Pleasant Hills voters to chose from 5 candidates seeking 4 council seats

Pleasant Hills voters will choose from five candidates seeking four council seats in the November general election.

They are Republican incumbents Eileen Solinas and Jarrett Niecgorski, fellow Republicans Darcy Lynn Vergallito and Stephen Harroun and Democrat Joseph Esper, according to Allegheny County Election Division records.

Solinas, Niecgorski and Vergallito will be on both parties’ ballots, having earned their party’s nomination and enough Democratic write-in votes in the primary, county records indicate.

Republican Mayor William Trimbath is running unopposed. He will be on both tickets, having earned his party’s nomination and enough Democratic write-in votes in the primary.

Here are responses from the contested council race candidates to questions posed by TribLive:

Joseph M. Esper

Democrat

Age: 56

Education: Bachelor of Science, Penn State University

Occupation: Director of finance and operations, South Allegheny School District

Community involvement/volunteer work: 16-year member of the Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company and current president; former president and treasurer of the TJ Youth Cheerleading Association; former coach, commissioner and equipment manager of TJ Youth Basketball; former coach, commissioner and equipment manager of TJ Youth Softball; former coach of Jaguars United Soccer.

Years residing in district/municipality: 26

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

Esper did not give an answer to this question.

What is the most pressing issue/challenge in the municipality today and how do you plan to address it?

Since 2019, taxes have increased by over 70%, including a 21% increase just this year. The 2025 budget totals $11.69 million, yet the general fund had a balance of over $5.82 million as of January — nearly 50% of the entire annual budget. It is difficult to understand why taxes continue to rise at this rate when the financial position appears strong.

I strongly believe that taxes should only be increased when absolutely necessary — not when there’s already a substantial surplus sitting in reserve. While I would be just one vote out of seven if elected, I believe any reasonable person would find this logic difficult to refute.

Elected officials must be willing to say ‘no’ when necessary and responsibly distinguish between wants and needs. Public service is not a popularity contest — this isn’t a business where everyone is going to walk away happy. I understand that many residents of Pleasant Hills were frustrated when they opened their tax bills this year, and rightfully so. Hopefully, we can change that.

Stephen Harroun

Republican

Age: 45

Education: U.S. Coast Guard veteran (1998 - 2005), Bachelor of Science in industrial design/product design, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 2005

Occupation: Designer and president, Harroun Designs, Inc., a certified, veteran-owned small business

Community involvement/volunteer work: 6-plus years serving on the Pleasant Hills Planning Commission; participated as part of the Pleasant Hills master plan committee; regularly volunteer at Pleasant Hills Church; veterans advocate, Canstruction/Pittsburgh Community Food Bank silver sponsor; Thomas Jefferson High School soccer elite sponsor; Carnegie Library of Homestead sponsor; serve on the board of directors for the International Sign Association, and work with several Pittsburgh area non-profit organizations for sign design and wayfinding services.

Years residing in district/municipality: 16

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

Since we just published the Pleasant Hills master plan this year, a high priority item should be detailed budget planning and looking for alternative funding opportunities, including local business partners. Not only does the master plan highlight the wants and needs of our residents, it also includes estimated budgets and timelines for projects.

We should include the public in the decision-making process, as their input and engagement will allow us to prioritize spending while maintaining transparency. We should also seek out grants and private funding to offset the financial burden on the borough.

Lastly, we could phase projects over time so that we aren’t taking on more than we can afford at any given moment.

What is the most pressing issue/challenge in the municipality today, and how do you plan to address it?

During the time we developed the master plan, it became apparent that community safety was the most important issue to the residents of Pleasant Hills. That includes traffic calming and road safety, property maintenance and maintaining our high standard for public safety, and maintaining and improving community facilities, which will help us attract desired investment and reinvestment in our borough.

I believe standing strong behind our amazing police, fire and public works employees and volunteers will allow us to maintain and improve the safety of our residents, especially if we have a plan in place to do so. Safety was one of the many reasons my wife and I moved to Pleasant Hills 16-plus years ago, and I believe that it will only get better.

Jarrett Niecgorski

Republican

Age: 23

Education: Studied political science coursework at Washington & Jefferson College

Occupation: Field representative, U.S. House of Representatives

Community involvement/volunteer work: Organizing community events and serving on committees

Years residing in district/municipality: 23

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

As elected officials, we have a duty to balance the high-quality services our borough provides with a tax rate that’s manageable for all of our residents. To do that, we must fight for every penny the Commonwealth is willing to offer, and ensure they don’t go straight to larger municipalities with higher tax bases. This means our borough misses out on funds that could have reduced the financial burden on our taxpayers.

