Murrysville Mayor Regis Synan was looking forward to another election season in which he was the sole candidate running for the office.
He was surprised to find out that, according to the Westmoreland County Bureau of Elections — but contrary to Murrysville’s Home-Rule municipal charter — he still is mayor for the next two years.
“I explained to them that couldn’t be correct because our charter says the mayor serves two-year terms,” Synan said.
Synan said, after unsuccessfully writing to the elections bureau and its solicitor to remedy the situation, he was denied a spot on the ballot.
Synan filed a lawsuit against bureau Director Greg McCloskey on Thursday, April 20.
The lawsuit accuses McCloskey and the bureau of “improperly, mistakenly and without authority (certifying) Synan’s election as mayor of Murrysville for a four-year term.”
In a 2021 candidate list available on the county’s website, the office of Murrysville mayor is listed as having a two-year term.
“At this point, I’ve asked our solicitor to go to the judge and ask that I be placed on the (general election) ballot,” Synan said. “Since I was the only candidate to file a petition, I believe this would satisfy the Home-Rule charter and give any other candidate the opportunity to run against me.”
The lawsuit also asks that voters receive an opportunity to write in candidates of their choosing for the mayor’s office.
County Solicitor Melissa Guiddy said she cannot comment on pending litigation.
“At this point, I will abide by whatever the judge decides,” Synan said.
