Baldwin, Whitehall Voter Guide 2021: What You Need To Know

BALDWIN AND WHITEHALL, PA —Election Day will see most candidates running for office in Baldwin and Whitehall celebrating victory when the ballots are tallied.

In the Baldwin-White School District board race, for example, four candidates are running for four open seats. In Baldwin Township, two candidates are vying for two open seats.

In contested races, six candidates are running for four Baldwin council seats: Incumbents Marianne Conley, a Democrat, and John Egger, running as a Democrat and Republican; Democrat Erin Brown; Democrat-Republican Raymond Dee and Republicans Rebecca Conley and Michael Stelmasczyk.

In Whitehall, Democratic Mayor Jame Nowalk is being challenged by Republican Chris Mooney. On Whitehall council, five candidates are vying for four seats: Incumbents Kathy DePuy, William Veith and Linda Book; Stone Sobieralski, Democrat-Republican and Republican John Pavarati.

In Pittsburgh, voters will elect the city's next mayor, and quite likely its first Black one.

State Rep. Ed Gainey, of Lincoln-Lemington defeated Mayor Bill Peduto in the Democratic primary in May, virtually assuring his election in a city where Democrats outnumber Republican voters by a 5-1 margin. Gainey will face retired city police officer Tony Moreno, 52, who finished third in the Democratic primary but is running as the GOP candidate in the fall.

No Allegheny County Council at-large seats are up for election this year. Contested races are occurring in District 1, where Democrat Jack Betkowski faces Republican Joe Wise; District 3, where Democratic incumbent Anita Prizo goes against Republican Meredith Dolan; and District 8, where Democrat Michelle Niccarati-Chapkis is opposed by Republican Eric Casteel.

For Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, 18 candidates are running for 10 positions. Democrats are Chelsa Wagner, Wrenna Watson, Nicola Henry-Taylor, Elliot Howsie, Tiffany Sizemore, Jessel
Costa, Tom Caulfield; Republicans are Joseph Patrick Murphy, Anthony DeLuca, Daniel Konieczka, William Caye, Chuck Porter, Mark Patrick Flaherty and Rick Hosking. Running as Democratic-Republican are Sabrina Korbel, Lisa Middleman and Bruce Beemer. Richard Weiss is the Green Party candidate.

For the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Democrat Maria McLaughlin faces Republican Kevin Brobson. For Superior Court, Democrat Timika Lane squares off against Megan Sullivan.

For Commonwealth Court, four candidates are running for two seats: Democrats Lori Duman and David Lee Spurgeon and Republicans Stacy Marie Wallace and Drew Crompton.

For Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, 18 candidates are running for 10 positions. Democrats are Chelsa Wagner, Wrenna Watson, Nicola Henry-Taylor, Elliot Howsie, Tiffany Sizemore, Jessel Costa, Tom Caulfield; Republicans are Joseph Patrick Murphy, Anthony DeLuca, Daniel Konieczka, William Caye, Chuck Porter, Mark Patrick Flaherty and Rick Hosking. Running as Democratic-Republican are Sabrina Korbel, Lisa Middleman and Bruce Beemer. Richard Weiss is the Green Party candidate.

Here is what you need to know about the election:

MAIL-IN AND ABSENTEE BALLOTING

In Pennsylvania, you can choose to vote by mail by requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot.

Absentee ballot: If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day, or if you have a disability or illness, you should request this ballot which requires you to list a reason for your ballot.

Mail-in ballot: Any voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. There is no reason needed.

Ballot return is available on the sixth floor of the County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m. Beginning the Wednesday before the
election, ballot return will be available in the County Office Building lobby.

Click here for a ballot request application.

IN-PERSON VOTING

Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Poll workers will be provided with masks, face shields, gloves and personal hand sanitizers. Additionally, cleaning products, hand sanitizer and masks will be on premises for voters, if needed, and to allow for ongoing cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces. Plexiglass barriers are also being provided for check-in tables for further protection.

Find your polling place here.

See a sample ballot here.

POLL WATCHERS

Poll watchers are individuals who are appointed by a candidate or party, and credentialed by the county, who watch operations at a polling place. By state law, the person must be a qualified, registered elector of the county.

Watchers are permitted to keep a list of voters and may challenge an elector’s identity, residence, or qualifications to be an eligible voter.

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