Verona council primary race has 5 candidates seeking 4 ballot spots, all Democrats

Editor’s note: The Penn Hills Progress is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election.

Verona residents will have the opportunity to add at least one new face on borough council this election year.

Incumbent Janet LoAlbo has decided not to run.

According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, there are five Democrats, including three incumbents, vying for their party’s nomination in the May 18 primary election with four ballot spots available. No Republicans are on the ballot.

Those hoping to retain their seats include council President Nancy Carpenter, Ray Suchevich and recently appointed Trish Hredzak-Showalter. Other contenders are Rhoda Worf and Vince Flotta

Here are the nominees and their responses to election questions posed by the Tribune-Review:

Nancy Carpenter

• Why did you decide to run for election?

“I decided to run for reelection so that I may continue to work with council and the community as we successfully navigate through Verona’s current transition. Verona finds itself at an important crossroads, and I believe I can provide the leadership needed at this time as president of the council.”

• What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?

“After being elected as president of council, I became aware of how crucial it was to get our finances in order. Only then can we address the many important issues facing Verona such as improving infrastructure, code enforcement and taking advantage of the many grants available for special projects and opportunities.

The current council is taking the positive steps forward to ‘right our financial ship’ and once we are back on track, the future is looking bright for our town.”

• What should voters know about you?

“I have lived in Verona for 13 years and have been actively involved with the community for over 10 years. I was elected to council for my first term in 2017. In 2018 I began my service as the chair of the ordinance committee and coordinated the passing of many needed ordinances.

In 2020 I was voted in as vice president of council, and then became president in January. While serving as a council person, I have also continued to serve on many community groups such as parks and recreation board, Verona Community Group, 150th planning and fundraising committees, and Verona Garden Club.

I serve as vice president of Riverview Community Action Corp. and am a member of the Verona Historical Society and Verona Chamber of Commerce.

Vince Flotta

• Why did you decide to run for election?

I have been planning to run for council for a while now, but had an obligation to fulfill with the Verona parks and recreation board. This year is the last year of my five-year appointment. As a lifelong Verona resident and active fundraiser, I feel that I could be a valuable asset to Verona council.”

• What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?

“I feel that the Verona’s outdated infrastructure needs to be improved in order to keep up with our changing times and fastly growing town.”

• What should voters know about you?

“I am a lifelong Verona resident, Riverview graduate, and local business owner who is actively involved in fundraising to help the area. I am also vice president of the Verona parks and recreation board and president/co-founder of the Lower Valley Athletic Foundation. I am deeply committed and loyal to Verona and its residents. If elected, I will strive to improve the town in order to benefit the people who live here.”

Trish Hredzak-Showalter

• Why did you decide to run for election?

“I am grateful every day that we choose to make Verona our home, especially right now. Verona is undergoing a renaissance, and I am excited and honored to be able to help see that to fruition. I honestly didn’t give too much thought to running for borough council until later last year. Like many working parents, free time is sparse, and I thought how on Earth could I make time for such a big responsibility?

“I credit my spouse, Danny Showalter, who put it in mathematics terms, which resonated with the scientist in me. He basically said you’re spending ‘X’ number of hours in ‘Y’ number of meetings every week, but you could help the community and causes that you care about to the nth power if you stepped up and ran for borough council. I pretty much did a 180 on the whole idea when he said that.”

• What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?

“I’ll just say that ‘History repeats itself. Until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.’ We are in a period of transition and our first priority is rebuilding a more secure foundation, which is both a thrilling opportunity and tireless.

This includes better practices like a municipal pension committee, and moving forward with hiring a full time borough manager. Once our foundation is rebuilt, developing forward-thinking policies that support our imminent Renaissance is the next priority I see.”

• What should voters know about you?

“My priorities are unquestionably my family and our community. My child is my greatest motivation to work late nights and early mornings to help see Verona continue to grow. Through my volunteerism, especially as the chair of Verona’s parks and recreation board, I’ve connected with many young families in our area. Our children are our future.

“My dream is to see the children of our community have the best, most memorable and engaging childhood imaginable, so that they grow up in a thriving community and one day find themselves empowered to pursue their own civic engagements and passions. That’s how we leave this world better than when we started.”

Ray Suchevich

• Why did you decide to run for election?

“I decided to seek a council seat because I have been a homeowner for 30 years and thought that I could get involved in the community and possibly try to somehow get some new businesses in to some vacant buildings in the borough and help move the borough forward.”

• What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?

“I believe that, with the state of the borough, one of the biggest issues is to try to get a full-time borough manager, a secretary and a building inspector and work to attempt to try to rectify the current problems with the borough budget. Also, the paving of some of the streets that are in bad shape, also try to find a way to hire some more police officers.”

• What should voters know about you?

“I am a family man. I’m married to my wife, Kimberly, and biggest supporter for 30 years. I have two wonderful daughters, Emily and Rachael. Lifelong resident of Verona and homeowner also a proud 40-year member of the Verona Volunteer Fire Company. I am dedicated to the borough of Verona and I hope you would consider to vote for me in May.”

Rhoda Worf

• Why did you decide to run for election?

“Through the years, I have participated in Verona’s revitalization efforts. I would like to continue working to help ensure Verona’s growth and stability for the future.”

• What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed?

“The biggest issue, as I see it, is the need to improve governmental efficiency, accountability and planning. Adopting and adhering to a strategic plan is a key element to achieving these goals.”

• What should voters know about you?

“I have previously served on Verona’s council for eight years, to the best of my abilities. I intend to serve Verona again with my continued adherence to the principals of honesty, integrity and tenacity to complete my mission of working for Verona’s betterment.”