Former district judge gets GOP nod for special state Senate election, Arnet seeks Democratic nomination UPDATED

Former district judge gets GOP nod for special state Senate election

Former District Judge Guy Reschenthaler won the Republican nomination for a special election in the 37th state Senate district Saturday.

Mr. Reschenthaler resigned his Jefferson Hills judicial position immediately before accepting the nomination that he captured on the fifth round of balloting among Republican officials from the district. The seat includes communities in Allegheny County's southern and western suburbs as well as Peters Township in Washington County.

The special election, which will coincide with the Nov. 3 general election, was prompted by the resignation of former state Sen. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, who left the seat to head the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Reschenthaler, a U.S. Navy veteran who was elected to his judicial seat in 2013, will have a head start on campaigning as the Democratic Party has yet to schedule its nominating session. Nancy Patton Mill, the Allegheny County Democratic chair, said she expects their nomination process will take place later this summer.

Six candidates filed for the GOP nomination. On the final ballot, Mr. Reschenthaler tallied 48 votes to capture the nomination over Bethel Park Councilman Paul Dixon, who had 31. There was one abstention.

They were the survivors of a field that included D. Raja, who was the GOP nominee against Mr. Smith when the Democrat won the seat; Natalie Mihalek, a Mt. Lebanon attorney; Tim Young, a former high school principal; and John Schnatterly, a member of the Bethel Park Republican committee.

Word on the street is that Mt. Lebanon's Heather Arnet will probably be chosen as Reschenthaler's opponent.

It will be weeks before Mr. Reschenthaler knows the identity of his November opponent, time that he said he would spend on fundraising and organizing. No Democrat has officially launched a candidacy although Michelle Zmijanac, the head of the Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee, has expressed an interest in the seat. Another Mt. Lebanon resident, Heather Arnet, the CEO of the Women and Girls Foundation, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.

Update July 15, 2015 2:20 AM Arnet seeks Democratic nomination for former Sen. Matt Smith's seat

Watching the election results? UPDATED 4X

Keep refreshing this link for up to the minute results of the Primary and Special Election. http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect/201305pri/el45.htm

At 9:30 PM
Representative in the General Assembly 42ND DISTRICT
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 27 OF 66 PRECINCTS COUNTED 40.91%)
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,547   37.02
           Dan Miller .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,408   57.62
           George Brown  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       215    5.14
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         9     .22

Republican ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 15 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED 39.47%)
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       351   18.85
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       251   13.48
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       368   19.76
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       504   27.07
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .       379   20.35
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         9     .48

Democratic ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 15 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED 39.47%)
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       605   20.93
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       382   13.22
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       738   25.54
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       488   16.89
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .       667   23.08
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        10     .35

Member of County Council DISTRICT 5
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 35 OF 88 PRECINCTS COUNTED 39.77%)
           Sue Means  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,178   59.77
           Krista Harris .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       792   40.18
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         1     .05

Update 10:56 PM
 Member of County Council DISTRICT 5
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 88 OF 88 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Sue Means  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,737   62.90
           Krista Harris .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,197   36.98
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         7     .12

Update 11:00 PM

Republican ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 38 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       960   19.65
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       622   12.73
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       930   19.04
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,341   27.45
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,013   20.74
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        19     .39

Democratic ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 38 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,591   21.16
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,042   13.86
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,932   25.69
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,195   15.89
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,728   22.98
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        31     .41

   Representative in the General Assembly 42ND DISTRICT
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 65 OF 66 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.48%)
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,699   37.40
           Dan Miller .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     5,635   56.97
           George Brown  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       539    5.45
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        18     .18

Derek Hough and Kellie Pickler - DWTS  ;)

Update May 21, 2013 8:45 AM

Representative in the General Assembly 42ND DISTRICT
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 66 OF 66 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,837   37.27
           Dan Miller .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     5,881   57.13          
           George Brown  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       557    5.41
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        19     .18

Update May 23, 2013 8:55 AM Election Night Final

Member of County Council DISTRICT 5
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 88 OF 88 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Sue Means  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,808   62.71          
           Krista Harris .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,257   37.17
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .         7     .12

Republican ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 38 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       998   19.72          
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       641   12.67
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       963   19.03          
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,391   27.48
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,049   20.73          
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        19     .38

Democratic ballot:
School Director MT LEBANON
          Vote for not more than  4
              (WITH 38 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Michael Jon Riemer  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,623   21.09          
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,064   13.82
           Mary D. Birks .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,980   25.72
           Durwood Hill  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,227   15.94
           William J. Moorhead .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,772   23.02          
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        31     .40

Representative in the General Assembly 42ND DISTRICT
          Vote for not more than  1
              (WITH 66 OF 66 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
           Dan Remely .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,837   37.27
           Dan Miller .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     5,881   57.13          
           George Brown  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       557    5.41
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        19     .18

Final weekend before the Primary and Special Election

I was considering having another poll about the candidates, but since the Blogger poll gadget is so unreliable, I thought it would be better to allow readers to write about their choice of candidates.

If you attended the 42nd Pennsylvania House District candidates forum at the Bethel Municipal Building, or listened to the podcast on Lebo Citizens, who do you think made the best overall presentation?

George Brown - Libertarian
Dan Miller - Democrat
Dan Remely - Republican

If you want to sign your name, great. If you choose to remain anonymous, that is your right.

Who are you supporting in the Special Election? Just say why you are supporting your candidate without trashing any of the others. No negative comments. Who should win the Special Election?  

Care to comment about the County Council race between Krista Harris and Sue Means? I would like to hear some good, solid facts. No fluff. Who deserves our vote?

Finally, not much of a choice, but if you have something positive to say about the school board candidates, now is your chance. 

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday.

You DO have a choice

In America, the first dark horse in the political arena is credited to President James Polk, an unknown outside of Tennessee. Is there a dark horse in the 42nd State House District race? In the Special Election for State Representative, Libertarian George Brown has stepped forward, so that ALL registered voters have an opportunity to vote.

With the special May 21 election being held during the Primary, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can cast their votes. This Special Election will be held the day after the Mt. Lebanon School Board approves the 2013-14 budget. Republicans have a choice. Democrats have a choice. And now, Independents can vote in the Special Election.

Don't know anything about George Brown? Here are links to his campaign literature. George Brown page 1 and George Brown page 2.

Word on the street

There will be no special election held for the vacant House seat. We will have to wait until May.
Also, Mt. Lebanon Republicans are leaning towards the school board director who promotes kinky school girl uniforms among other things. Good news for Dan Miller and Dan Remely. Bad news for John Schnatterly.
My understanding is that the special election decision will be announced at 1:00 today.

Update 2:55 PM The "Special Election" will be held on the day of the Primary, May 21.