Only one objection to an election nomination petition was filed
in McKean County Court by Tuesday’s deadline – and it’s in the race
for Bradford City mayor.
City councilman Tom Riel has filed a petition to set aside the
nomination petitions of fellow councilman Dan Costello in the race
for the Republican nomination, saying more than 60 signatures of
the 142 collected on Costello’s behalf are invalid.
A total of 100 signatures are necessary to be placed on the
ballot.
In Riel’s petition, which he filed Tuesday afternoon on his own
behalf, he states, “The petition beginning with Bunny Comilla and
ending with Rebecca Miller, and circulated by Costello, is invalid
due to a false affidavit of circulator. If the court rules that
this is an accurate statement, and the petition is invalidated, it
will leave the respondent with a total of 90 purported valid
signatures.”
Riel challenged a petition circulated by Costello’s wife, Susan,
on the same grounds. If the court agrees, Costello would have 80
signatures left, the petition reads.
Further, Riel alleges that the petition Costello circulated has
13 invalid signatures “of those who were not enrolled members of
the Republican Party.” He then names those in question – Comilla,
J. Visbisky, L. Visbisky, Blatchley, B. Reddington, C. Reddington,
J. Puglio, G. Puglio, Siffrin, Palz, Simanowski, Strotman and Duet.
Riel also states that one other signature – Pecora – is invalid
because he had previously signed another nominating petition for
mayor.
A petition circulated by George Corignani, code enforcement
officer and Bradford City fireman, on Costello’s behalf contains
four invalid signatures, Riel alleges. Two of them, DePalma and
Solarek, were not enrolled members of the Republican Party at the
time they signed the form, the petition states. Two others, Case
and Behan, had previously signed another nominating petition for
mayor, Riel’s petition states.
A petition circulated by Bradford City Fireman Richard Zmuda on
Costello’s behalf contains two invalid signatures, Woodruff and
Komidar, who were not enrolled members of the Republican Party,
Riel alleges.
A petition circulated by Merle Silvis, city fireman and code
enforcement officer, on Costello’s behalf contains one invalid
signature, Poleto, who had previously signed another nominating
petition for mayor, Riel’s petition alleges.
A petition circulated by Bradford City Fireman Matthew Rettger
on Costello’s behalf contains two invalid signatures, Smades and
Yohe, who were not enrolled members of the Republican Party, Riel’s
petition alleges.
A petition circulated by Marie Costello, Dan Costello’s sister,
contains two invalid signatures, Huntington and Zeher, who were not
enrolled in the Republican Party, the petition alleges.
A petition circulated by Susan Costello contains one invalid
signature, Paul Pfaff, who had already signed another petition for
mayor, Riel’s petition alleges.
Riel is asking the court to invalidate Costello’s nominating
petition. He also asked the court to stay the Board of Elections
drawing of lots for the ballot position for the City of Bradford
mayor race until the court has determined the merits of the
petition.
As of Wednesday afternoon, a hearing had yet to be scheduled in
the matter. Under state election law, the Court of Common Pleas may
hear objections to set aside nomination petitions not later than
March 16, with decisions to be rendered by March 21, if
possible.
