Solicitor calls for councilman's resignation
In a letter sent to Olasz via certified mail on Friday, solicitor Terry McVerry says Olasz' candidacy for a borough council seat in West Mifflin this fall violates the county's Home Rule Charter and the county's administrative code.
According to the charter, "a county council member shall not be a candidate for nomination or election to any political office other than that of county council without having first resigned from county council."
McVerry's letter also pointed to an amendment in the county's administrative code, which County Council passed in April.
"'Candidate' shall mean any person seeking an elected public office who has filed the required nominating petitions with the appropriate Board of Elections, or in the case of a special election, has received the nomination of his or her respective political party," the code reads.
Olasz, 71, a longtime political figure in West Mifflin, was elected to the first-ever County Council in 1999. But because of an error in the filing of his financial statements this spring, Olasz disqualified himself from the May primary for that seat.
Instead, he took aim at a seat on West Mifflin Borough Council. On Sept. 9, the Democratic Committee in West Mifflin appointed him to a vacancy on the Nov. 6 ballot.
The vacancy on the council ballot occurred after former West Mifflin police chief John Andzelik won primaries for both mayor and council and later withdrew his name for consideration for the council seat.
Olasz' certificate of nomination for the borough council ballot was filed with the county's Board of Elections on Sept. 10.
McVerry's letter said the violation of the charter occurred with that filing.
"Accordingly, you should immediately provide, if you have not already done so, not only this office but also the president of County Council with your letter of resignation from County Council," McVerry's letter reads.
McVerry could not be reached Monday to elaborate on the letter.
Olasz said he received a copy of the letter on Saturday, but will not respond to it until he has conferred with Jack Cambest, the solicitor for county council.
"As of now, I am still a member of County Council," Olasz said.
Cambest could not be reached for comment.
Margaret Philbin, spokeswoman for County Executive Jim Roddey, said Roddey and Olasz have not discussed Olasz' status on County Council.
John DeFazio, president of County Council, was travelling Monday and could not be reached for comment.
Daniel Reynolds can be reached at dreynolds@tribweb.com or (412) 380-8533.
