3 candidates receive nominations in special election race to replace state Rep. Jeff Pyle

Three nominees to replace former state Rep. Jeff Pyle have been chosen by their respective parties to run in a special election to represent parts of Armstrong, Indiana and Butler counties.

A longtime Republican lawmaker from Ford City, Pyle retired suddenly because of health issues this month. He had just begun his ninth, two-year term in January.

A special election for Pyle’s seat will be held on the same day as the May 18 primary. The winner will serve through next year.

Republicans in the 60th State House District picked Abby Major for the GOP nomination. She served as Pyle’s chief of staff.

“Obviously I am so honored that they picked me and grateful to be given the opportunity,” said Major, 36, of Ford City.

Before working for Pyle, Major was an Iraq war veteran who served as an Army intelligence analyst.

Major said she has already started to campaign. She looks forward to meeting constituents and getting them out to vote.

She was among five candidates considered Wednesday night by the Republication committee. The candidates included Armstrong County Commissioner Don Myers, Anthony Shea, Jack Bowser and North Buffalo Township Supervisor Michael Valencic, according to Armstrong County GOP Chairman Michael Baker.

Baker said the turnout of five candidates so quickly after Pyle announced his retirement “shows the enthusiasm for the Republican Party.”

The committee conferees, with about 25 voting by secret ballot Wednesday night, unanimously endorsed Major, according to Baker.

Democratic candidate named

On Thursday night, the Democratic committees of Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties nominated Frank Prazenica of Buffalo Township, a Freeport Area School Board member, as its nominee, said Leechburg Councilman Chuck Pascal, the state Democratic Committee member representing Armstrong County.

Originally four members expressed interest in the nomination, but many pulled out for a variety of reasons, said Pascal, adding there wasn’t much time for potential candidates to act.

Prazenica, 73, was a superintendent at South Butler School District and an acting superintendent of Leechburg Area School District. He is president of the Armstrong and Indiana Intermediate Unit.

Among other issues such as economic development, Prazenica can represent residents on how public schools in the 60^th district have been underfunded by the state, Pascal said.

Prazenica wasn’t immediately available for comment.

“We need to change how the state looks at funding rural schools,” Pascal said, “and make sure we have a strong educational base.”

Libertarian candidate named

On Tuesday night, the Libertarian Party endorsed Drew Hreha, 22, of North Apollo to run for the seat.

The Libertarian Party of Armstrong and Butler counties met Tuesday night online. They interviewed and nominated Hreha, said Sam Robb of Frazer, the Western vice chair for the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

Hreha is a senior at Waynesburg University and editor of the campus newspaper, The Yellow Jacket.

“We spent about 45 minutes asking Drew questions and learned how well he lined up with Libertarian values, and we are very satisfied,” Robb said.

Libertarians account for about 1% to 2% of registered voters in most counties, he said.

Hreha said he hopes to bring a younger perspective to the General Assembly.

“As a Libertarian, I can work both sides of the aisle,” he said.

Hreha is looking to limit the state governor’s powers and to better protect the Second Amendment at the state level.