5 candidates vie for 4 seats on Verona Council

There are four seats up for grabs on Verona Council. Voters in the Nov. 4 election will select four members from the five candidates seeking seats.

The ballot is a mix of incumbents and newcomers. Democrats have four candidates on the ballot, while Republicans have one, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list.

Here is a look at each candidate, along with their responses to questions asked by the Advance Leader.

John Gemellas

Age: 54

Political party: Democrat

Education: B.A. political science

Occupation: HR

Years residing in Verona: 44

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

We need to rank the projects by priority/need and delay the ones that could adversely affect the budget, ultimately resulting in substantial tax increases. That is not to say that we will not have to raise taxes. That is always possible, but the aim is to lessen that impact on our residents as much as we can.

Those can be difficult decisions to make and require a lot of careful consideration and planning.

What is the biggest issue facing Verona, and how do you plan to address it?

Police/public safety programs will be a priority. We will not compromise our public safety to save a buck. No one likes to pay taxes. I certainly do not. We will look at the budget very carefully to make sure that we are allocating the money wisely, and that we are not sacrificing the safety of our residents.

While we are doing that, we still have to make investments in our borough to keep the infrastructure in good shape, find ways to attract business and economic activity to drive revenue, stay up on code enforcement, and promote the borough internally and externally as a great place to live, work, and play!

Patricia “Trish” Hredzak

Age: 41

Political party: Democrat

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Chatham College (now Chatham University) and a master’s degree in chemistry from Tufts University in Boston

Occupation: Biomolecular engineering research lab manager in the department of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University

Years residing in Verona: 10

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

A former teacher used to say, “Think smarter, not harder,” and that mindset guides our approach to leadership and problem-solving. When funding is limited, it’s not a setback-it’s an opportunity to think strategically and make the most of our existing resources. On Council, we’ve consistently done just that. For example, we enhanced the Sylvan Way paving project by coordinating with PennDOT’s LTAP program to add a pedestrian path, delivering greater value to residents at no additional cost — a project I was proud to help implement.

We’ve also strengthened community partnerships through projects like the Rotary Club’s “Welcome to Verona” signs and the Chamber of Commerce’s campaign for new holiday light décor, both funded through local contributions rather than tax dollars. And sometimes, the most meaningful progress costs little more than time — refining our policies, procedures, and employee handbook has improved efficiency, trust, and morale while ensuring Verona operates responsibly, effectively and with long-term sustainability for future generations.

What is the biggest issue facing Verona, and how do you plan to address it?

I mentioned earlier this year that some of the biggest challenges facing Verona are strengthening our police department and fostering stronger engagement between Council and the community. We’ve been working diligently to get our house in order so to speak, in particular with attracting and retaining talented officers as a top priority under the guidance of our new Chief Thomas Dessell Jr.

Simultaneously, as we rebuild our borough’s leadership and embark on the search for a new permanent borough manager, we have an opportunity to ensure a solid foundation for the future - one that ensures safety, trust, and a thriving community for all of our residents! Once our new foundation is in place, we can continue to strengthen our community relations, as well as what I would add as another prominent challenge that I hope to help address: promoting economic development and further revitalizing our business district, and advance progress across our community more broadly speaking.

Kelli Rodriguez

Age: 45

Political party: Democrat

Education: Bachelor of Science, business & human resources

Occupation: Operations logistics specialist, senior

Years residing in Verona: 45

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

Many residents in our town live on fixed incomes, and every dollar matters. Yet month after month, our finance committee reports “nothing to report at this time.”

That’s not acceptable. Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? We deserve to know how our tax dollars are being spent. We deserve regular updates, clear budget breakdowns and honest communication. Saying “nothing to report” is not a report — it’s a dismissal of the public’s right to be informed.

This needs to change. I’m calling on our council and finance committee to: provide monthly financial summaries, even if brief; share budget updates in plain language; and host public Q&A sessions during budget season.

Verona residents are paying attention. We expect better.

What is the biggest issue facing Verona, and how do you plan to address it?

The police is where I believe it begins — our community is ready to turn the page. We have had a department reset and it’s not just about replacing personnel; it’s about reshaping culture, restoring trust, and building a public safety system that truly serves everyone.

This kind of overhaul can be both challenging and full of potential. When a department has to rebuild from the ground up, strong leadership, proper funding and community trust become absolutely critical. We have thankfully found a leader in our new chief!

Curtis Spurling

Age: 37

Political party: Democrat

Education: Associate’s degree from the Community College of Allegheny County in general studies; graduated from Riverview in 2007; certificates in drug and alcohol studies, and ethnic and diverse studies from CCAC

Occupation: Regional transport supervisor for a behavioral health company

Years residing in Verona: 32

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

I know funding and grants are tight, but we need to prioritize while maintaining fiscal responsibility. As a resident of Verona, the last thing I want is higher taxes, so we need to maintain financial integrity and responsibility.

What is the biggest issue facing Verona, and how do you plan to address it?

There are some improvements we could certainly make, but I feel like Verona is headed in a positive direction.

As a resident, seeing businesses come to Verona, some new food places and the current businesses that continue to contribute and remain active in the community, I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy.

Raymon Suchevich

The candidate did not respond to multiple requests for comment.