Union endorsed candidates sweep Mt. Pleasant school board primary

A slate of six school board candidates endorsed by the Mt. Pleasant Area Education Association swept balloting Tuesday on the Republican and Democratic tickets, besting three incumbent board members.

The candidates, four of whom won on both the Republican and Democratic tickets, will compete for election to five open seats on the Mt. Pleasant Area School Board this fall in an election that could change the tenor of long-stalled contract talks with the teacher’s union.

Those who won on both tickets included: retired school administrator Michael Picarsic, 71, who led both the Republican and Democratic tickets; local pharmacist and businessman Edward L. Christofano, 44; Ryan Bann, 34, an assistant manager for Walmart and Julie Alesantrino, 48, a teacher in the Connellsville School District.

John “Jay” Weinman, 47, a teacher at the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technical Center, secured the fifth slot on the Republican ballot, while Marc Skilone, 47, a plant manager and volunteer fireman, earned the fifth place on the Democratic ticket.

Incumbent board members who lost bids for nomination to another term were: Rodney Gerhart, 73, a retired teacher; George Hare, 69, a retired teacher and auctioneer, and Ronald Bauer, 71, a retired businessman.

Preliminary results on the Democratic ballot showed:

Michael Picarsic, 13.76 %; Julie Alesantrino, 12.9%; Ryan Bann, 10.94%; Edward L. Christofano, 11.43%; Marc Skilone, 9.33%; George Hare, 9.1%; John Jay K. Weinman, 8.67%; Jamison Poklembo, 5.68%; Ronald Bauer, 5.11%; Gordon Diehl, 4.57%; Jason Edward Lynch, 4.18% and Rodney Gerhart, 4.04%

On the Republican ballot, the results were: Michael Picarsic: 12.59%; Edward L Christofano: 10.88%; Ryan Bann, 10.87%; Julie Alesantrino, 10.3% and John J. Weinman, 8.63%; George Hare, 7.78%; Marc Skilone, 7.07%; Jason Edward Lynch, 6.72%; Ronald Bauer, 6.63%; Jamison Poklembo, 6.52% ; Rodney Gerhart, 6.05% and Gordon Diehl, 5.69%.