With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Hempfield Area school director candidates Jeanne Smith and Jennifer Bretz topped the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively.
Smith had received 11.6% of more than 16,000 votes, followed by Colleen Gallagher (10.4%), Kathy Charlton (9.8%), Vince DeAugustine (9.8%) and Erin Johns Speese (7.3%) on the Democratic side.
Smith, 74, is an incumbent board member and a retired Hempfield Area teacher and administrator who works part time for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg supervising student teachers.
On the Republican ballot, Bretz received 10.5% of more than 18,000 votes, followed by DeAugustine (10.4%), Mike Alfery (9.6%), Jennifer Stape (8.9%) and Tracy Miller (7.7).
Bretz, 50, is also an incumbent, elected in 2019. She works for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County in customer service.
Vote totals are unofficial until certified.
