Democrats sweep Franklin Park mayor, council election; voters reject government study

Franklin Park’s longtime mayor, Dennis O’Keefe, lost his bid for reelection Tuesday in an election that saw Democrats also win three council seats, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results.

O’Keefe was defeated by Democrat Cristen L. Fiffik.

Three of the council’s six sets were up for election.

In the 1st Ward, Democratic incumbent Uday Palled defeated Republican challenger Bruce E. Barnes.

Republican incumbents were defeated in Wards 2 and 3.

In the 2nd Ward, Democratic challenger Venu Paruvelli defeated Republican incumbent Lucas Myslinski.

In the 3rd Ward, Democratic challenger J. Curtis Neil, II defeated Republican incumbent Thomas Schwartzmier.

Franklin Park votes rejected a proposal to form a commission to study changing the borough to a Home-Rule charter form of government, with 52% voting no and 48% voting yes.

Vote counts according to unofficial Allegheny County Election results:

Home-Rule study question

• Yes: 2,681

• No: 2,925

Mayor

• Cristen L. Fiffik (D): 3,092

• Dennis E. O’Keefe (R): 2,738

1st Ward

• Uday Palled (D): 1,079

• Bruce Barnes (R): 814

2nd Ward

• Venu Paruvelli (D): 1,178

• Lucas Myslinski (R): 978

3rd Ward

• J. Curtis Neil, II (D): 883

• Thomas Schwartzmier (R): 845