2021 Candidates

  Nicole Ziccarelli, an attorney from Lower Burrell, is running for Westmoreland County District Attorney because the safety of our communities and our children are her paramount concern. She wants to put her fifteen years of experience as an attorney and as a member of our community to work for the people of Westmoreland County in order to create safe communities, seek justice on behalf of victims of crime, and build trust between law enforcement and those they protect and serve.

As District Attorney, Nicole will strengthen intelligence gathering and information sharing between state, county, and local law enforcement.  She will establish direct communication with the residents in Westmoreland County through community outreach, community engagement, and across a myriad of social media platforms.  Nicole will modernize the Office of District Attorney while making it accessible and more transparent.  

Nicole believes in the pursuit of justice and protection of victims.  Nicole will pursue an aggressive agenda on the fight against drugs, expand the Veterans Court, and be tough on crime.   At the same time, Nicole supports criminal justice and juvenile reform efforts. Nicole understands the need to reduce the cost of the office of District Attorney on the taxpayer and will pursue all state and federal grant opportunities.  

Nicole proudly supports our men and women in blue.  At a time in our nation's history when our law enforcement officers are under constant attack, Nicole will help bridge the gap in our communities and build stronger trust and respect.  Her goal is for Westmoreland County to have the most elite and fully funded law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

A graduate of Penn State University and Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Nicole has clerked for a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice, Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christian Scherer, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and has practiced as a defense attorney at the law firm of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.  Nicole currently operates her own law practice in New Kensington and also serves as guardian ad litem for minor children in need. 

So far this year, Nicole has been endorsed by Fraternal Order of Police Lodges #62 and #87.  She has also been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), and has been recommended by Firearm Owners Against Crime (FOAC). Nicole is also a proud member of the National Rifle Association (NRA).  

Nicole and her husband Frank are raising their four children in Westmoreland County. She has recently served as an adjunct instructor at Penn State New Kensington, is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and the Westmoreland County Visionaries - Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. 

To learn more about Nicole you can visit her on her campaign Facebook page, “Nicole Ziccarelli PA”, and at her website NicZic.com.

Gina O’Barto is a lifelong resident of Unity Township. She is a graduate of Greater Latrobe School District and a graduate of Business Careers Institute. She is a current employee of Westmoreland County Controller Office. Prior to her employment with the county Gina was a former Executive Assistant at Redstone Highlands and the former Purchasing Manager at Columbia Northwest/Aliner camper factory.

Gina is a member of the Sons of Italy, board member of the Westmoreland County Arts and Heritage Festival, member of the NRA, Firearms Owners Against Crime as well as a member of the District 12 Republican Committee.

As your Westmoreland County Prothonotary Gina will:

Improve office accessibility through technology:

• By striving to constantly update and improve current technology to ensure it is user friendly and cost effective for the public. Technology is constantly changing and improving and there will always be ways to improve and enhance services.

• Incorporating new technology as needed for twenty-four hour access to the office.

• Strive to save money for the public by reviewing all current fees charged

“I plan on being accountable to the taxpayers of Westmoreland County by being present and on the job in order to ensure the Prothonotary office runs efficiently. I will be an active officeholder and I will strive to offer the best possible customer service while maintaining the privacy and security that the public expects with such confidential records.”

Megan Loughner resides in Unity Township with her husband, Nick, their son, Owen, and their German Shepherds. She attended Saint Vincent College and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Megan is the current Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts, serving as only the second female republican to head a row office in Westmoreland County history. Prior to being sworn in as Clerk of Courts on February 19, 2021, Megan was employed at the Clerk of Courts office for over a decade serving as Chief Deputy Clerk of Courts and Fiscal/Operations Manager.

Since 2010, Megan Loughner has been a part of an administration that has completely transformed the Clerk of Courts office, making it one of the most technologically advanced offices in the county. The electronic scanning of all court documents was implemented, meaning documents are now readily available and searchable via computer rather than depending on the hard copy of the file. The online payment system was also implemented, allowing payments to be made online, over the phone, via mail or in person. Convenience is always a top priority at the Clerk of Courts office. In order to streamline the process of issuing restitution checks, debit cards with the option of direct deposit was implemented. With respect to credit card fees, taxpayers are no longer responsible for footing the bill as these charges are now put onto the payor. 

