Here’s what Allegheny and Westmoreland county voters are saying about the election
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As voters head to the polls to cast ballots, Tribune-Review journalists are talking to them throughout the region. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Freeport
Freeport resident John Kraus, 60, voted at his borough’s polling place at St. Mary Mother of God Parish along High Street.
He identified himself as “American” instead of Democrat or Republican, and said he voted Tuesday because many made the ultimate sacrifice for him and others to be able to do so.
“It’s still integrity. It’s still part of this country’s fabric, the vote,” Kraus said. “See the hairs standing up? That ain’t because it’s cold. The reason I’m out here voting is because there’s people that fought and died for this country so we have that right to come out and vote.
“There’s people in countries that can’t vote that want to vote. That’s why I’m here. I’m carrying on a tradition that somebody paid with their life for. That’s what this is all about is participation. If you’re going to be a part of something you should participate, and if you’re not participating in this country I don’t think you should be here.”
Kraus added, “The reason we have votes in the first place is so people don’t have to get the guns out.”
— Mike Divittorio
Murrysville
Mira Funari, wife of Murrysville council candidate Brad Funari, had been outside Christ’s Lutheran Church for most of Tuesday, and said turnout for the election is consistent with what she saw handing out fliers prior to the spring primary — a slow but steady stream of voters.
“I was at the municipal building then, but this is my home polling place,” she said. “It was a little chilly earlier, but every time I’d sit down and get my blanket on, I was getting up to greet more people.”
One of several people handing out fliers at the Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church polling place around 4 p.m. said turnout there has been significantly slower than during the primary. Newlonsburg, along with Sardis in Murrysville, were the county’s two largest voting precincts before both were split prior to the 2020 primary election.
In Export, Jen Zimmerman was outside the American Legion polling place much of the day.
“It was pretty quiet this morning, but as people went on their lunch breaks and it’s gotten later in the afternoon, it’s been a little busier,” she said.
— Patrick Varine
Allegheny County
As of 4 p.m. about 96,700 ballots have been scanned, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said
Mail-in ballots received Tuesday were being processed, Downs said.
Elections officials also delivered 976 ballots that had been returned to the County Office Building by 1:30 p.m. Those ballots are being processed as well, Downs said.
Seventy-eight of the ballots received were returned without a signature, date or both. Those ballots won’t be counted, per state law, but when those ballots are cancelled it will trigger emails to those individuals who applied online for their ballot advising of the cancellation. Anyone receiving such a notice may go to their polling place to vote, Downs said.
Staffers are also reviewing ballots that had a misprinted barcode on the secrecy envelope. There are approximately 100 with no barcode on the declaration envelope although whether they contain a misprint will not be known until the outer envelope is opened, Downs said.
Authorized representatives of candidates are watching that process, Downs said.
Those representatives include observers from the campaigns of Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Tony Moreno, North Allegheny school board candidate Vidya Szymkowiak, Monroeville council candidate Len Young, and a representative for the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.
— Tom Davidson
Hempfield
A trickle of people filtered in and out of the Hempfield Township Athletic Complex Tuesday afternoon.
Judge of Elections Ted Short said he was expecting between 600 and 700 voters to show up, a significant decrease from the presidential election last spring that drew over 1,000 voters.
More than 2,500 voters are registered at the precinct, making it one of the larger sites in Hempfield.
Those who turned out to vote stressed the importance of participating in local elections.
Nick Rullo, 80, said it’s important to vote because “all politics are local, that’s where it starts” before escalating to Washington D.C.
“These are the roots,” Rullo said. “The tree grows from this.”
Jeff Mansfield, 69, said he tries to vote in every election.
“It’s your responsibility to vote,” Mansfield said.
— Megan Tomasic
Lower Burrell
At Trinity United Christian Church in Lower Burrell, the site of two of nine voting precincts in the city, voter turnout was low, which is typical of a municipal election, said Judge of Elections Rick DeMoss.
