murderer -- released on bail, much to their surprise -- in a grocery store.

The law amending the state constitution passed the Pennsylvania Senate with bipartisan support this year, allowing it to appear on the ballot for voter approval.

What would it do? It would ensure crime victims receive information about their rights, receive notification of proceedings in their criminal cases and have the right to be present at court proceedings, among other things.

Julian Routh: jrouth@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1952, Twitter @julianrouth.

First Published: October 3, 2019, 11:00 a.m.

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