Westmoreland County Democrats change leadership

The Westmoreland County Democratic Committee elected two new leaders Saturday.

Henry “Hank” Boldyzar, 33, of Rostraver was elected chairman, taking over from longtime chair Dante Bertani, 82, of Irwin. Lorraine Petrosky, 64, of Unity was elected as vice chair, succeeding Harriet Ellenberger, 70, of Mt. Pleasant Township.

“For the past three years, I've made myself known working the polls locally and telephone banks, helping with Sen. (Bob) Casey's campaign, hopefully working towards this. We're hoping to re-energize the party at the grassroots and bring fresh ideas, fire and passion back into this party,” Boldyzar said moments after his unanimous election by about 140 committee members at a convention at Greensburg Salem High School.

Bertani served as chairman from 1982 until 1994. He was elected again in 2006.

During Bertani's most recent term, county Democrats lost ground, despite a registration edge of 30,000 voters.

Republicans claimed five row offices up for grabs in 2011 — clerk of courts, controller, register of wills, sheriff and treasurer. The GOP gained a majority on the three-member board of commissioners for the first time since 1956 with the elections of Charles Anderson and Tyler Courtney.

Boldyzar reportedly had the endorsement of many party leaders, including minority county Commissioner Ted Kopas.

Bertani, however, decided not to seek nomination.

“I had more than a couple dozen telephone calls asking me to run, but I didn't want this turning into the same bloodbath that occurred at the state committee,” Bertani said. “It was an aggravating decision, but I wanted the party to move forward unified.” Bertani was referring to the recent re-election of Jim Burn as state party chairman, despite an endorsement for challenger Katie McGinty from Tom Wolf, the party nominee to run against Gov. Tom Corbett.

“A new era begins today, an era with a renewed vigor for politics by our committee,” Boldyzar said. “We plan to operate on all levels — local, state and national and move this party forward.”

Boldyzar is a business representative with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 126 in Pittsburgh. He and wife Jillian have a 4-year-old son and are expecting another son.

Petrosky, a retired preschool teacher from Whitney, worked on the Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012. She worked for Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign in the 1960s and Sen. George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign.

“Henry and I look forward to establishing a team that will use new energy and enthusiasm to move the party forward,” she said.

“It's a good day for Westmoreland County Democrats,” Kopas said.

Paul Peirce is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-850-2860 or at ppeirce@tribweb.com.