Jefferson Hills council race has 8 candidates seeking 4 seats
Jefferson Hills council will have at least one new member on council after the November election as incumbent Francis Sockman declined to seek reelection.
There are four candidates for both the Democrat and Republican parties seeking four 4-year seats on the Nov. 2 ballot, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections’ unofficial candidate list.
Candidates include incumbents David Montgomery, Vickie Ielase and Melissa Girman-Steffey, Keith Polick, Brian Militzer, Peter Doel, Hilary Kingsley-Budd and Claire Metzinger Germello.
Ielase did not respond to messages seeking information.
Here are the other candidates and their responses to election questions posed by South Hills Record:
Peter D. Doel
Age: 52
Political party: Democrat
Education: Computer science degree from Grove City College
Occupation: Software support engineer/project manager
If elected, what are two short-term goals? Adequate fire protection for all residents. Close to half of our borough has been at risk for three years now, without an open fire department in the Gill Hall Area. Our current council has repeatedly failed to find a solution. We need all our fire departments open and working together. I will work diligently to ensure residents that all our fire departments are ready, willing and able to be open and support our residents in the event of an emergency.
We need to establish a code of conduct for council members. We have council members texting throughout meetings, treating residents and experts who’ve been asked to speak at meetings with much disrespect. The concerns of our residents need to be heard and respected.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? We need to provide more recreation to the residents. We have hundreds of new families that have moved into the borough in the last 10 years, and with more and more developments coming, we have very little to offer. We need a recreation center, ball fields, some small parks and maybe even a community pool.
We need places for children to meet and play safely throughout the year. A recreation center could be used for people of all ages, year-round. These drives would help bring our community closer and be of great value for everyone. Our current council keeps approving new developments while ignoring chances to add amenities like recreation. It’s time we start focusing on things we can give back to our residents.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I’d follow in the footsteps of Councilwoman (Nicole) Ruscitto and have a monthly meeting with any resident who would like to meet. I’m surprised she’s the only council member who has such an event. Many of our residents have mentioned they feel uncomfortable coming to meetings and voicing concerns.
It can be daunting speaking in front of a group of people, especially when council often treats the residents with disrespect in these meetings. A monthly one-on-one might get more residents to come out and speak. I also feel instilling a code of conduct for council members during meetings would help make residents feel safe that when they do come to meetings, they will be listened to and heard.
Melissa Lynne Girman-Steffey
Age: 45
Political party: Republican
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management from Robert Morris University.
Occupation: Realtor at Jeffrey Costa Select Realty
If elected, what are two short-term goals? I would prefer for council to have more input when it comes to our paving projects that are selected instead of it being chosen at random by a program. I do believe that we have developments that have inherited a raw deal when it comes to their roads within the plan that were left partially completed or have been poorly completed by the developer, and I feel that these plans should be included in our paving budget for the upcoming year without them having to get an attorney involved.
I intend to continue to work with our engineering department and PennDOT to identify areas in the borough that are in need of a traffic study that may or may not require a traffic light, stop sign, speed limit sign, traffic mirror or whatever it takes in order to put residents’ safety first and foremost.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? I would like to continue the work that I started with the recreation board from a few years ago to be able to bring a community center to Jefferson Hills.
I have a meeting set with our state representative to discuss securing small business grants for entrepreneurs to be given an opportunity to expand our small business community, (and) securing grant money to purchase property and establish a fire department substation on Gill Hall Road.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Over the past year and a half that I have been a part of council, I do feel that I am able to communicate in whichever capacity is easier for the residents. I have been contacted via phone, email, text message and social media and I have consistently responded to all questions and concerns.”
Hilary Kingsley-Budd
Age: 40
Political party: Republican
Education: Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Duquesne University.
