8 running for 4 seats on Whitehall borough council

Four Democrats and four Republicans are vying for four seats on borough council. Only one, Stone Sobieralski, is an incumbent.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order:

Patrick Conners

Democrat

Age: 33

Education: Master’s in public administration with a concentration in public and nonprofit management, University of Pittsburgh; bachelor’s from Penn West, California, with concentrations in history and political science

Occupation: Executive director, Quaker Valley Council of Governments

Community involvement/volunteer work: Numerous boards and commissions, including the Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Shade Tree Commission (currently chair), Local Government Academy, Congress of Neighboring Communities and the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Governments; member of Whitehall Borough Historical Society and Whitehall Borough Green Thumbers Garden Club

Years residing in borough: Since November 2021

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

Investing in new infrastructure and projects while maintaining fiscal responsibility requires creativity, collaboration and long-term strategic planning. I would prioritize projects that could leverage state grants such as the Local Share Account and Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund programs to supplement the borough’s budget, to ensure that our shared infrastructure receives the necessary investment. Additionally, I would seek to build on existing partnerships and shared services with our neighboring communities and organizations such as the South Hills Council of Governments to reduce costs while maximizing efficiencies. Most importantly, future budgets must be developed without overburdening our community’s taxpayers. Ultimately, thoughtful investment, transparency and innovation can deliver progress while keeping taxes fair and sustainable for all of Whitehall’s residents.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

I am a believer in meeting people/residents where they are. It is essential for prospective leaders within our community to engage with residents within the borough’s many community groups (Historical Society, Shade Tree Commission, Green Thumbers, etc.) at our community’s first-class amenities such as the Whitehall Library and pool, as well as on digital platforms such as the municipal website and social media pages to inform, educate and excite. Today, people are busier than ever. It is crucial for a community to engage with as many residents as possible in flexible and meaningful ways. Lastly, I’d encourage inclusive events that reflect a diversity of interests that can make civic engagement something that all residents look forward to.

Eric Crane

Democrat

Age: 65

Education: Carnegie-Mellon University

Occupation: Retired software engineer/consultant, IBM Corp

Community involvement/volunteer work: Past Baldwin-Whitehall Soccer Association coach, referee, board member; Baldwin-Whitehall School District Band Patrons: logistics; Baldwin-Whitehall School District Musical Theater: carpenter, stage crew

Years residing in borough: 39

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

The borough has always been proactive by applying for private and public grants to fund projects. In lieu of those funds, I recommend prioritizing projects and breaking them down into affordable stages that fall within a year’s budget constraints.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

Advertise! Let people know what opportunities for involvement are available. I can say from experience that residents do not know what opportunities are out there.

Julia Donohue

Republican

Age: 43

Education: Masters of business administration with a concentration in fraud and forensics, Carlow University

Occupation: Program manager of government compliance in health care

Community involvement/volunteer work: Volunteered at various food banks and also at my church

Years residing in borough: 27

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

I’m committed to balancing new projects without raising taxes, despite limited state funding. If elected, I’ll prioritize fiscal responsibility through budgeting audits to cut waste and ensure efficient spending. I’ll seek grants and explore business partnerships to fund projects like road repairs and road safety efforts, community events and park renovations without raising taxes. I will search for high-impact, low-cost initiatives – such as increased neighborhood police patrols, streamlined permits and fair code enforcement – to address safety and housing concerns effectively. Regular town halls will ensure the community’s priorities shape the borough’s investments. By focusing on creative funding and community-driven solutions, we can enhance Whitehall’s quality of life while keeping it affordable.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

My plan for a more involved Whitehall:

• Bringing Community Together: It Starts With Us. I will launch a series of local events designed for everyone. This means monthly town halls right in your neighborhood, organized cleanup days and family-friendly festivals and workshops. My goal is simple: make participation easy, welcoming and fun so that every resident feels empowered to step up.

• Inspiring Action: Sharing Your Success Stories. We already have amazing residents making a difference. I will use newsletters and social media to actively showcase resident-led victories. These success stories aren’t just news; they are the inspiration that proves one person can change our community for the better.

• Closing the Communication Gap: You Will Be Heard. No more guessing about whats happening! I will create a dedicated online hub (like a Facebook page or website) to provide real-time updates on every borough initiative, volunteer opening and committee meetings. This platform will be your direct channel for feedback and input, ensuring your voice is what truly shapes the future of Whitehall.

• Recognizing Dedication: Honoring Our Everyday Heroes. If you contribute, you deserve recognition. I will revamp the borough’s awards and recognition process to not only celebrate those who volunteer locally, but also to honor residents doing great work outside the borough, like military service, humanitarian aid or leading a significant nonprofit.

Richard J. Kirsch

Democrat

Age: 68

Education: Master of business administration

Occupation: Retired from ATT Business Services, supporting both wireless and wireline development and Tier 3 problem solving, for 33 years

Community involvement/volunteer work: Whitehall Borough Civil Service Commission, seven years; served as president of the Baldwin-Whitehall Music Patrons and Baldwin-Whitehall Athletic Association; current president, Wallace Park Homeowners Association

Years residing in borough: 41

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

With ever-rising costs applying pressure on the budgets of local government, any new project or service must be financed in one of three ways: straight from the general fund, possibly with a cut in another service, spread out over a period of time, or the best case is finding a grant from the state, county or even the federal government. The latter two would put the least strain on the budget and hold the line on taxes. Whitehall Borough has managed to handle projects and services by capitalizing funding over years the way the parks continue to be renovated.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

Advertise the diverse amount of activities, groups and clubs through the borough’s website, Facebook, twice-a-year magazine (newest should be hitting all borough residents mailboxes very soon), along with the emails available by signing up for Words from Whitehall. Electronic and social media is how the majority of people get their information today. By listing all, I am sure people will be able to find an activity to enhance their free time.

