Sewickley council candidates sound off

Sewickley residents will have a variety of candidates to choose from on the ballot in their respective wards for council.

In Ward 1, incumbents Brian Bozzo and Sean Figley and newcomers Todd Hamer and Craig Waller are running for two, four-year seats on council.

In Ward 2, incumbent Todd Renner is running unopposed for a four-year seat, while newcomers Bridgett Bates and Edward Renner are vying for one, two-year seat.

In Ward 3, incumbent and current council president Jeff Neff and newcomers Donna Korczyk and Anne Willoughby are running for two, four-seats.

Here are the candidates and their responses to the questions posed by the Sewickley Herald.

Ward 1

Brain Bozzo

Age: 36

Political Party: Independent

Education: BSME Villanova University, MSME Columbia University, MBA Drexel University, JD Drexel University

Occupation: Intellectual property and technology policy attorney

If elected, what are two short-term goals? I want to assist in getting the Act 537 plan (wastewater treatment project) underway and to work with my colleagues and our engineering consultants to make sure Sewickley’s streets are being paved the right way by contractors who understand the importance of doing a quality job.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? I want to put together a plan to help shore up the hillsides and address hazardous structures in Ward I. Our ward is unique because our hills require maintenance and attention the rest of Sewickley does not. It’s a big task, but let’s create a long-term plan and begin making incremental progress. The good news is that the federal government and county have made funds available for such projects – we just need to secure them and get to work.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Those who know me understand that I pride myself on respect, work ethic and attitude. That said, I am happy to communicate with constituents on their terms. I think everyone should try to get to at least one council meeting to see how to process works. I believe that we agree on more than we disagree and promise to work my hardest to come up with solutions that take everyone’s interests to heart.

Sean Figley

Figley did not respond to requests for information for this article.

Todd Hamer

Age: Did not answer

Political party: Democrat

Education: BS Penn State University, 1999; MS Virginia Commonwealth University, 2001

Occupation: General manager, Union Fitness

If elected, what are two short-term goals? Create a trusting environment between the borough and the residents of Sewickley. This can be done with more transparency. For example, we can make sure every voter can easily see how each member votes on all topics. Additionally, ensuring that we are serving the residents of Sewickley, not the members of the board. True leadership is listening.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? Making sure that local government governs for the people. As I stated above, we must be transparent with all decisions, so that we can be held accountable. My biggest goal will be to be a servant leadership and make sure we are serving our community.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? First, and foremost, by sharing how I, as well as all committee members, are voting on each and every topic. Also, communication must start with trust and respect. Trust and respect take time and many of my neighbors know me as the local scout leader or from seeing me cheering on my son at the baseball field. I am already an active community member, I promise to not only continue but to increase my presence in our community. I understand that taking on a position such as this is a seven-day-a-week job and I must listen more than I speak to our community. We have some great events in our beautiful town and we should use these events to be the presence in our town we need.

Craig Waller

Age: 45

Political party: Republican

Education: Juris Doctor; BS mechanical engineering

Occupation: Tech startup co-founder

If elected, what are two short-term goals? Being impartial to political winds in joining council for making sound and wise decisions that benefit the many friends and families we’ve gotten to know well, and those we haven’t yet, in Ward 1 over these past eight years.

Increasing the visibility and furthering support of local organizations that serve and support the health and well-being of our community, as we have with helping hands along with hundreds of neighbors, children and friends in building a generative, welcoming and friendly local community.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? Depolicitize local community representation by listening well, finding rational mutual consensus together, looking beyond political parties to character and thoughtfully representing my neighbors and overall borough interests as a nearly 2o-year resident in all three wards with purposefulness and kindness.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I plan to remain in continual dialogue with constituents on the issues that matter to them as I am now and often asked by neighbors on how to approach problems/issues/solutions with local government.

Ward 2

Bridgett Bates

Age: 50

Political party: Independent

Education: BA in English and communications from Wingate College and MEd from Boston College

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom of two Quaker Valley students, volunteer with Quaker Valley Schools, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and serve on the board of the Children’s Theater of Pittsburgh. Prior to becoming a parent, I taught special-needs students, coordinated university-level study abroad programs and started my own business as an organizational consultant and event planner.

If elected, what are two short-term goals? First, I hope to bring more transparency to what borough council does and how they do it. Council serves the public and should be open about the decisions they are making and how they come to those decisions.