Occupation: Homemaker, retired emergency dispatcher
If elected, what are two short-term goals? I want to continue the positive development of services and programs for the community by maximizing the utilization of existing resources and supporting borough employees and volunteers. I want to improve the professional demeanor of borough council to create a results-oriented environment.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? Ensuring the future growth and stability of Jefferson Hills is vital. I want to make sure Jefferson Hills has effective and economically feasible future planning in place with an emphasis on public safety and long-term growth.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Local politics is where residents see the most direct return on paid taxes. They deserve transparency and communication in the matters that concern them. I plan to make myself available through various forms of communication by receptively listening and following through with concerns.
Claire Metzinger-Germello
Age: 35
Political party: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of South Carolina and master’s degree in elementary reading and mathematics from Walden University
Occupation: Teacher
If elected, what are two short-term goals? My first goal is to help Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Department get reactivated and back in service. My second short-term goal would be to help build a council that the community can be proud of
If elected, what is one long-term goal? To help gather information and help form a plan to bring more to the community in the essence of a recreation center or activity center that can be used by members of our community.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I would hope that whether we disagree or agree about matters, that there can be civil and respectful open dialogue and discussions.
Brian W. Militzer
Age: 63
Political party: Democrat
Education: 15 1/2 years
Occupation: ASE mechanic
If elected, what are two short-term goals? I plan on working with council and the volunteers of the fire departments to provide superior fire protection for all residents of the borough. I appreciate the work that they do for our community and want to make sure they are provided with what they need to perform safely.
With my previous time on council, I have always had an open-door policy. I would like to provide that same service if elected. I will have my contact information available and am willing to meet the residents to listen or see their concerns.”
If elected, what is one long-term goal? To develop the (Route) 51 corridor with development that will benefit the residents. This will stabilize the borough’s financial tax base preventing tax increases. The borough is a business and I have 40 years experience in running my own business. I would use this knowledge to negotiate the contracts, bid process and supplies for the borough’s needs.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I would communicate by listening to their concerns and taking into account the whole borough. In order to involve them in the decision-making process, I would get all sides of every concern and come to an understanding that is fair for all residents. I will also encourage residents to attend all borough meetings to have their concerns heard and to understand how the decision-making process works.
David Montgomery
Age: 65
Political party: Republican
Education: Thomas Jefferson High School, 1973; Bachelor of Science in business administration from Robert Morris University, 1977
Occupation: Energy dispatcher for US Steel
If elected, what are two short-term goals? To establish a pension board in the borough. We’re one of the few communities that do not have one. A pension board consists of some elected officials and has some employees in the department. It makes sure the pensions have the best return possible for the money invested. We have a minimum municipal obligation that we have to put in the pension. If it doesn’t perform and costs more tax revenue, that means less for more worthwhile needs.
The second goal is to work on the comprehensive plan and look at what the community needs and what it wants to do, and try to mold our ordinances and perform whatever actions are needed to accomplish those goals.
If elected, what is one long-term goal? The long-term goal would be to maintain or improve the services provided to the residents and the taxpayers, such as the paving program, deal with all the infrastructure problems as they come up and maintain all public safety services as required and not raise taxes. That takes a great deal of effort and attention to detail. This doesn’t just happen.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I respond to any phone call or email within 24 hours. If somebody has a problem we can’t resolve on the phone, I’ll go to their house or residence and create a solution to the problem. If it’s an infrastructure problem, I’ll go look at it and get back to them with the potential solutions.
You can also leave a message at the borough office. I have a Facebook page. I want the residents and taxpayers to understand what can be accomplished and what can’t be and why. Some things local government can’t do, but I will advocate on their behalf and find a solution for whatever the issue is.”
Keith R. Polick
Age: 64
Political party: Republican
Education: Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh
Occupation: Sales service manager in the steel industry
If elected, what are two short-term goals? Try and resolve the firehouse issues with Gill Hall and Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue and try to have them all working together, and try and expand commercial development versus relying on residential development for growth in the borough.”
If elected, what is one long-term goal? Bring back professionalism and common sense to the decisions made by council versus shooting off the hip, and using facts and not emotions for decision making. Everything’s fueled by emotions right now. Just deal with facts and go from there.
How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I’m available through emails and phone calls.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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