New council members sworn in across the South Hills

It’s a new day in Jefferson Hills, as three new council members took the oath of office on Jan. 6.

Democrats Karen Bucy, Nicole Ruscitto and Keith Reynolds were sworn in for a four-year term at the borough’s reorganization meeting that evening.

“We have the opportunity in this brand new decade of 2020, with brand new leadership that is committed to helping the citizens of Jefferson Hills,” said Bucy, who was named council president unanimously by her peers.

Incumbent David Montgomery was unanimously named vice president in front of the room full of family and friends.

Even U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle stopped by to witness the change in leadership.

“It was just nice to come out tonight as a unified council,” Ruscitto said. “I’m so glad that we have all of these energetic and enthusiastic people to help lead everybody in the right direction.”

Reynolds promised that the new council members are going to keep their word to the voters.

“We’re going to bring in a fresh thought process to take us into the future,” he said. “We have a list of priorities and we’re going to attack it. There’s not going to be any sitting and waiting around. We have some critical issues that need to be taken care of right now. You’re going to start to see action immediately.”

He promised “100 percent transparency” from the new council and said any resident interested in serving on borough committees should apply.

Pleasant Hills

In Pleasant Hills, incumbent Gregory Smith and newcomers Nicole Leckenby and Andrew Codelka were sworn in to four year terms on borough council on Jan. 6. Newcomer Eileen Solinas was sworn in to a two year term.

At the meeting, council members appointed Cheryl Freedman as council president and Smith as vice president.

Baldwin Borough

In Baldwin Borough, incumbent James Behers and newcomers Denise Maiden and Patty Boyer were sworn in to four-year terms on borough council on Jan. 6.

At the meeting, Marianne Conley was named council president by her peers and John Egger was named vice president.

Whitehall

In Whitehall Borough, incumbents Glenn Nagy, Phil Lahr and Robert McKown were sworn in for another four-year term in office on Jan. 6.

At the meeting, keeping with Whitehall tradition to rotate positions, Nagy was named council president and councilman John Wotus was named vice president.

Brentwood

In Brentwood Borough, incumbents Pat Carnevale, Rich Schubert and Harold Smith were sworn in for another four-year term in office on Jan. 6.

At the meeting, Smith was once again named council president by his colleagues, while councilman AJ Doyle was named council vice president.