School board hopeful bounced from ballot; more candidate challenges on tap

A Republican candidate seeking a spot on the Penn-Trafford School Board was removed Friday from the primary ballot, and a decision on another candidate vying for a seat on the Franklin Regional School board was deferred.

Additional court hearings are scheduled for Monday on challenges of three Jeannette and one Monessen mayoral candidates.

Common Pleas Judge Harry Smail Jr. ruled that prospective candidate Jay Johnson was one valid signature short of the required 10 he needed to qualify for the Penn-Trafford School Board ballot. Johnson did not attend Friday’s hearing nor put up a defense of his candidacy, which was challenged by school board member Bryan Kline.

Kline and Republican Richard Niemiec are the remaining candidates seeking two open Region II seats.

The candidacy of Republican Susan Ilgenfritz, who is seeking a seat on the Franklin Regional school board, remains in limbo. According to court records, Ilgenfritz filed a statement of financial interest with the school district, a required document to qualify for the ballot, six days too late.

Smail, after a brief argument as to the legality of Pennsylvania’s ballot qualification requirements, deferred a decision until reviewing applicable case law.

Meanwhile, four additional ballot challenge hearings are scheduled for Monday.

Jeannette Mayor Curtis Antoniak is seeking to clear the field in the Republican primary, claiming his two GOP challengers, Ed Day and Ron Kaster, do not have enough valid signatures on their nominating petitions and failed to file their financial statements with the city clerk.

Similar allegations were cited in court documents seeking to remove Democratic Jeannette mayoral candidate Robin Mozley from the ballot.

Monessen Mayor Ron Mozer filed court documents claiming Mary Jo Smith, his Democratic challenger, submitted nominating petitions that were four signatures short of the 100 required to appear on the ballot.

The primary is May 20.