4 candidates running for 2 Leet commissioner seats
Leet’s board of commissioners race has four hopefuls vying for two, four-year terms. Incumbent and current board of commissioners president Donna Adipietro will face newcomers Daniel Peluso, Rody Nash and Stephanie Turner.
Here are the candidates and their responses to the election questions posed by the Sewickley Herald.
Donna Adipietro
Age: 67
Political party: Democrat
Education: Life experience and dedication to public service
Occupation: Retired: 14 years emergency management coordinator; 19 years board of Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority; 20+ years with the Quaker Valley School District; QVESPA Union president/vice-president/chief contract negotiator
If elected, what are two short-term goals? I will continue with the openness of communication between the township and its residents. We’ve had more attendance in the past 3.5 years than ever before due to our transparency and direct dialog with those who attend. I’ve also established the Leet Township Community page on Facebook as another means of communicating events and overall community information. My second short-term/long-term goal is to continue working with all departments, maintaining fiscal responsibility and accountability. We’ve come leaps and bounds with streamlining finances and establishing a stable and solid financial base for our residents.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? To reduce the current tax rate for our residents. This can only be accomplished with continued fiscal management and cutting the waste from previous years. All Leet departments have taken this goal very seriously and have reduced unnecessary spending across the board. I would like to see a reduction of a quarter mill and will do my absolute best to bring this to fruition. Years ago, our millage was increased to make ends meet and now I’m proud to say that we’re finally strengthening control over the budget and our savings!
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Leet has many means of communication: Leet Township Newsletter; Leet Township Community FB page; the LeetTownship.org website; on occasion mailings to the residents and we use a 911 swift call for emergencies. Our monthly meetings are open to the public with two sessions of public participation; as with all municipalities, time limits are set for public comments and participation. However, being a small community we sometimes drop the formalities and allow for open dialog with the audience. We are there as elected officials to carry out the business of the township on behalf of those residents who voted for us. Residents know that I am available 24/7 and are comfortable reaching out.
In the summer of 2020, I created a survey for our residents about our township – it was distributed via the Newsletter and posted on the Leet Township website. This survey was a fact-finding mission for our residents to express the needs and wants for the future of Leet. The reasoning behind the survey is that Allegheny County requires a comprehensive plan from all of its communities. Residents were able to communicate their ideas about green spaces, playgrounds, current services and even the possibility of future development.
Daniel M. Peluso
Age: 47
Political party: Democrat
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Occupation: Artist/contractor
If elected, what are two short-term goals? Improve transparency in the board of commissioners decision-making process. Develop better means for residents to get logical, fair and timely resolutions to their needs and inquiries.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? Reform municipal hiring policies by developing logical standards for hiring, but also put in place standards for raises, merit pay and promotions.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I encourage residents to attend monthly board meetings, reach out to their commissioners and contact the township manager when issues, concerns and ideas arise. This is your community – you should be well represented by your elected commissioners.
Rody Nash
Age: 60
Political party: Republican
Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh
Occupation: Builder and property manager
If elected, what are two short-term goals? I’m sure everybody will agree that the decisions and the decision-making process the commission makes should be transparent and fair. I think we also can agree that the board of commissioners should act in a professional and courteous manner amongst themselves and our citizens.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? To insist that all options for a new (Quaker Valley) High School be explored and explained in an open and clear manner, so that we, as Leet Township residents, who would be most affected by the (Quaker Valley) School Board’s current plan, can help decide what the best scenario and location for a new school will be.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I would encourage all residents with questions or concerns to attend the commissioner’s meetings in Fair Oaks, the dates and times of which are on the Leet Township website — LeetTownship.org — along with a lot of other good information.
Stephanie Turner
Age: 30
Political party: Republican
Education: Quaker Valley High School
Occupation: Customer service, billing and collections
If elected, what are two short-term goals? My first goal is to implement authentic and transparent communication with our residents. They are the heart of this community and their thoughts and values will be heard with the utmost priority. In line with the first goal, my second goal would be to provide a process of clear, two-way communication channels that foster respect and positivity between the residents and with the commissioners they have elected as their leaders.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? My long-term goal is to make our township fiscally responsible while still adequately funding fire, police and public works. I believe it is in the best interest to keep these resources within our township limits, and funding them appropriately will assist them with not having to be outsourced.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I firmly believe that strategies cannot work unless the residents are integral to the work. It’s hard to have confidence in your leaders and neighbors if you do not know them. I plan to seek out engagement opportunities for residents to undertake shared projects, activities and socializing to reignite the neighborliness that once made this community so attractive. Simply removing problems doesn’t make a community attractive for current residents to stay and new residents to come. I am confident that once residents feel noticed and cared for by their chosen leaders, they’ll rally together for the greater purpose of promoting the attractiveness of our great community.
Katie Green is a TribLive deputy managing editor, overseeing features as well as the Trib's weekly and monthly community newspapers and websites. A former magazine editor, she's serious about coffee, is a proponent of the Oxford comma and enjoys tracing her family tree when she has the time. She can be reached at kgreen@triblive.com.
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