When Justin Horvat moved to Pleasant Hills nearly four years ago, he took it all in: The borough crews cleaning up the parks and the public works staff cleaning the snowy streets in the winter.

Living on the hillside above the borough building, he sees it all.

“I got a tremendous sense of this is how it should be,” said Horvat, 38, who was sworn in as the newest member of borough council on March 18.

He wants to help keep the borough thriving while giving back to the community his children will grow up in. It’s what led him to try for the open seat on council, vacated by the resignation of longtime Councilman Regis Brown last month.

Horvat was appointed to council in a 4-0 vote, with council members Greg Smith and Cheryl Freedmen abstaining.

Horvat, who grew up in West Mifflin, has an associates degree in paralegal studies from Community College of Allegheny County. He works as a senior property manager for Millcraft Investments.

Part of what made him want to seek public office was his experience being laid off from a warehouse job in 2008. He went to community college at age 27. Going to school at an older age helped him focus on what he really wanted to do, which led him to where he is today, he said.

“That directly led to my wanting to give back,” he said.

Horvat also sees daughters Lucy, 3, and Trudy, 2 months, as extra motivation for wanting to serve.

“Pleasant Hills is the last thing I see before I go to work and the first thing I see when I come home from work,” he said. “I want to continue to see it thrive. I want there to be a place that’s as good as it is today, tomorrow, for everybody, for my little ones.”

Borough council also approved a resolution honoring Brown.

“All of us who interacted with Rege knew how dedicated Rege was and how he wore Pleasant Hills on his heart and on his sleeve,” said Solicitor Fred Jug, who drafted the resolution.

What stood out the most about Brown during his time of service was that no matter what happened or where someone stood on an issue, he would always leave that behind and ask, “How are you? How’s your family? How’s everything?” when he talked to you, Jug said.

“Rege truly is an ambassador for this borough.”

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