Blawnox voters have choice of 5 candidates for 4 seats

Blawnox voters will have their choice of five candidates for four seats. Democrats Matthew Stanczak, Deborah E. Laskey, Randall R. Stoddard and Christine Carnevali will compete against Republican Mark Lombardi.

All terms are for four years.

Here’s a look at the candidates:

Matthew Stanczak

Age: 52

Democrat

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and master’s from Carnegie Mellon University

Occupation: Project manager

Community involvement/volunteer work: Best of Blawnox and Fox Chapel athletics

Years residing in 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?

“Right now, the borough is focused on providing reliable public safety and public works projects for our residents within the current tax base. During my next term, council is planning on expanding our project inventory to include infrastructure, community and economic development projects.”

What capital improvements do you feel are warranted, even if they come with a slight tax increase?

“Council plans to partner with the state to develop a comprehensive plan for Blawnox in the next few years. The plan will identify and prioritize capital improvements, including infrastructure projects, community and economic development projects. The plan will also identify federal, state, county and private funding opportunities for each potential project.”

Mark Lombardi

Age: 39

Republican

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Pittsburgh

Occupation: Sales

Community involvement/volunteer work: Lucchesi Nel Mondo club

Years residing in municipality: 14

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

“I would prioritize essential services that benefit everyone in Blawnox. I would also try to avoid any wasteful spending.”

What capital improvements do you feel are warranted, even if they come with a slight tax increase?

“None. I am not supportive of a tax increase at the moment.”

Deborah E. Laskey

Age: Declined to answer

Democrat

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in business from Penn State University, New Kensington; HR Certificate from LaRoche College

Occupation: Retired

Community involvement/volunteer work: Best of Blawnox

Years residing in municipality: Family moved to town in 1951

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

“Identify, prioritize and work with our engineers on those projects and handle only one. Due to the uncertainty of funding, I would want to manage one priority project at a time to ensure that if the funding is less than anticipated, there would be monies available in the budget to handle the remaining cost.”

What capital improvements do you feel are warranted, even if they come with a slight tax increase?

“Once we have hired a borough manager, we will be working on a comprehensive plan/strategic plan that will address our goals, opportunities and community development. The improvement I would like to see is a revamp of our business district.”

Randall R. Stoddard

Age: Did not answer

Democrat

Education: Some college

Occupation: Retired

Community involvement/volunteer work: I help in any way that I can with any community events

Years residing in municipality: 50

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

“We have been able to keep the budget very tight year after year, trying to plan and do projects as we can. We also take advantage of grants that are available whenever we can to supplement the budget.”

What capital improvements do you feel are warranted, even if they come with a slight tax increase?

“The continuation of the paving program and aging infrastructure renewal. I also believe it would be a huge benefit to move our wired utilities underground, but that would take utility involvement that may be hard to get.”

Christine Carnevali

Age: 53

Democrat

Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh; Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh

Occupation: Teacher of 15 years/Brashear HS, PPS

Community involvement/volunteer work: Prior service on Blawnox Council; Co-run a recycling program here in Blawnox with my son, Simon; track & field coach/Brashear High School, PPS

Years residing in municipality: 3.5

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

“Very thoughtfully. In lieu of putting more of the responsibility on resident taxpayers, I would be open to discussing the pros and cons of a business tax here in the borough. It would have to be a standard that benefits both residents and businesses.”

What capital improvements do you feel are warranted, even if they come with a slight tax increase?

“At this time none. With goods and services rising faster than wages and an uncertain economy, this does not seem a prudent time to increase taxes.”