Megan has proven experience and success in collecting millions of dollars in restitution for crime victims through newly implemented programs such as Administrative Cost Hearings and requiring inmates to pay 20% from their personal accounts towards restitution while they are incarcerated. Most recently, Megan assisted in the creation and launch of the Clerk of Courts mobile app. This app was created to better serve our county in a day where more than 80% of our county residents use smartphones. The app permits individuals to search records, pay court costs and fines and receive court news and alerts. As for the future, Megan plans to launch the e-Filing system which will create efficiency within the office, for judicial staff and attorneys. Attorneys will now be able to upload their filings from anywhere in the world 24 hours per day. 

As your Clerk of Courts, Megan will continue to be a full-time Clerk, working every day to ensure the citizens of Westmoreland County are represented through her passion, hard work and ingenuity. She will serve her community with the experience and integrity they deserve in a leader. Megan will continue to work diligently to collect restitution for crime victims while always having the best interest of the county and hardworking taxpayers at the forefront of her approach. She has a passion for service to her community and an outstanding record of service in her extensive career with the of Clerk of Courts office. As the chairwoman of the Westmoreland County Records Improvement Committee and as the Chairwoman of the Collections Committee of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Megan is committed to finding creative solutions to developing and delivering services to the public.

Megan is lifelong Republican. She is fiscally responsible, Pro-life, Pro-2nd Amendment and Pro-Law Enforcement. She comes from a law enforcement family. Her father was a law enforcement officer for over 30 years and her husband is a current law enforcement officer. She is a member of the NRA, GOA, FOAC, Young Republicans, Westmoreland County Republican Committee, Pennsylvania Association of Prothonotaries and Clerk of Courts, National Coalition of American Court Collectors and Pennsylvania Association of Notaries.

Westmoreland County Restaurateur Tim Carson recently announced that he is seeking the Office of Coroner of Westmoreland County. 

A lifelong resident of Westmoreland, Carson was raised in Scottdale Borough, and graduated from the Southmoreland school district in 1989. He went on to receive his Bachelors’ Degree from Waynesburg University in 1993. 

From there, Carson went on to pursue a career in public service.  He served as an elected member of Scottdale Borough Council for four years from 1993-1997, and was elected Mayor of Scottdale Borough for two consecutive terms from 1997-2005. 

Carson's conservative values and no-nonsense approach to governing helped establish stringent performance standards and improved productivity in municipal government while in office. 

He continued his service to the citizens of Westmoreland County after leaving office, as well; first as the Community Relations Officer for the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office from 2000 through 2010 (where he presented several safety programs to our county's youth and senior citizens populations), and later as Chief Deputy Register of Wills under the late Earl S. Keim, II. 

Carson is also the owner and chief operator of Carson's Premier Catering, which has served Scottdale and surrounding communities since 2000. 

He has played an instrumental role in the modernization of business methods and streamlining his own business to better serve both his clientele and the community over the course of the past 21 years. In that time, Carson has stressed the importance of implementing new technologies that increase efficiency and, as a result, better serve the needs of businesses, clients, and the communities he's served. 

But his dedication to his home and its people extends beyond just his background in both the public and private sectors: Carson has been a regular participant in both law enforcement and community engagement for decades. 

He additionally became a Board Member of the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands in 2011, and has also served as a volunteer with the Southmoreland School District Primary Center as a Lunch Parent. 

Carson is an avid sportsman and active member of the National Rifle Association, and, as a small business owner, continues to sponsor and serve as a volunteer coach with the Southmoreland School District's youth baseball, football, and softball programs. 

He is also the father of five children: two adult children (a son, Stephen, and daughter Zoe), as well as three minor children (a son, Kaden, and daughters, Gia and Bailee), all of whom attend the Southmoreland School District. 

"Performance isn't political," Carson made clear upon announcing his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the Westmoreland County Coroner in 2021. 

"I will bring fiscal responsibility, accountability, and our shared conservative values to the Office of Coroner should you entrust this important position to me in November."