Westmoreland Labor Council backs Democrat Prah in 58th District special election

The Westmoreland County Labor Council endorsed Democrat Robert Prah Jr. in an upcoming special election for the 58th district state House seat.

It was a difficult choice between Prah and Republican Eric Davanzo, said WCLC President Walter Geiger.

“We are proud of both of these men. They are both union members, and this was a very tough vote,” he said.

Council members, who represent local unions, voted Monday.

Geiger said he could not disclose the vote totals, but council rules say one candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the vote. Otherwise, the organization will not endorse a candidate.

Prah, 38, of Rostraver, is the director of Military and Veterans Affairs at California University of Pennsylvania. Davanzo, 43, of South Huntingdon, is a union carpenter.

Geiger said either taking office would be a victory for the council and its parent organization, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

“In the AFL-CIO, we have what’s called the ‘Path to Power,’ our objective is to get union members to run for office,” he said.

The 58th district includes Adamsburg, Arona, East Huntingdon, parts of Hempfield, Jeannette, Madison, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, Penn Borough, Rostraver, Sewickley, Smithton, South Huntingdon, Sutersville and West Newton.

The winner of the March 17 special election will serve the remaining nine months of the term of Justin Walsh, a Rostraver Republican who resigned in December after being elected a Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court judge.

Both Prah and Davanzo have said they plan to run in the April primaries in the hopes of being elected to a full two-year term.

Geiger said the council’s endorsement is only for the special election — not any potential future showdowns between the candidates.

“Whoever gets elected this time better do a good job, because we’ll be keeping a close eye on them,” he said.