However, when this happens, we have to turn to each other. The sustainability of Pleasant Hills originates in the strengths of our residents, businesses and our commitment to local projects. We have a community filled with dedicated, skilled individuals who are passionate about where they live and willing to invest in it. When these investments materialize, and our community comes together around a project, we find new ways to overcome the financial instability coming out of Harrisburg.

What is the most pressing issue/challenge in the municipality today, and how do you plan to address it?

We are fortunate that when major issues arise, our borough is often prepared to tackle them. However, the cost of this preparedness leaves us searching for grant funds when we want to maintain our parks and other amenities. Pleasant Hills has unique parks that are enjoyed frequently by residents, but we haven’t always been able to give them the proper care they deserve.

I believe one of the best ways to overcome this is by working with our residents and other community partners. The strength in our community truly comes from our neighbors, and I aim to build meaningful partnerships with local leaders who are ready to step up and help us find creative solutions to address this issue and more. I believe by doing this, we will rebuild and foster our sense of community, while ensuring our borough is prepared to tackle any issue, big or small.

Eileen Solinas

Republican

Age: 39

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, West Virginia Wesleyan College; Master of Science in Nursing, California University of Pennsylvania

Occupation: Registered nurse

Community involvement/volunteer work: Borough council, Baldwin EMS board of directors, TJ Youth Girls Softball coach and Jaguar Hoops youth basketball coach.

Years residing in municipality: 8 years

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

Balancing new initiatives with fiscal responsibility is especially challenging in a borough that relies solely on real estate taxes. Following the completion of our new 10-year Comprehensive Plan, council must take a thoughtful, transparent approach to implementing its recommendations.

Our focus should be on prioritizing projects that deliver the greatest benefit to residents, strengthen community well-being and promote sustainable growth. At the same time, we must remain mindful of the financial impact on our taxpayers — especially seniors and families on fixed incomes.

By carefully evaluating costs, pursuing grants and partnerships, and maximizing existing resources, we can advance the borough’s goals while maintaining affordability for all who call it home.

What is the most pressing issue/challenge in the municipality today, and how do you plan to address it?

The most pressing issue facing our borough is affordability — ensuring that families and seniors can continue to live here without being priced out.

I also believe that meaningful progress on this issue starts with clear, honest communication, which has been a challenge. Too often, information shared on social media is incomplete or inaccurate, creating confusion and mistrust. Residents deserve timely, transparent updates about what council is doing and why. While efforts have been made to strengthen communication, there have always been barriers to how effectively we can connect with residents.

With improved technology in the new borough building, I’m hopeful that providing virtual access to council meetings will allow more residents to stay informed and participate, even from home. When everyone has access to accurate information and the opportunity to be heard, we can work together toward responsible, long-term solutions that protect affordability and strengthen our community.

Darcy Lynn Vergallito

Republican

Age: 53

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Youngstown State University

Occupation: “Domestic goddess”

Community involvement/volunteer work: Currently active with the Pleasant Hills Garden Club. Past involvement includes Pleasant Hills Community Day, Girl Scouts, McClellan Elementary PTA, TJ Connections parent group, the Pleasant Hills Library, and serving as vice president of the TJ Band Parent Boosters.

Years residing in district/municipality: 20 years

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

With state funding tight, it really comes down to using common sense and keeping things honest. We’ve got to take care of the basics first — our roads, public safety and the everyday services people count on — before jumping into new projects.

I’m a big believer in teamwork and creativity. That means chasing grants, building partnerships and finding smart ways to stretch every dollar. And most of all, keeping folks in the loop. When the community has a voice in how money is spent, we can keep our Pleasant Hills Borough growing and thriving without putting extra strain on taxpayers.

What is the most pressing issue/challenge in the municipality today, and how do you plan to address it?

One of the biggest challenges in Pleasant Hills right now isn’t just the projects themselves — it’s communication. Neighbors want to know what’s going on, how decisions are made, and how their voices can be heard. Too often, important updates get lost, and that can lead to frustration and confusion.

If elected, I’d work to improve communication between council and residents by sharing clear updates through social media, borough notices and community newsletters. I believe an informed community is an engaged one. When people know what’s happening and feel included in the process, we make better decisions together and keep Pleasant Hills the welcoming, tight-knit place we all love.