Bob Regola

Two weeks ago the Senate Republican Committee convinced Bob Regola to step aside because polling showed him losing badly in his race and he was replaced by Kim Ward.  It appears Republicans are not the only ones who pick their candidates with polling information.

Today the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee will be picking their candidate for PA-47 to replace Sean Ramaley.  Last week Lawrence County supported Jason Petrella and Beaver County has supported County Commissioner Joe Spanik.  With each candidate getting the support of one county the decision was sent to the State Democratic Executive Committee. 

Early word was the Executive Committee was going to strongly support Spanik who has long been active in the party.  Petrella seems to have an advantage though heading into the vote thanks to polling that shows him running stronger in a general election.  According to one source Democratic Senate Leader Bob Mellow is working the phones hard to make sure Petrella is the candidate because of his stronger polling numbers.  While both candidates polled ahead of Republican Elder Vogel, but according to a source Petrella was stronger.  We have had reports that Mellow has been joined by other Senators on the phone, but have yet been unable to confirm.

Kim Ward faces many challenges as she scrambles to make herself into a state Senate candidate.

Raise her name recognition, rein in disappointed supporters of state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), tout her Republican principles.

But after two days full of campaigning following her official appointment Saturday, Ward has come across another, unexpected, difficulty -- answering the phone.

"My phone rings constantly," Ward told PolitickerPA.com. "I need somebody else to take these calls. I can't keep track of everything I need to to."

Nov. 4 won't be the first time state Senate candidates Tony Bompiani and Kim Ward go head to head.

The Democrat Bompiani served on the Hempfield Area School District school board while the Republican Ward was a Hempfield Township supervisor.

"I know Kim Ward very very well professionally," Bompiani told PolitickerPA.com. "She's very tough ... very hard-nosed.

"It's going to be a nice ride," he said.

Ward has not officially been picked to replace state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), but she is the heavy favorite to be selected by the Westmoreland County Republican Committee after announcing her candidacy this week. The committee convenes Saturday to make the selection.

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward has announced she will be replacing Senator Bob Regola on the November ballot in Senate District 39. Ward is facing an uphill battle, but Republicans are convinced Ward is not only the best hope, but probably the only hope to maintain the district in the “R” column.

Kim Ward: Campaign PhotoWestmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward officially entered the 39th state Senatorial District race Wednesday, setting the stage for what will surely be an intense, closely watched race already rocked by the sudden resignation of state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County).

Although Ward is not officially on the ballot until the Westmorland County Republican Committee selects her, it will almost certainly do so when it meets Saturday. 

"The decision to enter the race after running for County Commissioner last year was a challenging and difficult one," Ward said in a statement. "Running for another office at this time wasn't something I was seeking or planned to do, but this unexpected turn of events and outpouring of calls of encouragement from friends and strangers, has led me to believe it is something that needed to be done."

Ward told PolitickerPA.com on Tuesday that she knows with only two and a half months before Nov. 4, she will have to hit the ground running in her campaign. 

She faces Democratic candidate Tony Bompiani. 

More PolitickerPA.com coverage: Regola steps down from campaign

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday evening that she is "leaning very strongly" toward seeking the Republican nomination in the state 39th Senatorial District, a decision that would all but guarantee she would replace state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County) on the ballot there.

"I'm going to take the rest of the evening to decide," Ward said. "Tomorrow morning I'll send a press release out. I am very much edging toward doing so. I just need a couple more hours (to decide)."

Regola shocked many of his supporters Monday when he withdrew from his campaign. The senator was reportedly doing poorly in the polls after being charged with perjury and reckless endangerment stemming from the death of a 14-year-old neighbor, charges he was acquitted of in July. He also said in a statement he did not want to put his family through a rigorous campaign where those charges would likely be in the forefront.

Westmoreland County GOP Chairman George Dunbar said Commissioner Kim Ward is the overwhelming choice of local Republicans to replace Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County) on the ballot.

But Dunbar told PolitickerPA.com that the longtime GOP activist was non-committal about whether she would run when he spoke with her Monday.

"Her answer was, 'I need to talk to my family,' Dunbar said.

Ward ran for county commissioner only last year, he said, and the toll the campaign took makes her hesitate about doing it again.

Dunbar said she told him her decision will likely come Tuesday.

Last week we were the first to break the story of state Senator Bob Regola stepping down and likely being replaced by Kim Ward. Now that it has officially happened, political campaigns may never be the same in Pennsylvania.

If Regola had been convicted of a crime when charges were brought against him it would make sense for him to step aside, much like when state Representative Sean Ramaley stepped down after charges were filed against him in Bonusgate.

State Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County) has dropped out of his re-election campaign, according to a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The forms were turned into the department in Harrisburg at 1:23 Monday, the spokeswoman said. The deadline for pulling out the race is today at 5 p.m.

The senator has been embattled since being charged with perjury and reckless endangerment stemming from the death of a 14-year-old neighbor. He was acquitted of all charges last month, but apparently the damage to his re-election candidacy has already been done.