Incumbents take note: If the Wilkinsburg Democratic Committee has its way, it won't be business as usual after the Nov. 8 election.

On Saturday, 19 of the committee's 33 members met to endorse their candidates for the May 17 primary election, and not one current official who is running for re-election got the nod.

For mayor, the committee voted unanimously to back the challenger, council Vice President John A. Thompson, rather than incumbent Wilbert Young, who is seeking a third term.

Young also faced a legal challenge to his efforts to seek the Democratic nomination. Councilwoman Sandra Roberts filed a petition in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court last week, asking to have Young's nomination petition set aside.

Roberts' petition contends that Young owes more than $6,500 in back taxes, liens and penalties, which by law must be disclosed in a candidate's statement of financial interest.

In the 1st Ward, the Democrats chose Joseph Auria over two other newcomers, Barbara Ervin and Loretta D. Rose.

But in Wilkinsburg's 2nd Ward, council President Pamela Macklin was bypassed in favor of candidates Jason Cohn and Barbara Nicholas. Those three and Kathleen J. Wilson are running for the two open seats.

In the 3rd Ward, newcomers William Bowyer and Tracey Evans were selected instead of incumbents Denise Edwards and Carl Lewis.

The committee also endorsed Lee Gibbs, who is running for district justice in District 2-10, against Lucille Prater-Holiday and Kim Marie Hoots.

Evans, who acts as secretary for the committee and is also on the boards of Wilkinsburg's Municipal Authority and the Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, said she didn't want to give specific reasons for the board's endorsements.

"The new nonpartisan group NUW, Neighbors Unite Wilkinsburg, has been very helpful in encouraging new people to run for office," said Evans, a 20-year Wilkinsburg resident.

Longtime committee Chairman Walter Reid, however, didn't hesitate to state his reasons for starting 2006 with a clean council slate.

"We have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits and severance packages and have allowed these council people to set the standard of nonpayment of taxes," Reid said.

About a year ago, council approved a $62,000 payment to former police chief Richard Dwyer, after Dwyer was forced to resign following a dispute with Young.

The current police chief, Michele Krempasky, is suing Dwyer and the borough, claiming that when she worked for him as a lieutenant he discriminated against her because she's a woman.