Second, I would like to work to provide updates to the community in a timely manner, along with advocating for streaming or zooming meetings and recording meetings for viewing at any time. One lesson from the past two years is that providing a variety of pathways to participate in meetings is not difficult to do and encourages participation from people who are not able to attend meetings in person.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? Over the past few years, council seems to have done a nice job of cleaning up the budget and general financial standing. This puts us in a good position to continue in a responsible direction. However, this process seems to have left relationships with community members and businesses unsettled. In addition, council seems to have become more divided along national political party lines. There is no place for this in local service. Council is here to serve the community and to run the business of our town. I fully believe that transparency, honesty, respect and a willingness to work with the public and business owners on rebuilding access, trust and relationships is key to long-term success. My goal is to foster this type of culture for council and approach for interactions with all of the people we serve.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? A previous council member sent out regular update letters to residents in my ward. I plan to continue that as well as be available for people in my ward. Hosting ward meetings, sending letters and generally being available to people is very important, of course. However, welcoming the input of neighbors and being honestly interested and curious about what people want is what will truly make the difference. I am sincerely interested and curious and will be available to listen and learn. I believe this is a service position and will work hard and be open, available, honest and accountable.

Edward Renner

Age: 20

Political party: Republican

Education: Currently a full-time student at Grove City College majoring in political science

Occupation: Full-time student

If elected, what are two short-term goals? To work on a return to normalcy in Sewickley regarding the covid-19 pandemic. I would also like to spend time getting to know my fellow council members and borough employees as a newly elected member of council to understand their goals and concerns.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? My main goal for the long term is to represent the many interests of – and be a voice for – the younger generation of our small community.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I will be sure that the borough has all of my contact information and people are free to communicate any concerns or recommendations they might have to me directly.

Ward 3

Donna Korczyk

Age: 66

Political party: Democrat

Education: BA, MsEd, MA, Phd from Duquesne University

Occupation: Licensed psychologist

If elected, what are two short-term goals? My work as a psychologist has shown me how listening and working together create positive change. I want to engage the community of Sewickley in this kind of dialogue, but that can only happen in a climate of transparency and accountability. Therefore, my first short-term goal is returning to the practice of recording in council minutes how each council member votes, for every vote.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? My short and long-term goals are the same: getting to know the people I am elected to represent, listening to their ideas, interests and concerns, the issues they face day-to-day, hearing about the things they think are going well or not-so-well in our community, then developing strategies to address them.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I will provide ways that people can contact me to talk, either remotely or in-person following covid-safe protocols, directly with me about what they hope we can accomplish together.

Jeff Neff

Neff did not respond to requests for information for this article.

Anne Willoughby

Age: 47

Political party: Democrat

Education: BA: University of Indiana, Bloomington (political science, women’s studies)

Occupation: Stay-at-home mother of three in Sewickley. Before kids, I worked as a magazine editor and publisher in Washington, D.C.

If elected, what are two short-term goals? First, I want to try to get away from political party side-taking and the antagonistic nature of national politics that has crept its way into local governance. Borough council is not making national policy here. Rather, council needs to keep its focus on local issues like parking, the best ways to support businesses and efficient use of borough resources. I want to keep the focus on Sewickley and reject any effort to have party politics influence or interfere with the way the borough functions and serves its residents. We all deserve to believe that our council members are thoughtful and just and serving in the spirit of community.

Second, I really support some of the current council members’ efforts in making the council meetings and voting records more accessible and clearer. The recent move to hide council members’ votes is just plain wrong and undemocratic. Transparency and accountability are key.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? Financial stability. I know that the borough has done some work to establish a more secure financial footing in the past couple years, which is great. And I know from experience that doing that isn’t always simple. I have a long history of taking on complex and in some cases, very strained budgets. I’ve served multiple years as treasurer and bookkeeper of several community organizations and associations. Budgets and hard decisions don’t scare me.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? It’s not in my nature to be outgoing, but I’ve been making a big effort to meet all the business owners and everyone that lives in Ward 3 face-to-face. It’s important to me that people know who I am and what I’m all about — regardless of political party affiliation. If I lose the election, we’ll still be neighbors and we’ll see each other in and around the village. If I win, I’ll strive to represent everyone in Ward 3 and everyone’s interests — not just some.