Three of seven Shaler commissioners are seeking reelection on Nov. 4, but voters will see a contested race in only one of three wards.

In Ward 2, Republican incumbent David Mizgorski is challenged by Democrat Josh Fleitman.

Councilman Conrad Wagner is unopposed in Ward 4, while Councilman James Boyle is unopposed in Ward 6. They each received both parties’ nominations in the primary.

The candidates for Ward 2 commissioner:

Josh Fleitman

Age: 32

Party: Democrat

Education: BA in government

Occupation: District press secretary for U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio

Community involvement/volunteer work: As the Shaler Democratic Committee’s community service chair, I’ve overseen the award of over $8,000 in scholarships to impressive Shaler Area High School graduates pursuing the skilled trades and college. I also coordinated events that collected over 2,300 food items for the district’s Backpack Initiative. And I’m a member of the Friends of Shaler North Hills Library and helped with our book sale and mini-golf events so our library can strengthen its services even more.

Years residing in district/municipality: 4.5 years

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

Like all of us, I don’t want to pay more taxes. School tax hikes are the No. 1 most common complaint I hear. Coming in a close second: Shaler has stood still for too long. As one lifelong Shaler resident told me in his driveway — our community has become “stagnant.”

We should craft an economic development strategy and a broader plan to support long-term growth in our community. Shaler has so many strengths. With smart planning and investment — and by aggressively pursuing county, state, federal and foundation grant funding — we can potentially fund all kinds of projects, like a community center, sidewalks along key corridors, a dog park and more. I’ve worked in government and nonprofits for over a decade, and I know firsthand that there are tons of grant programs we could compete for.

We’ve got to attract new businesses to strengthen our tax base and reduce the burden on residential taxpayers. In the short term, we should focus on supporting business owners to fill the vacant Rite Aid locations and other empty storefronts. In the long term, we should pursue state and county redevelopment assistance grants and work with the private sector to try attracting medium and large business redevelopment to some of the bigger lots along Route 8. There have been challenges to achieving this in the past, but I think those challenges can be manageable with a new push.

We also need to support small businesses in Shaler. I have a plan to help grow a small-business district by adding sidewalks and other improvements to Mt. Royal Boulevard. Creating a safe and walkable main street would attract small businesses and create an even stronger sense of community.

What are your position and thoughts on the township’s parks and recreation master plan, including pertaining to the development of a community center? If you support the construction of a community center, how would Shaler pay for that construction and the ongoing maintenance and operation?

I applaud the township for launching a parks and recreation master planning process. That’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking initiative we need for long-term growth. I’m also glad to see that a dog park is being considered in that process — that’s a top priority for me and the hundreds of neighbors I’ve talked to with four-legged friends.

I support building a community center for Shaler Township and will work to keep this initiative moving forward for the hundreds of neighbors who have told me they want it. I also recognize that there’s a wide range of options when it comes to the cost and scope of a facility — I want to strike a balance between meeting residents’ recreational needs and limiting long-term maintenance and operational costs. We should make this improvement in a fiscally responsible way that doesn’t add to the community’s tax burden. A big part of that is taking advantage of as many government and foundation grant opportunities as possible, especially for the construction portion.

David Mizgorski

Age: 58

Party: Republican

Education: USMC, Carpenters District Council apprenticeship program, four years, CCAC

Occupation: Project manager

Community involvement/volunteer work: Current Shaler Township 2nd Ward commissioner; Shaler Township Municipal Appeals Board; North Hills Council of Governments; coached Shaler youth sports and was active in Shaler Area sports booster organizations; Shaler Area High School theater arts program; United States Marine Corps veteran; Shaler-Mt. Royal VFW Post 9199 life member — past junior vice commander, 30-plus-year member of the Honor Guard, scholarship chairman, Post 9199 Veteran of the Year 2019, co-chairperson for the “Wall That Heals” Vietnam War traveling wall and emcee of three ceremonies for Memorial Day Weekend 2025; administrator of the Shaler Township Historical Society Facebook page; Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame committee; Southwest Veterans Center of Pittsburgh

Years residing in municipality: Lifelong

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

Public safety is my highest priority. Fiscal responsibility comes in directly after that. My entire time as a commissioner has been focused on the well-being of our residents and delivering results in a manner that is affordable to all. The current Shaler Township millage rate is 3.49 mills and has remained steady for several years, and I intend to keep it that way. One way to offset the cost of new projects is through grant funding, whether that’s through Allegheny County, the commonwealth, the federal government, Corps of Engineers or any other grant sources that may be available. Shaler Township has been proactive in applying for grants. In my time as a commissioner, Shaler Township has applied for or wrote letters of support for over $4 million in grant funding that directly comes into our community. This grant funding has aided in updating stormwater management throughout the township, renovations at Fall Run and Eagle Canyon parks, Shaler Police Department equipment, Route 8 traffic lights and signage, Shaler North Hills Library remodeling and for new ambulances and equipment at Shaler-Hampton EMS. Shaler has recently been awarded grant funding for $60,000 for levee work in Pine Creek behind the Burger King on Route 8.

What are your position and thoughts on the township’s parks and recreation master plan, including pertaining to the development of a community center? If you support the construction of a community center, how would Shaler pay for that construction and the ongoing maintenance and operation?

I have been involved since the inception of the township’s parks and recreation master plan study, as well as the purchase of the former Jeffery School property. Under the Board of Commissioners’ direction, township management assembled a communitywide panel of residents to create a focus group to discuss the needs and wants of the residents regarding the property. Surveys were conducted and ideas were deliberated. After several months of meetings and spirited discussion, the focus group proposed a master plan for all parks in the township. I advocated to move forward with the parks and recreation master plan study, which Shaler Township applied for and received grant funding to finance the study so no Shaler Township tax money was used. Of the participating residents, the polls showed approximately 50% in favor of building a community center and 50% not in favor, with the biggest concern being how to fund it. If Shaler moves forward with building a community center, grant funding is one option but is limited, in that this type of money can only be used for specific projects. Other options are corporate sponsorship or naming rights, fundraising and soliciting donations from the community at large. Membership or user fees would be a necessary part of a financial plan. Raising taxes and taking on debt would be the least desirable option to cover construction, employee salaries and ongoing maintenance, and I am opposed to raising taxes.

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