Woodland Hills School Board Incumbents Secure Spots in General Election

The November ballot for the Woodland Hills School Board is going to hold a lot of familiar names.

Only two newcomers, and Sean Vinsick, secured a spot to run after Tuesday’s primary elections.

Belmonte won the Republican ballot with 56 percent of the vote for Region 3, which consists of Forest Hills, Braddock Hills, North Braddock and East Pittsburgh. He also secured a Republican at-large spot. His opponent, Robert Tomasic, an incumbent on the board for 24 years, won the Region 3 Democratic ballot with 57 percent of the vote.

Tomasic also took home a victory in the at-large elections, securing the other spot next to Belmonte on the Republican ballot and one of the Democratic spots.

Vinsick, who only ran for the Region 1 spot, took 96 percent of the vote against write-in candidates on the Republican ticket. The region includes Churchill, Wilkins, Chalfant and Turtle Creek.

Vinsick faces incumbent and current vice president, Regis Driscoll, in November. Driscoll won 60 percent of the vote on the Democratic Region 1 ballot against Vinsick and newcomer, Selena Johnson.

Next to Tomasic on the Democratic at-large ballot is current school board president, . Together, Messina and Tomasic have represented the board for a collective 48 years.  

Messina also won within Region 2, which includes Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Edgewood, with 45 percent and 52 percent of the vote on the Republican and Democratic ballots, respectively.

Due to a regional change for this year’s election, Messina ran against incumbent Randy Lott, as well as newcomer Alfred Nogrady on the Republican ticket and against Lott, Nogrady and Jeff Hanchett on the Democratic ballot. Lott also tried his hand at an at-large seat, but he only registered 7 percent of the vote on both tickets.

A popular face at Woodland Hills School Board meetings, newcomer , finished in third and fourth place on the Democratic and Republican at-large ballots, respectively. But no matter the results, she said she is not going anywhere.

“I loved how I did,” Reis said. “But regardless of the numbers, my commitment to the district will not waiver.”

The board has tough decisions ahead, including a loss of 20.7 percent of the and a threat of tuition vouchers that could further take funds away from the school.

The incumbents represent a lot of time on the board and new faces might bring more ideas to confront the issues facing the district. Reis said she hoped for more change going into the general election, but she hopes at least one newcomer makes it onto the board.  

“If I didn’t think we needed new leadership, I wouldn’t have ran,” Reis said. “Some members have been experts for 18 to 24 years on the board, so now it’s time for them to roll up their sleeves, sharpen their pencils and get to work.”

The other candidates could not be reached by deadline. Results as of Tuesday night are unofficial. For more local election results,