Yesterday was the last day for candidates in the May 19 municipal primary to get on the ballot.

And Jane Ann Rastatter, a Millcreek School Board member, just beat the 4:30 p.m. deadline. She was the last one to file in Erie County, filling out last-minute paperwork at the counter.

She will join fellow incumbents Terry Scutella and Thomas Albert on the ballot, as well as John DiPlacido, Hema Dushmukh, Karen Marie Rang, Mike Kobylka and Timothy O'Connell.

Four seats are up for grabs.

Curiously, there's not much competition for the four open seats on the Erie School Board. The ballot will include incumbents Ed Brzezinski, Mary Frances Schenley, Eva Tucker Jr. and Jim Herdzik, as well as Debra Johnson and Denice Manus.

-- John Guerriero

Erie County Councilman Ronald "Whitey" Cleaver now has some political company.

Dan Desrochers, a Republican and the current director of marketing and community relations at the Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, has announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination for the 4th District seat on County Council in the May 19 municipal primary.

Cleaver, a Democrat and the longtime chief of the Erie Parking Authority, was first elected to council in 2005. He previously told many around town that he would not seek another term, but reconsidered recently.

Cleaver told me during a Friday telephone call about another story that he's looking forward to some competition in the race -- either in the fall or the November general election.

The 4th District includes much of southeast Erie, as well as the Belle Valley section of Millcreek Township.

--Kevin Flowers

Erie City Hall reporter Erica Erwin filed this report today about an endorsement for Erie City Council:

The local steelworkers' union will endorse Democrat Waydell Johnson in his bid for Erie City Council.

Johson will "bring change to City Council," said Ron Oliver, the political coordinator for United Steelworkers Local 3199. "He won't go along with the status quo."

Oliver said he is impressed by Johnson's stance against a proposed $370 million waste tires-to-energy plant proposed for a site at the former International Paper Plant on East Lake Road.
"He is a concerned citizen and a family man," Oliver said. "He's looking out for the safety of the citizens of Erie."

Johnson -- owner of City Hall Painters LLC, president of the Burton Diehl Neighborhood Watch and a regular speaker at City Council meetings -- has said he will run on a platform of changing Erie's politics.

"I am committed to improving Erie, honestly speaking to the issues, accountability from government, neighborhood revitalization, generosity to others and Erie's environment first, " he said when announcing his candidacy in January.

Johnson said the endorsement confirms that voters are looking for change in city government.

-- John Guerriero

So far, the race for Millcreek supervisor is shaping up as a two-man contest between incumbent Republican Larry Curtis and businessman Mike Dougherty.

Curtis will formally announce his candidacy on Saturday; Dougherty did so on Thursday.

But I heard from someone today that a Democrat might enter the race.

You'd think most of the major races in the May 19 municipal primary would have candidates, especially since the party leaders have been working on recruitment.

Stay tuned.

-- John Guerriero