The Municipal Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Are you prepared to vote? Get ready with our 2021 Election Guide.

By NSC Staff

Photo: Element5 Digital via Pexels

Important Information:

Polls are open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Locate your polling place or track your ballot here.

Mail-in ballots must be received by the Elections Division on or before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to be counted.

The Allegheny County Elections Office is located on the sixth floor of the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reach the office at 412-350-4500.

Information courtesy of the Allegheny County Elections Division.

At the time of publication, 2021 municipal races and candidates for Northsiders are as follows:

JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT:

This is both the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the oldest appellate aka appeals court in the nation. According to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania’s website, this court made up of seven members and most commonly hears “requests for discretionary appeals from the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court, direct appeals from a lower court’s decision, including when a sentence of death sentences is issued, requests to intervene in a lower court’s proceedings, and requests to deliver a body from illegal detention.”

Maria McLaughlin, Democrat
Kevin Brobson, Republican

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT:

Pennsylvania’s Superior Court is one of the state’s two intermediate appellate aka appeals courts. It often serves as the final arbiter, or decider, of legal disputes.

Timika Lane, Democrat
Megan Sullivan, Republican

JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT:

Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court is one of the state’s two intermediate appellate aka appeals courts. Cases that involve state and local governments and regulatory agencies or involve subjects such as banking, insurance, utility regulation, taxation, land use, elections, labor practices, workers compensation, and liquor licenses are decided here.

Drew Crompton, Republican
Lori A. Dumas, Democrat
David Lee Spurgeon, Democrat
Stacy Marie Wallace, Republican

JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:

Courts of Common Pleas are one level up from Minor Courts—the first level of Pennsylvania’s judiciary—and are the state’s general trial courts. According to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania website, judges in these courts preside over “appeals from minor courts, appeals not exclusively assigned to another court, and matters involving children and families.” Major civil and criminal cases are heard here. Judges’ terms are 10 years long. Similar to Magisterial District judges, Court of Common Pleas judges are able to serve an unlimited number of terms until they turn 75, which is the mandatory retirement age, and must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania state Senate.

Tom Caulfield, Democrat
William Bill Caye, Republican
Jessel Costa, Democrat
Anthony DeLuca, Republican
Mark Patrick Flaherty, Republican
Nicola Henry-Taylor, Democrat
Rick Hosking, Republican
Daniel J. Konieczka, Jr., Republican
Sabrina Korbel, Republican, Democrat
Lisa Middleman, Republican, Democrat
Joseph Patrick Murphy, Republican
Chuck Porter, Republican
Tiffany Sizemore, Democrat
Chelsa Wagner, Democrat
Wrenna Watson, Democrat
Richard L. Weiss, Green Party

Bruce Beemer, Incumbent, Republican, Democrat
Elliot Howsie, Incumbent, Democrat

SHERIFF:

A county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in a county. They have a four-year term, retain all arrest powers, and have the authority to enforce the criminal laws as well as the vehicle laws of Pennsylvania. They also appoint deputy sheriffs: Allegheny County Sheriff’s Deputies are the only deputies in the state with police powers.

Kevin Kraus, Republican, Democrat

MAYOR:

The mayor is the chief executive officer of the City of Pittsburgh. They are elected every four years.

Edward C. Gainey, Democrat
Tony Moreno, Republican

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE:

PennLive reports that magisterial district judges are “the frontline of Pennsylvania’s judicial system.” They issue arrest and search warrants, oversee arraignments, set bail, hold preliminary hearings for criminal complaints, and hear some civil matter complaints. They can also perform weddings. Each judge must live within the district they serve. Every six years, they must run for reelection. Judges are able to serve an unlimited number of terms until they turn 75, which is the mandatory retirement age. Judges must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania state Senate.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 05-2-42
Leah Williams Duncan, Esq., Democrat
Mark J. Scorpion, Republican

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 05-2-40
Jehosha Wright, Democrat

SCHOOL BOARD:

A school board is made up of citizens, or school directors, who administer each district’s school system. They serve four-year terms and are unpaid. According to the Pittsburgh Public Schools website, school board members are “committed to providing the best education possible for every student by providing outstanding teachers, programs, and services that enable every student to achieve their maximum potential.”

SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 9
Veronica Edwards, Incumbent, Republican
Gene Walker, Democrat

CONSTABLE:

Similar to district attorneys, sheriffs, and the police, a constable enforces and carries out the law. They can arrest for felony crimes and breaches of the peace committed in their presence, or by warrant anywhere in the commonwealth. A constable can serve warrants of arrest and mental health warrants; transport prisoners; serve summons, complaints and subpoenas; and can enforce protection from abuse orders, orders of eviction, and judgment levies. Constables are the sole law enforcement officials permitted at the polls on election day. Their job is to maintain order and ensure that no qualified voter is prevented from voting. They serve six-year terms.

CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 21
Artice Coleman, Democrat

CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 22
Mark A. Brentley, Democrat

CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 24
Jack R. Weber Jr., Democrat

CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 27
Charles R. Adkins, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION:

The Judge of Elections is the person in charge of operating each polling place. They enforce Election Day rules and regulations, tally and verify final results, close the polling site, and pick up and return election supplies and results. These positions are filled every four years.

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 1
Sheila D. Collins, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 2
Steven Williams, Independent

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 3
Beth Boroumand, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 23, DISTRICT 3
Michelle Lynch, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 3
Dolores M. Komora, Republican

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 25, DISTRICT 3
Deborah McCree, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 25, DISTRICT 4
Yvonne W. Rainey, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 14
Gail L. Manker, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 16
Anthony Ganzak, Democrat

JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 27, DISTRICT 12
Donna Kramer, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION:

Each Inspector of Election plays the role of assistant to the Judge of Election and shares the responsibility of operating each polling place. They process voters, accompany voters to voting machines, assist voters with special needs, and verify ballot information on the voting machine screen. Once the polls close, they assist the Judge of Election in tallying and verifying the final results and close the polling site.

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 3
Gloria J. Vogel, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 4
Dona Van Eck, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 1
Karen Edwards, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 5
Sandra L. Youngblood, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 7
Phyllis Bacon, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 14
Kimberly Howard, Democrat

INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 16
Amy L. Ganzak, Democrat