Party infighting in Penn Hills reached a new high last week as longtime school board member and Democratic Committee chairwoman Erin Vecchio lost her bid for a fourth term following a negative campaign staged by some Democrats.

On Friday, three days after the election, Ms. Vecchio filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Revenue and state Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, claiming that she was harassed and fired from her job as a manager in the tax collection unit because she testified in December before a grand jury investigating Mr. DeLuca. No charges have been filed against Mr. DeLuca as a result of that probe.

A representative from the Department of Revenue told the Post-Gazette that Ms. Vecchio's position was among 85 that were eliminated due to budget reductions in August.

Mr. DeLuca refused to comment on the lawsuit, which he said he has not seen. He added that he did not know the purpose of the grand jury inquiry and was not called to testify.

In the school board election, Ms. Vecchio placed last in a field of five, receiving 15 percent of the vote. Re-elected to the board were Robert Hudak, with 24 percent, and Carolyn Faggioli, with 22 percent.

Newly elected members were Linda Gallo, 22 percent, and Carl Barbarino, 16 percent. All candidates, including Ms. Vecchio, were cross-filed as Democrat and Republican.

During her 12 years on the school board, including one as president, Ms. Vecchio, 49, was as well known for championing public concerns as she was for making blunt, often deprecating, remarks to or about administrators, staff and others.

At Tuesday's board meeting -- Ms. Vecchio's last as a member -- several people praised her service, albeit often with a caveat about her communication style.

"Not everyone agrees with your approach, but you get the job done," said parent Jane Marra, who added that she appreciated Ms. Vecchio's independent stance. "She voted her conscience and supported our kids."

"She's approachable," said parent Chris Polaski. "You could go up to her and get her undivided attention."

Ms. Vecchio's dedication to her hometown also was noted.

"She bleeds red and gold, everybody knows that," Ms. Marra said.

Superintendent Joseph Carroll added, to applause, "I have never known anyone who loves Penn Hills as much as Mrs. Vecchio."

In an interview, school Director Margie Krogh, a Republican, said that Ms. Vecchio played a significant role on the board.

"She kept things before us that were concerns and that we needed to deal with. We wouldn't have known about them unless she brought them up."

Ms. Krogh and others said they believe a tabloid-type campaign flier mailed to Penn Hills residents figured prominently in Ms. Vecchio's loss.

"It ripped her to pieces," Ms. Krogh said. "It took away from anything positive she did. I don't necessarily like the way she does many things, but I'm sad about the way [the loss] happened."

Ms. Marra said: "The [mailer] was riddled with lies and misspelled words. It said that she wanted to send all Penn Hills children to an elementary center, when, in fact, she voted against it."

The campaign piece recommended Mr. Barbarino, Ms. Faggioli and Ms. Gallo, in addition to other Democratic candidates. It was paid for by "Friends of Kuhn and Kincaid," referring to Penn Hills council members Sara Kuhn and J-LaVon Kincaid. Ms. Kuhn and Mr. Kincaid were re-elected last week.

A bulk postage permit belonging to Mr. DeLuca was used to mail the piece.

"It's my political campaign bulk mailing permit, not a state permit," he explained.

The candidates involved with the mailer, he said, were Penn Hills Democrats who formed a coalition called the Unity Team "to run independent of Mrs. Vecchio."

Ms. Vecchio has been on the other side of political controversy. In 2004, she challenged then-U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's claim of Penn Hills residency, which would have entitled his children to continue to have their cyber school tuition covered by the district, even though the family lived in Virginia most of the time. The Santorums' claim of residency was denied and Mr. Santorum lost his re-election bid that year to Democrat Bob Casey.

On Tuesday evening, Ms. Vecchio told the school board audience members that she would be back -- in the seats with the audience, asking questions.

"I came in here 12 years ago with my head held high, and I'm leaving with my head held high," she said. "Some people knocked me down, but they just made me more powerful."

Tuesday's board meeting was also the last for Barry Patterson, who has served as a school director for 16 years. He did not seek re-election.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.