Election Petitions Formally Filed Yesterday
Some commissioner candidates attended the Republican Committee Lincoln Day Dinner
Yesterday afternoon was the last day for Armstrong County residents to submit petitions to compete in this May’s Primary Election.
More than a dozen Armstrong County Commissioner candidates were expected to formally announce their intentions to run for the four-year position before Wendy Buzard yesterday afternoon outside her office in the Commissioners’ Administration Building.
Other County-wide races included the County Controller, Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, Register and Recorder and Treasurer.
Those commissioner candidates who made their intentions to the Kittanning Paper include: Jason Renshaw, Patty Kirkpatrick, Paul Rearick, Pat Fabian, George Skamai, David Croyle and incumbent David Battaglia.
Up to double that amount have been rumored to be competing for the position after two of the incumbents: Rich Fink and Bob Bower did not elect to run for re-election. Fink was the most-senior commissioner with 12 years in the office.
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Brenda George announced her candidacy for re-election this Fall, as did Register and Recorder Marianne Hileman.
Amanda Slagle-Hiles previously announced her candidacy for Treasurer and recently Deb Whiteman has joined as her opposition.
District Magisterial Judge James Andring is also up for election to represent more than a dozen locales – including Apollo Borough, Leechburg Borough and the two Parks Township polling places.
A full list of those who submitted applications is to be submitted to the Kittanning Paper this morning
Candidates have until March 25 to withdraw their petitions.
Local News | jweaver March 11, 2015
By jorn jensen, March 12, 2015 @ 10:17 AM
Interesting report, here, and in the LT.
The LT report regarding 15 candidates running in the Armstrong County commissioner primary had comments from 3 local people involved with politics. Wendy Buzard stated, “I think people are just ready for a change, so they are coming out to get on the ballot.” Lou Vergari states, “think it might be a sign that people are ready for new ideas. Fresh solutions to move this county ahead further.” And then Mike Baker, “Anytime there are guaranteed vacancies, there will be a lot of people interested in running.”
I will agree with Wendy and Lou. Give these 15 candidates a little more credit for stepping up to this task than just two guaranteed vacancies. Test Mike’s theory. When did Rich Fink, democrat, and Bob Bower, republican, announce that they would not seek re-election? Then have each of the 15 candidates answer, truthfully, when they decided to run. I’ll wager that Wendy’s and Lou’s comments are most accurate. Rich Fink announced a while back, maybe December/January. Bob Bower announced in mid-February, after candidates had already requested to receive petition packages.
I decided to run a couple of years ago. After working on Dave Battaglia’s campaign and seeing how he dropped the rhetoric ‘cut taxes’ between his primary run and general election run, the dubious campaign finances, the added government jobs (with no new private sector jobs efforts), the Clean and Green raping of farmers and the $800 across-the-board pay raises for county employees. It was quite easy to see that we did NOT hire an independent conservative.
Time for all 3 commissioners to go. Time to put real effort into bringing in private sector jobs and improving the economy of Armstrong County.
So, my decision was made long before any announcements by Rich Fink or Bob Bower. Kudos to Wendy Buzzard and Lou Vergari for recognizing Armstrong County reality.
Regarding the article above, David Croyle and I both have an email, from myself to David, dated 2/4/2015, 10:52 PM, that I would be running for county commissioner. Another good candidate, Keith Williamson, was also not mentioned in the article above. And others were also not mentioned.
Jorn Jensen
By blutoblutarsky, March 12, 2015 @ 11:43 AM
jorn- It is plausible that all three comments are correct. I don’t see the importance of their opinions anyway.
I also don’t see why you think we will only have success by voting in an “independent conservative”. Pat Fabian is listed as a democrat and I think he did a fantastic job keeping Manor Township fiscally responsible (you even said so yourself).
By jorn jensen, March 13, 2015 @ 6:22 AM
Their opinions are important - they vote and they influence the vote.
Why do we need a conservative? Because Armstrong County has a proven track record of tax and spend that hasn’t worked. We have the highest taxes around and we chase people away.