Before lunch, between 6% to 7% voters turned out for a municipal election that typically draws about 20% of the voters, DeMoss said.
For the presidential election last year, both precincts drew upwards of 85% of the voters, he noted.
Pat Ciciarelli, 80, of Lower Burrell votes regularly but was interested in the Westmoreland County district attorney race.
“I think John Peck has done an outstanding job,” he said after casting her ballot for Peck.
Voting is a duty according to some residents who cast their ballots in Lower Burrell at Trinity United Christian Church today. pic.twitter.com/EGda0gnsZA
— Mary Ann Thomas (@MaThomas_Trib) November 2, 2021
“I vote every year,” Ciciarelli said. “If you don’t vote, don’t complain.”
Jim Haas, 51, of Lower Burrell also votes every election. “We follow the issues. This election, I’m concerned about the Supreme Court,” he said.
— Mary Ann Thomas
Pittsburgh
The one day of the year when the old Bon Air Elementary School comes to life is election day. The school, located in District 1 of Pittsburgh’s 18th Ward, closed a dozen years ago but opens annually for voting despite peeling paint on the ceiling and dingy hallways.
Bon Air Elementary School in Pittsburgh comes to life but one day a year…Election Day. pic.twitter.com/o2GCjJ6cXo
— Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) November 2, 2021
During mid-morning Tuesday, voting was going slowly. For some thirty minutes only four people showed up to vote and the only one interested in speaking to a reporter was Frank Burgoon, 62, Bon Air. He had no trouble explaining why it’s important to vote, even though a lot of people don’t seem interested this year.
“You can’t complain if you don’t (vote),” said Burgoon. “You have to have as much say as you can. That’s it, right?”
Tony Mosesso, 74, Bon Air, is the chair of the 18th Ward which encompasses Allentown, Bon Air and Beltzhoover. It’s a largely Democratic area and Mosesso says he is strongly supporting Ed Gainey, the Democratic nominee in the Pittsburgh mayor’s race. The Republican candidate is retired police officer Tony Moreno.
Tony Mosesso, 74, Bon Air says please vote because people have died to preserve your right to vote. pic.twitter.com/YRNGPJEka2
— Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) November 2, 2021
“I’m really pushing big time for Ed Gainey. He’s been a good friend of mine for 13 years,” said Mosesso.
“Voting is important because it’s a right that we have that people have died for,” he said. “What I really don’t like is on off years, when there isn’t a presidential election, there’s lower turnout. I hope it’s not that way today. I hope we get more people out and more young people out.”
Frank Burgoon, 62, Bon Air, voted this morning. He says if you don't vote you can't complain. pic.twitter.com/mjcaMBjoqF
— Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) November 2, 2021
— Paul Guggenheimer
Around Westmoreland County
Erin Brandt, 44, of Hempfield, was one of the early morning voters at the polling place at Maplewood Presbyterian Church along Mt. Pleasant Road.
Brandt says she always votes, regardless of whether it is an off-year election.
Michele Slatt, 56, an independent voter in Irwin, went to the poll at the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department and navigated the walk across the street from the parking lot to the fire hall while using two canes.
“I always vote. I want to vote while it is still America,” Slatt said.
Howard Schultheis, 61, of North Huntingdon said he never misses a chance to vote.
“These are the most important elections. The president is not as important,” Schultheis said.
Schultheis said he believes turnout will be higher because of the contentious Norwin School Board race where the statewide school mask mandate has become a divisive issue among voters in the school district. Eight candidates are in a battle for four seats on the school board.
— Joe Napsha
Gilpin
A steady trickle of voters were voting around 8 a.m. in Gilpin. They included retired Dr. John Smith, 67.
He came out to vote early Tuesday and said “it’s your patriotic duty” to get to the polls and vote.
