Published: November 04, 2009 01:22 am      

Svonavec claims 4th term in Somerset

SOMERSET — Democrat Angie Svonavec easily won a fourth term as Somerset County prothonotary, besting Republican challenger Larry E. Bevans Jr.

Svonavec garnered 8,922 votes, or 63 percent, while Bevans had 5,411 votes with 75 percent of the vote counted.

“I want to thank the voters of Somerset County,” Svonavec said.

“It’s like Christmas for me.”

Svonavec, who has been prothonotary since 1998, said she will continue her service to Somerset County residents.

“I’ve worked so hard for them,” she said. “I’ll continue to do the job they expect of me.”

That job includes continuing upgrades to her office inside the county courthouse.

The prothonotary serves as custodian of Somerset County civil records. It is a four-year position.

Bevans is employed in behavioral health working in the Somerset Area, Berlin Brothersvalley and Rockwood Area school districts.

He was unavailable for comment.

Shade supervisor

In Cairnbrook, Henry Zubek was re-elected as Shade Township supervisor, winning a second six-year term against first-timer Robert Frisbie Jr.

In the weeks leading up to the election, the candidates sparred over the township’s controversial decision to sever ties with Central City Volunteer Fire Company.

Zubek, the Democrat, defended township supervisors’ decision to contract for fire protection with the Richland Township Fire Department after a dispute with Central City firefighters over money.

Frisbie said supervisors acted hastily and should have continued to negotiate.

Zubek garnered 396 votes or 48 percent. Frisbie won 148 votes or 18 percent, with the remainder going to write-in Joseph Fleegle.

“It’s over,” Frisbie said.

Though the community was split on the fire contract, the controversy wasn’t enough to carry the Republican Frisbie to victory.

Frisbie said he has no regrets.

“I felt I did the right thing,” he said. “The voters voted and that’s the way it is.”

He said it was too early to say if he will run again next time.

“It’s too soon to decide,” he said. “We’ll see how I feel about it next time around.”

Zubek did not return telephone calls Tuesday night.

Rockwood schools

In the Rockwood Area School District, incumbent Democrat David Brant – who voted to close Kingwood Elementary – lost his bid for re-election in Region 3, which includes the borough and Black Township.

With both precincts reporting, Republican challenger Richard Stoner received 142 votes for the four-year seat, compared with 137 for Brant.

Stoner – a former board member – never made February’s 6-3 vote to close Kingwood an issue.

“Things should move forward,” he said after the board vote.

The board shut the school after the district was hit by a budget crisis.

For four-year terms on Meyersdale Borough Council, with all votes counted, Democrat Thomas Deakins and Republican Patricia Murray topped the field, with 383 and 362 votes, respectively, while William Curran garnered 280.

Republican Scott DeArmitt, with 248 votes, and William Forrest, with 120, fell short.

In Conemaugh Township, former Supervisor Albert Zuccolotto will return to the board, besting Republican Thomas Roberts II, 959 to 824.

For four years on Boswell Borough Council, Democrats Jeffrey Perigo, with 220 votes, and Donald Walters, 190, won.

Republicans Floyd Naugle II, 143, and Herbert Volk, 130, came up short.



Staff writer Bernie Hornick contributed to this report.