Candidates Gear Up for May 17 Primary at Meet and Greet

Laura Zajdel, co-chair of the Peters Township Republicans welcomed candidates and guests to mingle, grab a bite to eat and sign petitions Tuesday night in the Peters Township Public Library community room. 

Among candidates present were Bill Northrop, Vic Stabile, Diane Irey, Gene Vittone, Lane Turturice, Phil Melograne, Bill Merrell and .

State Committee D-3 member, Albie Mercer, introduced Cumberland County GOP chair, Vic Stabile, who's running for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania seat. The '82 Dickinson School of Law grad has been an attorney with Dilworth Paxson, LLP since 1987 and a partner since 1992, managing the Harrisburg office. He's pro-life, an NRA member, supports family tradition and is active in his parish. Stabile is also a former Knight of Columbus. 

"I don't like taxes," he said. "I don't like to spend money. My nickname is Squeaky. I support a smaller government, lower taxes and am a strict instructionist." 

Stabile, a lifelong Republican, recognized the judiciary branch may be the smallest, but is equal in power. 

"The most important quality is humility," he said. "You will be proud of me and where I stand in our law of jurisprudence."

Peters businessman and part-owner of the Observer-Reporter, Bill Northrop, credited a family trip to Israel over Christmas as his epiphany to run for county commissioner. He recognized that he entered the race "somewhat belatedly." 

"I entered to put two republicans in the county commissioner seat by January of next year," Northrop said. "I want to be that second commissioner."

He noted two key factors in his decision to run: a big number and a big goal. Exactly 10,450 Democrats have dropped out of the party in the last two years, according to Northrop.

He said he sees a strong capability for Washington County to prosper economically and continue to be business-friendly. 

"I want to keep taxes low so people build houses and stay here," he said. 

Northrop was questioned regarding the paper's "known liberal slant" versus his republican candidacy. He noted he no longer has control over the editorial department, as he was publisher between '98 and '04 and served on the board of directors, prior to his decision to run. 

"Lou Florian ran the Observer-Reporter's editorial page for 29 years," Northrop said. "He reflected my father and my uncle's views very much and retired two years ago. He provided a nice balance; now his job is handled around the newsroom. We've had a lot of discussion about the editorial page in the family recently."

The paper's been family-owned for 109 years.

Diane Irey, in her fourth term as Washington County Commissioner, noted Northrop has "had a heart to serve for a long time." Irey sees positive growth in Washington County. 

"The question is, 'how do we control the growth?" she said. 

She's currently working on developing a Veterans Court, in addition to her continuous work with the United Way. 

Starting in public service, Gene Vittone, who's running for district attorney, was a '77 graduate of Peters Township High School, later earning a law degree from Duquesne and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a paramedic for 20 years and worked in a district attorney's office for 12 years on a "couple thousand cases." 

"It'd be a privilege to serve," he said. "This is where my home is. The DA's office should be a nonpartisan office between fairness and justice and we need to make sure we keep it that way." 

Attorney Lane Turturice, specifically tax assessment attorney for Peters Township, is cross-filing for county judge. 

"I feel led to do this," he said. "Due to recent events, I feel compelled to do it." 

A lifelong resident and fourth generation of Washington County, Turturice noted he's "sick and tired" of the politics in the county. 

"There shouldn't be politics in a court house," he said. "The job is to be judge of the people and with me [politics] will stop at the bottom step of the Washington County Court House."

His opponent, Phil Melograne, is also cross-filing for county judge. He was appointed in October as the judge of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. He equated a court room as comfortable as a living room.

"I truly love a court room," he said. "I'm truly honored that I made it to that point." Coming from a blue collar background and a similar background as other candidates, having attended both Duquesne and Pitt, adoption was a key topic. 

"I was adopted by two of the most wonderful people," he said. In regard to his children Anthony and Nicholas he said, "They're the first two people who look like me for a reason." Melograne stands pro-life, pro-gun, likes what Judge Castille stands for and remains Moderate on most views.

Local teacher and previous council member, Bill Merrell, is running for school board. In regard to his councilwoman wife Monica's race dropout Tuesday, he said she wants to concentrate on council. She dropped out of the race with one week left until the filing deadline. "It was a decision she had to make," he said. 

North Strabane Township Supervisor Robert Balogh, who's running for county coroner, believes now is the time for a Republican in office. 

"I've been watching changes happen," he said. "I feel like there's a real sea change with the political climate and I'm very optimistic." 

C-2 Committeewoman Wendy Bowes is happy that anyone even runs. 

"You must be independently wealthy to get support," she said. "It takes energy." 

She said that she likes party wasn't an issue with either judge and she personally knows why Turturice came to be a Republican and entered the race.