Christy Kuehn

Democrat

Age: 46

Education: Bachelor of arts, Geneva College, 2001; master of arts in literature, Arizona State University, 2007; Ph.D. in instructional management and leadership, Robert Morris University, 2018

Occupation: Program director for the Consortium for Public Education and part-time faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, English Department

Community involvement/volunteer work: Whitehall Public Library Board since 2022, becoming president in 2025; member of the Whitehall Historical Society; consistently volunteered throughout my life, supporting afterschool programs, leading creative groups and helping at community and nonprofit events

Years residing in borough: Since 2017; raised in Baldwin and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1997

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

As a council member, my goal would be to ensure Whitehall remains strong by making thoughtful financial decisions that serve residents today and build for tomorrow. That means being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars while still meeting the needs of our borough. To do this well, we need to be clear about three things: what our priorities are, what the costs and impacts of proposed projects might be, and what opportunities exist for outside funding.

Because state resources are often limited, it is especially important to pursue grants at the county, state and federal levels, and to build partnerships with local organizations that can bring additional support to Whitehall. At the same time, we must prioritize projects that directly benefit residents and improve the quality of life in Whitehall. I will take a balanced approach, investing in Whitehall’s future while ensuring those investments make financial sense and do not place an undue burden on taxpayers.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

It is extremely important to me that Whitehall remains a vibrant, welcoming community where neighbors come together to enjoy events, learn new things and spend time with one another. At every community event I attend, I am always struck by how meaningful it is to see residents of all backgrounds and perspectives spending time together. That spirit of connection is one of Whitehall’s greatest strengths, and I want to see it continue to grow.

To encourage greater involvement, I would collaborate with our many borough resources – the Recreation Department, the Whitehall Public Library, the historical society, BCAP, the Green Thumbers, Baldwin Manor Park and others – to expand outreach and programming.

By offering a wide range of activities that reflect different interests, we create opportunities for residents to not only enjoy themselves but also to connect with one another. A community is built on these moments of shared experience, and my goal is to make sure every resident sees a place for themselves in Whitehall.

John Paravati

Republican

Age: 60

Education: Degree in CADD Design

Occupation: CADD designer in civil engineering

Community involvement/volunteer work: Board member for Steeplechase Townhome Community, where I volunteer as the landscape chairperson.

Years residing in borough: My wife and I have lived in Whitehall for seven years. We moved from Baldwin Borough, where I was a commissioner for eight years.

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

Improving roads and infrastructure in Whitehall requires a multifaceted approach involving strategic planning, securing funding and community engagement. A key first step is developing a Capital Improvement Plan to objectively prioritize projects based on clear criteria and our community’s needs. Local funds often are not sufficient for large-scale infrastructure projects. I would supplement the boroughs budget by pursuing state, federal and private funding options.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

I would establish resident event committees, inviting a diverse group of residents to help plan events that appeal to their neighborhoods, increasing the chances of both participation and tailored activities. In addition, I would use online polls, surveys and forums to ask for community input on what kind of events they want, when they prefer they be held and where they should take place.

Jeremy Rose

Republican

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor of science, University of Pittsburgh

Occupation: Disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran/retired/stay-at home-father

Community involvement/volunteer work: President of Mother of Mercy Academy (St. Gabriel OSV) Athletic Board; youth sports coach (soccer, baseball, basketball, cross country and track); prior leader for the Boy Scouts of America

Years residing in borough: 13

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

I will prioritize public safety and infrastructure while keeping taxes stable by separating needs from wants, leveraging partnerships and grants, and phasing projects to spread costs. Collaboration, transparency and targeted funding will guide decisions so residents see clear value for any tax impact.

• Prioritize essential services with pavement preservation: Shift capital focus from broad capital improvement planning to a proactive pavement preservation program that extends pavement life, reduces long-term repair costs and keeps roads safe and usable

• Leverage outside funding aggressively: state/county cost shares, grants and public-private partnerships to reduce local share

• Shared services with neighboring municipalities to cut operating costs

• Phase and finance projects to avoid large onetime tax spikes; use reserves and prudent debt for long-lived assets

• Engage residents and council with transparent tradeoffs and regular reporting

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

I would increase resident participation by combining targeted outreach, improved online presence and regular community dialogue so events and programs match residents’ needs and interests:

• Targeted email campaigns segmented by interests and past attendance to share relevant events and RSVP links

• Enhanced website listings with an events calendar, sign-up forms, volunteer opportunities and mobile-friendly design

• Social media boosts for timely reminders and event highlights with community photos and short videos

• Town halls and listening sessions to gather input, test ideas and co-design programs with residents

• Partnerships with local groups (schools, businesses, faith groups) to cross-promote and broaden reach

• Simple feedback loop (surveys, post-event metrics) to iterate and show residents their input changes programming

Stone Sobieralski

Republican

Age: 28

Education: Associate degree, business accounting and finance

Occupation: Stonemason

Community involvement/volunteer work: Current Whitehall Council member, serving on library, recreation and planning committees

Years residing in borough: Entire life

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

The best way to balance the need for new projects or services with keeping taxes manageable is to spend as efficiently as possible. One area I believe this can be improved is with liquid fuels funds, which are usually one of the biggest windfalls of money in the form of state funding the borough receives. These funds are designed to maintain our roads. If council fosters better communication between utility companies’ line replacement schedules and the yearly borough road maintenance program, an open line of communication could result in more productive road projects with a decreased risk of new roads being torn up.

What would you like to do as far as encouraging more residents to get involved with events, activities and programs offered by the borough?

I’d encourage more residents to check out our media outlets and website for important information on events and activities.