Democrat Eric Bengel retains Harrison Commissioner 3rd Ward seat

Democratic incumbent Eric Bengel appeared to secure another four-year term representing Harrison’s 3rd Ward, handily beating opponent Gary Hines.

According to unofficial results by Allegheny County Elections Division, Bengel earned 457 votes to Hines’ 375.

The pair competed in the spring for the Democratic nomination, with Bengel barely edging Hines by seven votes. Hines won the write-in nomination on the Republican ticket for Tuesday’s race.

The 3rd Ward runs from Springhill Road to the Freeport border.

Bengel, 58, was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

He previously said that moving forward, he’ll focus on the community’s most pressing issue of spurring economic growth.

He hopes to work on attracting new retail shops and restaurants to the township.

Bengel said that attracting companies, particularly in the tech sector, will create solid-wage jobs, draw new families and strengthen the commercial tax base — which keeps residential taxes lower and provides funding for roads, schools and infrastructure.

Bengel has served four years as a commissioner.

Hines is a retired, 30-year employee of the township’s water authority who said he wanted to continue working toward a prosperous municipality.

Other races in the township were uncontested.

Incumbent Chuck Dizard will again represent the 1st Ward and incumbent Gary Means retained his seat in the 5th Ward.