Bob Regola

Regola's successful 2004 campaign against incumbent State Senator Allen Kukovich[3] was considered one of the closest and nastiest in the state.[4] Kukovich's campaign was sued by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review for allegedly misusing the paper's name in campaign advertisements.[5] The suit was dismissed on Election Day by Westmoreland County Judge William J. Ober.[6] Regola's campaign claimed that Kukovich had campaigned in gay bars in Philadelphia with then-Governor Ed Rendell in 2003, a charge denied by Kukovich and his supporters.[7]

Regola removed himself from consideration for re-election on August 11, 2008, citing what he characterized as "unfair" media coverage of his acquittal on perjury and gun charges related to the suicide of a teenage neighbor.[8] The Republican Party of Westmoreland County chose Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward as the candidate, who then defeated Democratic candidate Tony Bompiani in the General Election.[9]