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Black candidates make history in McKeesport

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Cindy Shegan Keeley | Trib Total Media
From left, Timothy Brown, Corry Sanders and James Brown were winners in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Sanders and Timothy Brown for McKeesport Council, James Brown for McKeesport Area school board.

McKeesport Councilwoman V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery said history has been made.

“Two years ago I became the first black candidate to win without the endorsement,” Walker-Montgomery said. “(Now) three more black candidates won without the endorsement.”

Cousins Corry J. Sanders and Timothy L. Brown, both 44, won nomination Tuesday to city council and Timothy's brother James Brown, 45, won a Democratic nod for a comeback to McKeesport Area school board without the endorsement of the McKeesport Democratic Committee.

“We are part of the community,” said Sanders, who owns the Kool Kutz barbershop.

“Our eyes and ears are open to help anyone,” said Timothy Brown, program coordinator at LaRosa Boys & Girls Club and transition specialist for McKeesport Area School District.

“The first thing we plan to do is to open our mouths and be a voice to those who want to be heard and need to be heard,” Sanders said.

James Brown is longtime McKeesport recreation director, who was on the school board from 2007 to 2011.

“I was so glad to be a part of it and thank all those who came out and voted,” he said. “I am just overwhelmed and truly appreciate everything. I didn't cross-file and the people still came out to put me over to November.”

“I was in total shock,” said Ocie Paige, a former McKeesport Area school board president who heads the city's NAACP chapter. “I was surprised. I've never seen anything like this happen.”

No Republican filed for council so, presuming no write-in or independent changes the November outcome, Walker-Montgomery said, “for the first time we will have three black people on city council.”

If James Brown can parlay a Democratic-only November ballot position into victory in a six-way field, “for the second time we will have two black people on school board,” Walker-Montgomery said.

He would join Trisha Gadson, who is in the second year of her term. The last time two African-Americans served simultaneously on the board may have been in the 1990s when Robin Kelly and Phyllis Irvin were directors.

The city committee endorsed incumbents Dale R. McCall, Keith A. Soles, Daniel K. Carr and Richard J. Dellapenna for council, and Mindy L. Moody and incumbents Steven E. Kondrosky, Mary Jane Keller, Terri Kisan and Joe Lopretto for the board.

Only 22.36 percent of registered Democrats and 17.90 percent of GOP registrants voted Tuesday.

“Being there was a low turnout, that may have benefited me,” James Brown said. “I truly feel that the people were just ready for a change.”

He believes that was true in McKeesport as well as White Oak, Dravosburg and the other McKeesport Area School District municipalities (Versailles and South Versailles).

Timothy Brown clarified that he did not endorse David G. Donato, Mayor Michael E. Cherepko's primary opponent.

“In my positions (at LaRosa and in the school district) I cannot endorse anyone,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with the mayor. We need to come together in the city.”

“I do believe that Mr. Sanders', Mr. Brown's and the mayor's interest in doing what's best for the city are similar,” Walker-Montgomery said. “All three of them are committed to McKeesport and doing what's best for the city as a whole. While their path, plan or ideas may be different, the sole interest of doing what's best for the city is still the same.”

Tuesday wasn't the first time a McKeesport Democratic Committee-endorsed candidate lost an election.

Paige was appointed to fill a board vacancy in 2005, was elected president in December 2006 and recalled having the endorsement in 2007 when he ran unsuccessfully for a full four-year term.

Paige's organization has had four candidate forums for those running in McKeesport city and school elections. The latest on May 9 brought 10 candidates, including Mayor Michael Cherepko and his primary opponent David Donato, to the Common Ground.

“When I talked to the County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, he said we were the only ones around the county that did that,” Paige said. “We want the community to come out and see who they're voting for.”

Paige said the 2008 election of President Obama changed how people took part in elections.

“There were more younger people getting involved,” he recalled. “When he ran in 2008 it was amazing how he had his systems set up and had people involved. That was the best year I've ever seen where voters turned out for elections.”

Patrick Cloonan is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1967, or pcloonan@tribweb.com.