Pat Fabian has an impressive resume and good results in Manor Township. Yes, I did state that and have again. Manor Township also has some nice advantages with the Marcellus shale. But, correct, Manor leadership has done well - they fix and maintain their equipment rather than buy new, new, new.
By blutoblutarsky, March 13, 2015 @ 10:15 AM
jorn- Your comments on this thread alone prove that you don’t “need” one type of political party affiliation over another.
Battaglia- a republican- was not what you consider fiscally responsible.
Fabian- a democrat- was fiscally responsible.
You don’t need party lines to fix our community. You only need people who will do the right thing.
Does this make sense to you?
By worthingtonman, March 13, 2015 @ 5:24 PM
Jensen what in the world is your point? Because you decided to run quicker you are somehow better than the others? That is almost as ridiculous as Bluto saying he is not a liberal! Between you Bluto and Mad, all the worlds problems could be solved. Now Keith Williamson is a man I can support. Quite possibly the nicest guy I have met in Worthington and a very bright man at that. I can’t wait to talk to him to see his ideas.
By forward, March 15, 2015 @ 7:04 PM
Only jorn would make an issue of the date and time he filed…lol..and back it up with proof !! ….lol
Spaccone !
By mad-2010, March 15, 2015 @ 11:48 PM
Wman.. Leave me out of your shallow comparisons, at least I know there’s real poverty in America…
By jorn jensen, March 16, 2015 @ 8:41 AM
NEWSFLASH - Armstrong County now has 3 new candidates for commissioner - blutoblutarsky, worthingtonman, and Forward. The general public holds its collective breath to meet the new non-name candidates in person.
By forward, March 16, 2015 @ 9:54 AM
Frustrating isn’t it jorn,…lol…actually, we’d be better than some people who are running…
By mad-2010, March 16, 2015 @ 11:40 AM
Hey Wman.. When you meet and talk to Keith Williamson don’t forget to tell him your Walton’s family first generation college story. Better yet, tell Mr. Williamson you know how minorities feel because you were one of a few Caucasians in a mostly Black barracks. If that’s not enough you can tell him how you learned from the KP comment section that the GI Bill is an entitlement, you can thank me for that one!! I’m sure your views on the worlds problems will impress!! Next time you stab me in the back by dragging my name into a discussion, you’ll get the same “Shot Across The Bow.” Feel Free to smell your used Angel Soft Now….
By worthingtonman, March 16, 2015 @ 4:58 PM
@mad
sorry for rustling your feathers, but the beauty of this is you don’t get to tell me when or when not to include you in a statement. One of the positive things I have picked up on in my elder years is the ease in which I can admit that I am wrong and then move along feeling great. Everyone should try it once in a while.
@Jorn
YOU are the wannabe candidate. You better grow some thicker skin candidate sir. I on the other hand choose not to present myself to the public. I don’t need anyone displaying any faults or skeletons I may have laying around. You do have me thinking though about your comment about me paying for some dirt on the internet concerning the candidates, Makes me think maybe someone has a skeleton out there?
By mad-2010, March 17, 2015 @ 7:52 AM
JJ… There maybe some skeletons up @ old Penn State when Wman had someone going to school up there… Did some checking of my own… Some people want to throw dirt let’s throw some!!
By mad-2010, March 17, 2015 @ 8:17 AM
Hey Wman… The Beauty of this Game is I get to Fire Back and You Know Me….
By mad-2010, March 17, 2015 @ 9:17 AM
Wman.. “One of the positive things I have picked up on in my elder years” Try this one Wman: “There’s No Fool like an Old Fool”
By blutoblutarsky, March 17, 2015 @ 12:18 PM
worthingtonman- I didn’t realize that by noting that this area needs bi-partisanship to move forward makes me a liberal.
I am however flattered that you consider me someone who can help solve all of the worlds problems. Thank you.
jorn- When you’re taking a thumping on here or you’ve become embarrassed you usually start on the ‘use your real names” quest. If this blog can rattle you this much, are you sure you have what it takes to be a commissioner?