A registered Republican, Smith said he fears the country is headed towards “socialism” and when asked if he feels the country is headed in the wrong direction he said “Absolutely—that’s an easy question.”
— Joyce Hanz
Allegheny County
Allegheny County Spokeswoman Amie Downs said there have been minimal election issues thus far.
The county Elections Court issued one order involving a representative of a building’s owner who was not letting voters in unless they had masks. The court issued an order that no one may interfere with the voters’ access to that polling place, according to Downs.
The mail was delivered to the county’s elections warehouse. It included 3,084 ballots, which workers were starting to process, Downs said.
About 125 staffers at the warehouse started opening ballots from secrecy envelopes at 9:30 a.m. and by 9:45 a.m., all declaration envelopes had been opened.
They were starting to scan some of the ballots, Downs said.
Three authorized observers were monitoring the process from the campaigns of Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Tony Moreno, North Allegheny school board candidate Vidya Szymkowiak and Monroeville council candidate Len Young.
— Tom Davidson
Springdale Township
Activity was slow at some polling locations in the Alle-Kiski Valley as the early morning rush before work passed. Some polling locations reported a bit traffic of voters coming in between 9 and 10 a.m.
The Springdale Township Municipal Building was a hot spot as voters pulled into the parking lot to vote. The four candidates vying for the two open seats for Springdale Township commissioner were outside to greet voters.
Raymond Valentine, 74, of Springdale Township, came out to vote because he appreciated the work being done by the current board of commissioners.
“They’ve been doing a lot of things around here that the other boards never even thought about doing,” he said.
Bette Salmon (would not disclose her vote) of Harmar was voting at the township’s municipal building. She said it is her responsibility and privilege to come out every election season.
“I believe I have only missed voting in my whole life one time but I have voted in every election I could possibly vote in,” she said.
— Tanisha Thomas
Allegheny Township
In Allegheny Township, Supervisor Michael Korns was expecting good turnout.
“There were 1,400 voters that turned out for the primary this year and the most we ever had turn out was 2,000 and I expect about 1,600 voters today,” Korns said. “We have a competitive race for township supervisor. All too often that doesn’t happen. Our last five or six elections were uncontested,” Korns said.
Political newcomer James Morabito is challenging longtime incumbent supervisor Kathy Starr.
Registered Republican Jack Miller, 77, of Allegheny Township said he always votes and is ready for change.
“I believe we’re headed in the wrong direction—the cost of everything has risen — especially for people on a fixed income. It doesn’t help us at all and I’m not happy with the border either,” Miller said.
Dr. John Smith, 67, of Gilpin comments on why he voted this morning in Gilpin Township #1 and 2, Armstrong County. @TribLIVE @VNDNews pic.twitter.com/ANBWiy3WGH
— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) November 2, 2021
Jack Miller, 77, of Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County on why he voted today and his concerns for the country. @VNDNews @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/04wYivb7Cj
— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) November 2, 2021
— Joyce Hanz
Pittsburgh
Democratic Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Ed Gainey cast his ballot about 10:30 a.m. at Paulson Recreation Center in the city’s Lincoln Lemington neighborhood.
#Pittsburgh Dem mayoral nominee Ed Gainey just cast his ballot at Paulson Rec Center in Lincoln-Lemington.
While speaking to reporters afterward, a man who opposes Gainey began yelling at him (~1:05 in video).
Asked his response, Gainey said, “That’s democracy.”#Election2021 pic.twitter.com/Cim5j7l0IU
— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) November 2, 2021
“I want to thank the people of Pittsburgh for giving me this moment in time,” Gainey said “I’m appreciative, very thankful. I believe that we can grow a city for all. I believe that, it’s not just a slogan.”
If elected, Gainey would become the city’s first Black mayor.
“I’m not going to undercut the importance of what it would mean. But what would mean more, is when we as a region are competitive, when we’re productive,” he said, adding that the city is well-positioned to grow economically while improving relationships between police and the community.
