HARRISBURG -- Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward has decided to seek the Republican Party's blessing to replace retiring GOP Sen. Bob Regola of Hempfield.

Westmoreland County GOP officials plan to meet Saturday to endorse a candidate in the race. County GOP Chairman George Dunbar said anyone else who is interested also could seek the committee's support, but right now it looks like Ms. Ward will be chosen.

"I have contacted many members of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee and there is overwhelming support for Ms. Ward, myself included," he said.

Mr. Regola, who was elected in 2004, said earlier this week that he was withdrawing from the race. In November, Ms. Ward, once she is endorsed, will face Tony Bompiani, a chiropractor and the Democratic candidate for Mr. Regola's seat.

Ms. Ward has been a county commissioner since January. Before that, she spent six years as a supervisor in Hempfield Township.

"After much thought and consideration, and many calls asking me to enter the party's nomination process to replace Sen. Regola, I have decided to do so," Ms. Ward said in a statement yesterday.

Running for a new office, after just being elected as a commissioner, "wasn't something I was seeking or planned to do," she said. "But this unexpected turn of events and outpouring of calls of encouragement from friends and strangers has led me to believe it is something that needed to be done."

She said that the Legislature's "failure to reform our tax system," as well as "the scandals in Harrisburg," have left many people "with great doubts about whether or not their interests are being represented in Harrisburg."

In another state Senate district, Democratic officials from Beaver County, as well as small parts of Lawrence and Allegheny counties, are expected to meet soon to choose a candidate to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gerald LaValle. There are up to seven Democrats interested in replacing Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver, as the Democratic candidate in that race. He recently withdrew from the race because he is facing corruption charges.