A Monessen city councilman and a member of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee will try to unseat seven-term incumbent Earl Keim II for the office of register of wills.
But there will be no primary battle on May 15.
Wayne Doptis filed nominating petitions Tuesday to run as a Republican, a move that state elections officials said is legal.
The deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions to run in the primary was yesterday afternoon, and there were few surprises.
For county commissioner, four Democrats are seeking two nominations. They are incumbents Tom Balya, of Greensburg, and Tom Ceraso, of New Kensington, Unity Township Supervisor Mike O'Barto and South Greensburg retiree Virginia Oplinger.
As expected, five Republicans are officially in the commissioners race. They are: Hempfield Supervisor Kim Ward; Penn Township Commissioner George Dunbar; Mike Reese, the chief of staff to outgoing Commissioner Phil Light; Delmont Councilman Jim Bortz; and attorney Wayne McGrew.
There are no contested primaries in races for county row office jobs, all currently held by Democrats. Controller Carmen Pedicone and Sheriff Chris Scherer have no primary challenges and no opponents who filed to seek the GOP nomination.
Recorder of Deeds Tom Murphy, Treasurer Kathalyn O'Brien and Keim each appear likely to face a Republican candidate in the fall. Frank E. Schiefer, a Hempfield Township auditor, filed petitions to run for treasurer while Patrick D. Laughlin, of Greensburg, will run against Murphy. Both are endorsed by the Westmoreland County Republican Committee.
But it was Doptis' unique candidacy that drew attention yesterday.
"There is no statute that requires a primary candidate for a political party's nomination for a public office to be a registered and enrolled member of the political party," said Cathy Ennis, a spokeswoman for the Department of State.
"The Election Code requires only that the candidate be legally qualified for the office that he seeks and that those who sign and circulate the nomination petitions be registered and enrolled members of the political party," she said.
As long as Doptis' petitions were circulated and signed by registered Republicans, his name can appear on this spring's ballot under the GOP banner even though he is still a registered Democrat.
Doptis said yesterday several Republicans sponsored his candidacy, but he has no plans to shift party allegiances.
"I'm a Democrat, but the geographics of the county say that if I run in a primary as a Democrat from Monessen, who is someone from the central part of the county going to vote for --- me?" Doptis said. "I was approached by some Republicans and I just decided it was the best choice I had to win a seat on the county level."
Keim, 57, who first took office in 1980, was upset yesterday afternoon about the prospect of a contested race this fall.
"It's a joke. That guy even signed my petition," Keim said.
Democratic Party Chairman Dante Bertani yesterday called for Doptis to resign his committee post. Doptis last year unsuccessfully ran against Bertani for control of the Democratic committee.
"It creates some real problems. I don't know how he can participate at this stage of the game as a committeeman. I'm shocked he can go on there as a Republican. He's now acting as a Republican candidate," Bertani said.
Meanwhile, Republican Party Chairman Perry Christopher said he was not consulted about the Doptis candidacy, but urged him to make the switch to the GOP.
Christopher also said he was disappointed his party will have a potentially contentious primary in the race for two county commissioner nominations. The party committee last week endorsed Ward and Dunbar in the race.
"Sometimes contested primaries are good, but in this case I'm not so sure. It will drain our resources," Christopher said.
County Democrats will endorse candidates this weekend. Bertani said he expects candidates who do not win endorsement to withdraw from the race.
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