Four candidates removed from Jeannette and Monessen primaries

On Monday, three mayoral candidates in Jeannette and one in Monessen were removed from the primary election ballots set for May. The decision came from Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry Smail Jr. after court hearings revealed that the candidates had not submitted the required paperwork. In Jeannette, Democrat Robin Mozley and Republicans Ron Kastner and Ed Day did not file the necessary nomination petitions or financial interest statements with the city’s clerk. This ruling means that the current Republican Mayor Curtis Antoniak will run unopposed this spring. In the general election in November, he will likely face Democrat Michelle Langdon, who also has no primary challenger. In Monessen, first-term Democrat Ron Mozer will also be unopposed in his attempt to serve another term as mayor. Mayor Antoniak stated he aimed to follow state law and expressed concern about candidates who do not comply with it. All three Jeannette candidates had submitted financial interest statements to the county election bureau but failed to file duplicates with the city clerks. This mistake was deemed a critical error by the judge. Day, who plans to appeal the decision, argued that the requirements were unclear due to the relocation of the city's clerk’s office. Additionally, Mary Jo Smith, a former mayor in Monessen, was removed from the ballot after the judge found she was short three signatures needed for her candidacy. She did not attend the court hearing. In another ruling, Susan Ilgenfritz was removed from the Franklin Regional School Board primary ballot for submitting her financial disclosure six days late. Despite these removals, five candidates continue to compete for four board seats in the upcoming primary.