North Side woman wants two hopefuls off House ballot

Mar 16, 2010 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Bobby Kerlik

Mar. 16, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A North Side woman yesterday challenged the nominating petitions of two candidates in a six-way race for a hotly contested state House seat.

Karen McCue, a Democrat from Marshall-Shadeland, filed challenges to the candidacies of Adam Ravenstahl, 25, of the North Side and Dan Keller, 49, of Brighton Heights, both Democrats seeking the seat vacated by Common Pleas Judge Don Walko.

McCue is asking a judge to remove both men from the ballot for what she considers omissions on their statements of financial interest filed with nominating petitions.

McCue could not be reached. Her attorney, Matthew Racunas, did not return calls for comment.

McCue claims that Ravenstahl failed to disclose debts of more than $6,500 on his statement. Ravenstahl checked "none" to that question. McCue's challenge does not state what Ravenstahl's debts are.

He did not return a call for comment.

Keller should be tossed off the ballot because he failed to disclose that he is a member of the board of directors of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, according to McCue's court filing.

Keller said it's no secret that he's a member of ALCOSAN. He said he wasn't aware he was supposed to disclose that.

"I was under the impression I did not need to put that down," Keller said. "It's not an elected office."

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Adam Ravenstahl's brother, appointed Keller to the board in October 2008, Keller said.

Keller and Ravenstahl are two of five Democrats in the race for the 20th District seat. The others are Tim Tuinstra, 39, of Observatory Hill; Frank M. Machi Jr., 57, of Lawrenceville; and Mark A. Purcell, 63, of Ross. Alexandria Dubart, 55, of Reserve is the lone Republican candidate.

The 20th District includes portions of the North Side, Strip District and Lawrenceville, as well as parts of Ross, West View and Reserve.

Two elections to fill the vacant House seat will occur May 18: a special election to fill the remaining months of Walko's term, and a primary to determine nominees for the November general election. The November winner will serve a full two-year term.

Adam Ravenstahl won the Democratic Party's endorsement this month, becoming the party's candidate for the special election.

No court dates have been set for hearings on election petition challenges.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0288-42922259