By mad-2010, March 17, 2015 @ 1:02 PM
Worthingtonman… Last year you made some Disparaging remarks about the Civil Rights Leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. I was wondering, since you were at one time in a Predominately Black military barracks, did you make any Disparaging remarks about Black Civil Rights Leaders then, in front of your Black barracks mates? I’m willing to bet you keep your Big Fat Worthington Breed Hick Mouth Shut!! Didn’t You? LOL
By worthingtonman, March 17, 2015 @ 5:34 PM
@Madd
Wow! I hope you fell better about yourself after that crazy man rant.! during my military days, I was 18-23 years old. I really did not pay much attention to politics then. I was more worrierd about having a good time in those days. Although I was part of the minority’s, we did not have race baiters to gin up any problems. We were all brothers from different mothers. A great comradarie that I would change for nothing. I had many friends from many walks of life. And with the modern marvel of Facebook I get to reconnect with them. By the way, I am a Worthington transplant. Good to know what you think about aworthington folks. I actually am surprised admin left your nasty rant go through. I guess Bluto was on to something with the slam anyone but Jorn comment. oh and by the way Mad, Grow up!
By jorn jensen, March 20, 2015 @ 7:16 AM
Denny, frustrating? Don’t think so - more like humorous because the non-names think that they have all of the answers, but can’t step up to the plate. All they have to offer is big keystrokes.
You’re in good company with the likes of bluto.
By jd718, March 20, 2015 @ 11:02 PM
@ Worthingtonman, Did you make a derogatory statement about Rev. Jesse Jackson or not? I have read most of this thread and Mad had not posted before you attacked him. Something funny here Worthingtonman. I’m not buying your March 17 post either you never once deny Mads claim about Jesse Jackson. Also, why the need to bring up anything about race baiters? You were a minority in a predominately black barracks and from that you know what it’s like to be a minority, how ridiculous! You Worthingtonman I believe to be a liar! I was also around when you went off on a rant on Mad about veterans. Did you grow up from your rant. Maybe not only are you a liar but also a 2 faced person.
By jerry6, March 21, 2015 @ 8:01 AM
Jensen: Your not seriously running for a public office, are you? How would you ever be good for all the people. But, then again, you are a conservative and you would flip flop whichever way the wind blows. The things you write on here aren’t very intelligent. Why don’t you put at the end of all your comments your famous saying about liberals. Now that you want people to vote for you, you have stopped this. This is what I mean about you saying whatever it takes to get elected.
By forward, March 21, 2015 @ 8:52 AM
Seems you are always saying who is good company for whom on here jorn, that ego of yours is so big that you actually think you can judge things like that !! lol, again you crack me up !!
I’m good company for anyone. As long as they are decent human beings.
I’ll say this, in my opinion, Don Toy was the worst county commissioner we’ve ever had, but you could change that.
By mad-2010, March 21, 2015 @ 9:10 AM
Well, Well, Wman… What a Gutless attempt to discredit me! crazy man rant, your funny. You don’t think for one minute I’m going to swallow your March 17th lace doilie post? Did you make or have you ever made a Disparaging remarks about the Black Civil Rights Leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson? Wman.. Try a simple yes or no answer to the question, Wman.. Your the Big Mouth on this thread talking about others skeletons, how about your own skeletons? “I really did not pay much attention to politics then.” What does that statement have to do with the question? Civil Rights Leaders deal with Civil Rights! I Smell Stink and it’s your Stink, Wman..
“I can admit that I am wrong and then move along feeling great.” This is your statement from your March 16th post. How about it Wman. Can you back up your statement or are you the Gutless Phony I Know you are??
By mad-2010, March 21, 2015 @ 9:40 AM
Jensen… Wman is just fine when he is trying to hold your hand over the fire with the skeleton’s comment! You do know he’s jealous of you, right… That’s why he’s trying to dump on you because to an extent your hands are tied since running for office. He knows this and is exploiting you..
