Republican voters in North Huntingdon’s 6th Ward will be the only ones selecting from multiple candidates in a township commissioners race in the May 20 primary.
Three candidates seeking the GOP nomination to succeed Fran Bevan in the ward are William Cummings, Antonio Lio and Leah McGhee. All three are running for public office for the first time. The Republican who wins in the primary is virtually assured of winning in November because no Democrat has filed for any of the three vacancies on the board of commissioners.
A hot-button issue in the township had been whether to lease about 40 acres of land to two developers to create a multifield sports complex on part of the township’s public works property. The possibility of the sports complex was raised in May 2024, but vocal opposition remained as revisions to a 116-year lease on the land were offered. The commissioners voted 5-4 in February to end all talks.
Cummings, 67, who is the pastor of BC Ministries based at his North Huntingdon residence, said he is running because “God wanted me to run,” which he learned during his morning prayers.
“If he wants me to run, I believe I will win,” Cummings said, adding that he does not believe it is God’s will that he win.
Cummings, who retired from working for car dealerships in the Greensburg, North Huntingdon and Irwin areas, said he wants to see more road work performed in the 6th Ward.
Lio, 21, sought the appointment to the seat when former 6th Ward Commissioner Lyndsay Wengrzyn resigned in October 2023 when she moved out of the township. The board majority voted for Bevan, a former township commissioner, over Lio and Samuel Bray.
If he wins the seat, Lio would be the youngest township commissioner.
Lio, who is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning worker, often attends meetings of the commissioners.
“It is important for young people to be in leadership roles, and they need to step up and be in that role,” Lio said.
McGhee, 37, who is a sleep science researcher, said she wants to see the township explore more opportunities for recreation for residents of all ages and socioeconomic statuses.
She also wants to continue to build on efforts to bring more small business into the township.
McGhee did not file her statement of financial interest with the township office by the March 11 deadline, as required by election regulations. The township received her financial interests statement March 28. McGhee said she filed her nominating petition and her statement of financial interest with the county Elections Bureau by the March 11 deadline and was told she would be on the ballot.
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State said filing discrepancy issues are decided by county election bureaus. A spokesperson for the county election bureau said officials do not check with the school districts and municipal offices whether candidates have filed statements of financial interest.
No one has challenged the incumbent commissioners in the two other wards where commissioners will be elected. Those are Zachary Haigis in the 2nd Ward and Rich Gray in the 4th Ward. The common element among all races for commissioner in North Huntingdon is that none are Democrats and all seven commissioners are Republicans.