21-05-2025
Winarski fends off challengers to stay on Erie County Council; Wertz, Bayle get party nods
Erie County Councilman Jim Winarski, a Democrat whose tendency to align with Republicans has led to party criticism, staved off an array of Democratic challengers in the May 20 municipal primary election.
Winarski, who's seeking his second, four-year term on council's 4th District seat, defeated Democratic opponents Michael Keys, Marcus Jacobs, Carl Anderson and Kevin Pastewka.
By 11:25 p.m., Winarski received 1,218 votes, or 28.71% of a total 4,243 votes. Keys received 1,044 votes; Jacobs received 681 votes; Carl Anderson received 654 votes; and Pastewka received 637 votes; according to final unofficial vote totals the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office.
No Republican ran for the seat in the May 20 primary.
Winarski, 62, has frequently compromised his party's 5-2 veto-proof majority on council by siding and voting with his Republican colleagues. Democratic pushback culminated with the Erie County Democratic Party censuring Winarski in January 2023.
Winarski told the Erie Times-News at the time that he doesn't make decisions based on politics.
"It isn't about a 'D' or an 'R' with me," he said. "At no point whatsoever do any of my votes come down to siding with one party or the other. It's deciding what I honestly believe is the best for Erie and Erie County."
The 4th District comprises much of Southeast Erie, in addition to Wesleyville Borough and portions of Millcreek.
In the 2nd District, Democrat Jim Wertz handily defeated James DePalma for the Democratic nomination, receiving 2,596 votes over DePalma's 757 votes, final unofficial vote totals showed.
Wertz, 46, previously served as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party and most recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 49th District Pennsylvania Senate seat.
He will face Republican Renee Vendetti ― who ran unopposed in Tuesday's municipal primary election ― in the November general election.
More: Review live coverage from the May 20 Erie County municipal primary
The 2nd District runs east from the Millcreek Township line across the city's bayfront to the Harborcreek Township line. The district includes all of Erie's first ward, parts of the second, third and fourth wards and Lawrence Park Township.
The seat has been held by Democrat Andre Horton, who's serving his third term and is term-limited.
In the 6th District, incumbent Republican Charlie Bayle defeated Republican Scott Rastetter, receiving 1,702 votes over Rastetter's 1,146 votes, final unofficial vote totals showed.
No Democrat ran for the seat in the May 20 primary.
The 6th District encompasses several municipalities across the southern and eastern reaches of Erie County.
A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@ Follow him on X @ETNRao.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Council primary: Winarski, Wertz and Bayle win party nods
