Ralph Petrella Declared Republican Nominee for Steubenville Mayor
Linda Harris Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- Jefferson County Board of Elections Director Bob Gale made it official Friday: Ralph Petrella, a newcomer to the political scene, is the Republican nominee for mayor of Steubenville.
Petrella, 36, scored a 13-vote victory over Kimberly Hahn to claim the nomination -- pulling 795 votes in the May 6 primary to 782 for the former councilwoman at large. The final tallies include provisional and absentee ballots that hadn't been added into the earlier results.
"It's been a long 10 days," Petrella said after the canvass results were announced. "I'm very excited to be moving to the next step of the election process and I'm excited to possibly represent the citizens of Steubenville."
While he's new to government, he said he spent many hours at council meetings with his father, the late Craig Petrella, a longtime councilman.
"My dad taught me how to be for people, how to talk to citizens and engage with them - how to hear all sides of the story. He taught me compassion and resiliency -- I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for him," he said.
"Being raised around (former) Mayor (Domenick) Mucci and seeing how he ran a meeting was also very helpful, and the mentorship Mayor (Jerry) Barilla provided has been invaluable."
He thanked the "team around me" that helped secure his nomination, adding he also wanted to recognize Hahn "for her efforts and the election she ran."
Hahn has said that while she had hoped to serve residents as mayor, "but though that's not the case, know that I will continue to hold you in my heart and in my prayers."
Next up is the primary election, where he's slated to go up against another former councilman, Willie Paul, in the mayor's race.
Five other residents threw their hats in the ring as independent candidates for other elected offices in the county, with one petition disallowed because it fell short of the required number of valid signatures.
Also filing as Independents were: Lawrence Glenn and Ron Holmes, Toronto council-at-large; John McDonald, Mingo Junction treasurer; and Mark Baker, Christopher R. Horner and Adam Peeler, Mingo Junction Council.