By worthingtonman, March 22, 2015 @ 10:18 PM
@madd
The skeleton comment has absolutely nothing to do With Jenson. I have always had problems with the Jensen treats folks. And I call him out on it. Trust me I am far from jealous of Jorn. I think some of the skeletons I had been talking about are starting to surface and they can be far more scandalous then you think. Sometime people clam up and ignore stories hoping they go away, but there are still some juicy tidbits left to surface that will explain some situations to folks. So Jorn go ahead and run, have fun, but I will be backing Keith Williamson. You should get to know him. A great guy. Remember the D and the R mean very little at the county level. Its more about sort business minded individuals trying to bring business into the county. Someone willing to go against the DEP and the EPA which are the biggest job killers in Pa. A perfect example is the company I work for bought a competitor in NYC. We run a shop here in Pa and would have liked to have moved the business to Pittsburgh. However the DEP and EPA have made it so difficult to get permits for solvents that we have to relocate the business to the State of Michigan which is far more willing to issue permits. Big gain for Michigan, big loss for Pittsburgh.
By worthingtonman, March 22, 2015 @ 10:21 PM
@ madd
I along with most others know that Jesse Jackson is a joke. His credibility is crap. He is all about the money.and you sir are a crazy Ranting lunatic.
By jorn jensen, March 22, 2015 @ 10:55 PM
jerry6 - Liberals, your messiah has failed. Will that suffice?
By mad-2010, March 23, 2015 @ 5:28 AM
Wman.. So, You are on record as calling One of the Most Iconic Civil Rights Leaders in American History and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, an idiot, a clown, and a joke! You are also on record as saying you know what it’s like to be a minority because: You were once in a Predominately Black barracks! You Worthingtonman are Old Fool to say the least!!!
By mad-2010, March 23, 2015 @ 5:34 AM
Wman.. Oh, when you said most others, did you mean most bigot’s? LOL
By jorn jensen, March 23, 2015 @ 7:48 AM
mad, worthingtonman is an ‘R’ - I’m fine with worthingtonman.
worthingtonman, I know Keith Williamson quite well. He is a good candidate and I’d vote for him also. The contents of his announcement is exactly what he and I sat and discussed in his office for several hours. Truth. Check it out.
You know why I’m running. I’ve explained that. What I’ll do is what Dave Battaglia promised in his primary literature in 2011 - cut taxes. I’ll look for places to cut taxes. I’ll study department budgets carefully. Cut tourism? No - I see tourism as a way for government to invest in the local economy, both public sector (locks) and private sector.
But, more than cuts, I’ll use my contacts and networking of 40 years in business and industry to bring private sector work to Armstrong County. I am the only candidate with that background. I have had profit and loss responsibility in several companies - I understand making a payroll.
So, worthingtonman, use your vote wisely in May.
By jerry6, March 23, 2015 @ 8:15 AM
Jensen: Are you for real? I think you should apply for a job as a clown instead of commissioner. Can’t wait to see you on with Dave Wolfe and the questions he will ask you. That should be very entertaining. You remind me of Ted Cruz. A very republican person on the radio said he doesn’t like Hillary but there isn’t a republican running that he could vote for.
By blutoblutarsky, March 23, 2015 @ 1:17 PM
jorn- I’m ok with forward regardless of his political affiliation. He seems like a good guy. You should take notes.
This county wants someone who isn’t petty, is willing to work with everyone regardless of party and someone who won’t let their ego get the best of them. You are none of the above.
What you’ve shown on the KP site reminds me a lot of a certain group of local politicians who do nothing but argue and insult one another instead of actually working to fix the problems in our community.
You mention what you think you have over the other candidates; I’ll bet that many of the others have something you don’t… maturity.
By blutoblutarsky, March 23, 2015 @ 1:19 PM
Do you really think you can be taken seriously with comments such as “Liberals, your messiah has failed. Will that suffice?”
If you want to take on a commissioner’s role, you’ll have to be more professional than that.
By jorn jensen, March 23, 2015 @ 1:36 PM
jerry6, so, is Dave Wolfe a democrat or a republican now? Last I heard, he had become a republican for some reason that the democrats gave him. I should fear Dave Wolfe? I think not.
Sorry that you won’t get to cast your vote for me in the primary. Perhaps you can get to vote for me in the general election.
By worthingtonman, March 23, 2015 @ 5:42 PM
@mad
Oh yes Jesse Jackson Iconic. Iconic for what? Being a preacher who cheated on his wife and had a love child? Being a non bigoted person when referring to New York as “Himeytown” Saying he wants to cut Obamas n…..off because he acts too white?
