Westmoreland County commissioner candidate Rick Wajdic vowed Saturday to unveil a jobs plan for the county sometime in the next two weeks, and declared he could work with any of the three other Democrats seeking the post.
Wajdic, 50, of Unity Township, kicked off his active candidacy yesterday at the Moose Hall on Otterman Street in Greensburg with a meet-and-greet event that attracted any number of other candidates for local office. One of those on hand was a rival for the Democratic nomination for commissioner, Virginia H. Oplinger.
Oplinger, 67, of South Greensburg, a retired county employee, said she wanted to reform courthouse politics. Oplinger said she decided "two Thursdays ago" to make the race. The is her first attempt at public office.
Wajdic ran for commissioner four years in the Republican primary, and finished last in a field of six. He said he spent $80,000 of his own money in that race. Wajdic indicated he expected to spend less money this time around.
Wajdic, who claimed he has already helped bring 5,000 jobs to the county as a private sector developer, refused to divulge details yesterday of what he said would be an "economic stimulus package" for the county. At the same time, he indicated he had definite ideas in mind.
He pledged not to raise county taxes.
"I'm not running against the other two candidates," said Wajdic, a reference to Democratic incumbent commissioners Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso. "I'm running for the job."
Democratic candidate for recorder of deeds Roland Martino, who is also a Democratic committeeman, was on hand. He faces the incumbent in the job, Tom Murphy.
Michele Bononi, a candidate for judge for a second time, was in attendance. She opposes Chris Feliciani in a bid to take the place of retired Judge Charles Loughran. Bononi and Feliciani are both attorneys, and both have cross-filed in an attempt to win the Democratic and Republicans nominations.
Bononi said he expected the war in Iraq to temper voter enthusiasm for the campaigns for local offices. She said the war would probably have a negative effect on turnout.
Democratic committeemen Dan Blissman and Henry DePasquale said they thought the opposite would be the case. The war, Blissman said, by boosting patriotism, should stimulate a higher than average turnout. Off-year party primaries are normally not heavy draws for voters.
Wajdic claimed he knew how to obtain federal dollars for Westmoreland County. "I know the road to Washington, I know where federal funding is at."
Wajdic claimed a close relationship to Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha, of Johnstown. Murtha spokesman Brad Clemenson was not available yesterday for comment.
