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August 11, 2008

Chairmen to interview Senate hopefuls

By John K. Manna

Seven Democrats want to take state Rep. Sean Ramaley’s place on the November ballot.

The seven state Senate hopefuls have been invited to be interviewed by the Beaver County Democratic executive committee on Thursday.

Lawrence County Democratic chairman Richard Christofer set Friday as a tentative date for his executive committee to interview the candidates.

All but one of those who have expressed an interest are from Beaver County, which makes up the largest portion of the 47th District currently represented by Sen. Gerald LaValle, who is retiring. The district also includes one township in Allegheny County.

The exception is Anthony Razzano, a certified public accountant from Union Township.

The others are Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik; Jason Petrella of Monaca, who lost to Ramaley in the April primary; Economy Mayor David Poling; Steven Drobac Jr. of Center Township, who lost twice to former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart; Bob Grotevant, regional director for the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and a former reporter for the Beaver County Times; and Bob Villella of Center Township, president of a tax collection firm.

Elder Vogel Jr. of New Sewickley Township in Beaver County is the Republican candidate.

Ramaley withdrew from the race last week. He was indicted with 11 others, including former state Rep. Mike Veon, after grand jurors said millions of taxpayer dollars had been used to underwrite political campaigns.

Christofer said that whoever Beaver County picks “will have some bearing” on the eventual nominee.

“But we’re not going to rubber stamp anything,” he said.

All three counties involved will have to agree on a nominee. If they can’t agree, the Democratic State Committee will select the nominee.

The state election code requires a nominee to be selected by Aug. 21.

Beaver County Democratic chairman Mike “Doc” Sisk said that after talking with Christofer and the Allegheny County chairman, “We should be able to come to an agreement.”

Asked whether the state Senate Democratic leadership has had anything to say about the selection process, Zisk said he had informed Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny of the candidates who are interested. Costa is Senate minority caucus chairman.

Christofer said he also had talked with Costa, adding he believes the Senate leadership will have something to say about the nomination.

An attempt to reach Costa was unsuccessful.

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