So to be a civil rights icon you just have to be racist against whites and Jews. You have to be a race baited like you. You have to paint anyone who disagrees with you or Obama a racist. Next you will be telling us Al Sharpton is a great man! There is a lot more to politics then race baiting MADD. But that seems to be all you got. I remember when you posted with logic. now it’s just hateful rants. Just because someone does not like the kingdom of person that Jesse Jackson is does not make them a racist. It just makes them someone who dislikes hypocrisy. So go ahead and label me a racist. I know better and that is all that is important.
By worthingtonman, March 23, 2015 @ 5:46 PM
@Jerry6
Be careful what you wish for with Mr. Wolfe. I Have seen him in action as a union rep and I do not know that a great friend of labor is what we want in someone controlling taxpayer funds. The goal is to bring business into the area. Maybe Mr. wolf has changed his tone a bit. It will be interesting to hear his ideas, but it is also hard to put behind you scenes you have witnessed in the past.
By jerry6, March 24, 2015 @ 8:28 AM
Jensen: Tell me your qualifications for commissioner and what you will do if you get this job. How will you work with democrats after all the nasty things you write about them on here. I really don’t know who you are or what you do for a living but I know you are very arrogant and would not be good for Kittanning with the attitude you have especially toward democrats.
By jerry6, March 25, 2015 @ 11:57 AM
I think it is very funny that Cruz has been wanting to abolish Obamacare and he is on it. He can have free heath care being a politician and when his wife gave up her job with Goldman Sachs to help him become president, she lost her health care which he was under. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I don’t trust any politician. They don’t care about the people only getting elected.
By Rat_Smeller, March 25, 2015 @ 12:13 PM
Jerry6 - The last time I checked, there is more to Armstrong County than Kittanning. Worthingtonman - Ask the former employees of Eljer how much a friend of labor Dave Wolfe was.
By Rat_Smeller, March 25, 2015 @ 12:13 PM
FYI - My previous post endorses no candidate for the office of county commissioner.
By blutoblutarsky, March 25, 2015 @ 12:58 PM
jerry- Jorn states above “worthingtonman is an ‘R’ – I’m fine with worthingtonman.”
This statement shows exactly the type of person he is. I can see him trying to base every decision he makes on what he considers conservative policies versus actually doing what’s best for the county.
By mad-2010, March 26, 2015 @ 12:44 AM
Bluto.. Jorn states above “worthingtonman is an ‘R’ – I’m fine with worthingtonman.” I was taken back when he said that. I Guess it’s all about the ‘R’……
By jorn jensen, March 26, 2015 @ 1:46 PM
jerry6 - Thank you for asking me for my qualifications for commissioner.
Let’s start with the fact that I am not a career politician - I am from the private sector and I’ve held jobs of responsibility for profit and loss, making payrolls and growing the wealth of owners. What does that get you? Someone that tells as it is. No hidden agendas. No ‘friends’ to have to pay back - which I wouldn’t do anyway.
I am not a ‘favored boy’ of the establishment, so I am on my own in this challenge.
We’ve been all through this already on here and your liberal buddies love to beat up on me about it. I am a proud patriot - a US army infantry veteran. So, mad beats up on me over my military service. What unit of military service was mad in? Oops.
I am a Penn State engineering graduate and an Indiana University MBA graduate. So, I have the business and industry education, and experience from my work history.
I am pro-work, pro-gas and oil, pro-coal, pro-farming, pro-tourism, pro-business and industry, pro-life (you remember the debates with ‘steve’ about baby-killing?), and pro-constitution and amendments.