“For the first time, we’ve got all these new bridges being built. And I’m not talking about the physical bridges. I’m talking about bridges of people – people wanting to come together and see a city where you have access and opportunity, see a city where we have public safety that interfacing with each other in a great way, where we really have true police-community relations. Where we have affordable housing, where we have diversity.
“Pittsburgh, together we can build it all,” Gainey said.
As he was being interviewed, Will Parker, a write-in candidate for mayor from Garfield could be heard shouting over Gainey.
“At the end of the day, we’re doing what we do best — ” Gainey said as Parker tried to interrupt him.
Parker shouted, “Do what? Lie to the people?”
Unruffled and without addressing Parker directly, Gainey continued, “We’re out here making it happen for the people.”
When asked if he had a response to Parker yelling criticisms and hurling accusations about sign-stealing, Gainey replied, “That’s democracy.”
Mayoral candidate Gainey says he’s “thankful” that turnout could be higher than usual for muni cycle.
“At the end of the day, we’re doing what we do best— ”
Non-supporter interrupts, “What? Lie to the people?”
Gainey continues, “We’re out here making it happen for the people.” pic.twitter.com/mhpfq8sXM3
— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) November 2, 2021
— Natasha Lindstrom
Harrison
Harrison resident Roger Kaufman turned out early to Hilltop Hose along Cambridge Street to cast his vote, because he said, “everything’s a mess.”
“The name-calling is out of control,” he said. “Politicians are voted in to help us and they don’t seem to care about the small guy.
“They’re only interested in helping their own agendas.”
Perry Schrecengost of Harrison arrived just after 8:30 a.m. at Hilltop Hose to cast his vote — as he believes every resident should.
“I believe in the system,” he said.
Asked about the climate of the country, Schrecengost shook his head and said he believes “things have to change.
“I’m a maker, not a taker,” he said.
— Tawnya Panizzi
Latrobe
Voter turnout at several Latrobe polling places was low Tuesday morning, which wasn’t unexpected.
At about 8 a.m., 16 of the roughly 1,000 registered Third Ward voters had cast ballots in person at Adams Memorial Library while about 2% of those registered had requested mail-in ballots.
There were almost as many people arriving to use the library’s book return box as were headed to the polls. But judge of elections Susan Patchin took note of a woman who arrived on a motorized wheelchair. “She was one of the first two voters at 7 a.m.,” she said.
Laura Quinn-Piper, who describes herself as a leaning Democrat, was among 28 people of of 969 registered voters who had headed by 9 a.m. to the Fourth Ward polls at Latrobe Elementary School.
While Greater Latrobe School Board and city council races are to be decided, Quinn-Piper said a broader interest in politics and concern about the impact of former President Donald Trump prompted her to vote.
“All of the Republicans I feel are willing to stand up to Trump are either choosing not to run again or are retiring,” she said. “People are just so angry. I believe that Trump has encouraged that anger, especially in this area. I just would like to see somebody who could bring the people together.”
Kirk Watson, judge of elections in Latrobe’s First Ward, was discouraged by the slim turnout by 9:30 a.m. at Goodwill Hose Company No. 1: 35 in-person and about 25 mail-in ballots cast out of 1,100 registered voters. “Nobody wants to turn out to vote,” he said.
One who did was John Jacobs, who has been voting in the precinct for four decades. “It’s my duty to vote,” he said. “I do take it seriously.”
— Jeff Himler
Scott
Mary Lou Blasko, 68, and husband Allan Blasko, 71, of Scott said they vote in every election.
“It is so important because I believe every vote counts,” said Mary Lou Blasko said outside of a polling place at
Saint Stephen Lutheran Church on Forsythe Road.
“Even if we are just voting for our local officials. Voting gives us a voice to be heard,” she said.
Allan Blasko said with what former President Donald Trump and the Republican party are trying to do with claiming voter fraud that it is essential to the voting process to get out and vote.