Editor’s note: The Herald is featuring candidate interviews in contested municipal and school board races only.

Fox Chapel councilman Jonathan Colton and political newcomer Robert Marsh are running to become the borough’s next mayor in November.

Colton, a Democrat, and Marsh, a Republican, each were the lone candidates seeking their party’s nod in the May Primary. Mayor Alex Scott III declined to seek reelection.

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

Jonathan R. Colton

Democrat

Age: 50

Education: J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law; B.S., Drexel University

Occupation: Attorney

Community involvement/volunteer work: Member of Fox Chapel Borough Council; member of Lauri Ann West Community Center; member of Allegheny County Bar Association

Years residing in district/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?

As mayor, I will work with our finance committee to provide top-notch public services without raising taxes. Our finance committee prepares our budget, and as a result of the insight I provided as a member of borough council, our mayor now sits on our finance committee. In that role and aware that state funding is often uncertain, I will advocate for the resources necessary to keep our community safe and to maintain our wonderful parks and trails properly.

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

Creating more walkable neighborhoods with better connections between our residents’ homes and our parks and trails is a challenge I want to tackle. These connections foster appreciation for our community’s natural resources and meaningful relationships with our neighbors. An example in development right now and included in our joint comprehensive plan with O’Hara Township is an off-road trail paralleling Delafield Road. As mayor, helping make such connections happen will be a priority.

Robert M. Marsh

Republican

Age: 57

Education: Shady Side Academy, Bucknell University (BA), Carnegie Mellon University (MSIA/MBA)

Occupation: CFO of a small robotics company (part-time). Former treasurer & VP, Matthews International Corporation; former partner, PNC Mezzanine Capital

Community involvement/volunteer work: Resource Planning Committee, FCASD; former board member, The Woodlands Foundation; past-president and former board member, Fox Chapel Golf Club; former board member, ACG Pittsburgh

Years residing in district/municipality: 49

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

Fox Chapel has always been a well-run, primarily residential community, and I want to keep it that way. Our residents deserve excellent services, safe streets and careful stewardship of their tax dollars. My experience in finance and operations has led me to begin by asking: What’s essential, what can wait, and what can we do smarter?

With state funding often limited, the key is prioritization and efficiency. We should focus first on maintaining our infrastructure and public safety, while coordinating projects. For example, we could align road work with utility upgrades or drainage improvements to stretch every dollar.

We can also be creative in seeking outside funding, through grants, partnerships and gifts, without burdening taxpayers. Hardie Park and the Aviary relocation are perfect examples of this. My goal is to maintain Fox Chapel’s high standards, keep taxes steady and ensure every expenditure clearly benefits the residents who fund it.

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

Fox Chapel is a wonderful place to live, but our most pressing challenges involve both safety and property stewardship. We have had break-ins in several neighborhoods, and while our police do an excellent job, communication with residents can improve. I would work to strengthen neighborhood alerts and outreach so residents stay informed and vigilant.

We also face increasing concerns about properties under prolonged construction, appearing abandoned, or poorly maintained. These situations hurt neighbors, depress nearby values and detract from the borough’s character. As mayor, I would balance grace toward a homeowner managing a project with fair enforcement of existing ordinances. We all understand that projects and lives can hit bumps, but neighbors also deserve accountability and reasonable timelines for completion.

My goal is to keep Fox Chapel safe, attractive and well-maintained, a community where every resident feels secure, informed and proud to call it home.

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