And, believe it or not, I will work for all of the people of Armstrong County to promote Armstrong County as the ‘place to be’. I am not running for me - I am running to help fix this county - we need to cut taxes and make ourselves more competitive in the marketplace. I will use my years of industrial contacts and networking to bring private sector jobs to Armstrong County. Now, there are a few roadblocks to such a plan and I’m aware of that. One is that we are not a right-to-work state, so well-managed companies will ‘skip over us’ when looking for a relocation site. Our state legislators are well-aware of my position on right-to-work and I’ll continue to pressure them on that issue. Being an Armstrong County commissioner is not just about working in Armstrong County at the court house, it is also a presence in Harrisburg. Further, we have a reputation, around here, to overcome, because of PPG and Eljer baling out - remember the red solidarity tee shirts at McDonald’s when PPG was on strike? I remember. So, we’ll have some serious convincing to do in order to bring industry into this area. With the right people in-place, it can be done.
I am a big opponent of property taxes and I continue to push our legislators on HB76 and SB76, property tax elimination. Do you hear anything from them on that topic? No. Getting rid of property taxes and converting that government income over to sales and income taxes makes so much sense. First, it eliminates some government jobs - tax collectors and assessors. Those jobs go away just like typewriters have gone away. And, if we face a multi-million dollar county-wide re-assessment, then, eliminating property taxes saves us that multi-million dollar re-assessment waste of dollars. Sales and income taxes are simple - they are a decimal multiplier in a computer. Justification? Fixed-income seniors living on 1970′s pensions in paid-off homes, and they can’t afford the tax-rent of a home that they can’t liquidate instantly for cash value. They have to decide between paying property taxes and buying food/meds. What a screwed-up system property taxes are!
In Armstrong County, we need to cut our taxes, not increase them and fund more nice-to-do things. We need to promote industry and business in the area, and that includes a strong drive on tourism.
Yes, I’m a conservative - a proud conservative. Anyone that thinks that you can tax-and-spend your way to a better Armstrong County is, honestly, clueless.
jerry6 - you claim to be a liberal. I’ve tried to educate you on this before - you are probably a democrat and probably not a conservative, but you are not a liberal. If you were a true liberal, you’d have no 8 guns and you’d believe that gun-free zones really work to have criminals ‘put their guns away’. In the real world, a ‘gun-free zone’ is just a guarantee, to the criminal, that law-abiding people are un-armed, easy targets.
In defense of worthingtonman being an ‘R’ - only R’s can vote for R’s and only D’s can vote for D’s in the primary. Another screwed-up governmental system - the Independents don’t get a vote. How stupid is that? Also, worthingtonman signed up a number of new republican voters, per a comment of his, so, that is good - more voters on the roles. So, it is a good thing that worthingtonman is an ‘R’. And, I’ll bet he shows up to vote, even in the primaries.
Want more jerry6? Call me. 724-954-8270
By blutoblutarsky, March 26, 2015 @ 3:31 PM
In his world, it alwasy is mad… always.
By jorn jensen, March 30, 2015 @ 8:34 AM
bluto - Trying to hide your liberalism much?
By blutoblutarsky, March 30, 2015 @ 1:24 PM
jorn- Nice spin on your worthingtonman is an “R” comment. Everyone here knows you meant you’re ok with him because he’s a Republican.
How divisive can one person be? Yikes.
What purpose would a phone call from jerry serve?
What are you trying to accomplish with it? What would the list of topics be? This is not mature behavior from someone who is running to be a commissioner.
Please take note of the article from today regarding the veteran who is also running. It specifically lists exact accomplishments of how he was able to improve or fix various issues at previous jobs. All you do is tell everyone what’s wrong with the county as if nobody knows and then just say you’ll fix it. Everyone has heard that song and dance multiple times from other candidates over the years.
Let’s see your credentials in a similar format.
By forward, March 31, 2015 @ 12:02 AM
jorn, your sudden politeness is comical. Where are the hate filled rants you always wrote ? What is this, jensen light ?
And republicans and democrats C
By forward, March 31, 2015 @ 12:10 AM
Continued, republicans and democrats CAN vote for someone in the other party in the primary by doing a write in for the person they want, I’ve done it before.
is
Regarding your ‘man up’ comment and your talk about people making ‘bold keystrokes’…lol …you are the one who is guilty of both.
Regarding your ‘no name’ talk, the last thing I’d want my lady to call me at ‘bedtime’
Yawn….lol
By blutoblutarsky, March 31, 2015 @ 11:07 AM
jorn- I missed your response to the phone call questions…