SD-39

The campaigns for Republican Kim Ward and Democrat Tony Bompiani have confirmed to PolitickerPA.com that several signs have sprung up in the 39th Senatorial District asking voters to "write in Regola."

The signs refer to state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), who stepped down from his re-election campaign this summer after poll numbers showed the senator trailing Bompiani. Regola was acquitted on perjury and gun charges this summer in a case that involved a neighbor's son using his gun to commit suicide.

Ward replaced Regola on the ballot.

"We're obviously as surprised as anyone else," said Bompiani spokesman Michael Monsour.

Reaction to Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani's accusation Tuesday that his opponent and Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward has neglected constituents while running for a new office was split along party lines between two local politicos.

Bompiani's campaign said Ward, who became commissioner 10 months ago, has attended all her meetings but has not logged the necessary work away from the office. It's a criticism Ward denies, saying Bompiani is simply trying to distract voters in the 39th Senatorial District from the campaign's real issues.

But Bompiani's accusation was supported by Ward's colleague, Democratic Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Balya.

"In reality, she's only been in her job as county commissioner a little over 9 months now, and frankly, has shown very little interest in learning the details of how county government works," Balya told PolitickerPA.com.

What do you get when you combine a run for state Senate, a position in John McCain's presidential campaign and a day-job as commissioner of Westmoreland County?

Too much for Kim Ward to do, according to the campaign for state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani. On Tuesday, it accused Ward, who became county commissioner 10 months ago, of neglecting her duties and constituents while seeking higher office in the 39th Senatorial District.

"In those 10 short months, Commissioner Ward has not only lost full-time focus on the people of Westmoreland County by entering the race for state Senate," a campaign spokesman told reporters on a conference call, "but now she has shouldered even more distractions by recently taking on more responsibilities as the acting regional director of the McCain-Palin campaign and active member of the McCain-Palin Truth Squad.

"That has our campaign begging the question: 'Whose interest does Commissioner Ward have at heart?" the spokesman asked.

Ward defended her record as county commissioner and shot back at Bombpiani that public officials must "multi-task."

Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani will join state AFL-CIO President Bill George on Wednesday at a campaign stop in New Stanton.

Bompiani, considered by Democrats as one of their best opportunities for a pickup in the Senate, will join George at a worksite leafletting event outside a UPS Customer Center from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Bompiani faces Westmoreland County Republican Commissioner Kim Ward in the state's 39th Senatorial District this fall. Ward was a last-minute replacement for state Sen. Bob Regola, who unexpectedly dropped out of the race. 

The campaign stop for George is part of a weeklong western Pennsylvania bus tour for the union president as he tries to raise support for local candidates and the Democratic presidential ticket. 

State Senate Democrats, eager to narrow the Republican majority, are pegging their hopes on a few open seats.

Republicans currently hold a 29-21 advantage in the chamber, a majority Democrats hope to erase in two years. But for now, the immediate focus is on seats without incumbents.

"We are looking at a couple of open seats, and we're very optimistic about them," state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Montgomery), who is chairing the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee, told PolitickerPA.com in an interview this week.

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.

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.