Westmoreland County Republican Commissioner Kim Ward on Thursday accused commissioners Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso of playing politics with an appointment to a regional transportation committee.
Balya and Ceraso, both Democratics, serve on the board.
Ward lobbied for her appointment to Southwest Regional Commission, but her efforts were rebuffed. Instead, Balya and Ceraso yesterday appointed Democrat Donald Kinosz of Lower Burrell to fill a board vacancy.
"There are no Republicans on that board," Ward said of the Westmoreland County delegation.
The Southwest Regional Commission comprises members from 10 counties and the city of Pittsburgh. The group is responsible for regional planning of transportation issues in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Westmoreland County has five appointments to the commission: Balya, Ceraso, Kinosz, Greensburg Mayor Karl Eisaman and Terry Daughenbaugh, a planner with the Growth Connection of Westmoreland County.
Each county appoints two commissioners to the board; a third slot is reserved for another elected official in the county. There are two at-large positions.
All three commissioners from six counties -- Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Lawrence and Indiana -- serve on the SPC board.
Ward said tradition has dictated that all three Westmoreland commissioners serve on the board. Former Commissioner Phil Light, whom Ward replaced this year, was a board member.
Ward and her Republican running mate waged an aggressive campaign last fall in an attempt to oust either Balya or Ceraso from office.
"Tom Balya said it was because of the campaign, but it's about the way they conduct their business in general. I've been cut out of many things after taking office here. We're here to govern, not to continue the campaign," Ward said.
She said she did not learn about the SPC board appointment until minutes before yesterday's public meeting.
Ceraso countered that he didn't know of Ward's interest in the job until after the meeting had started.
Balya and Ceraso said Kinosz's appointment was not political.
'We don't make appointments on a political basis," Balya said.
Ceraso added, "We make a concerted effort to not look at political affiliations."
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