2 newcomers, 1 incumbent elected to Vandergrift Council

Two newcomers will join Vandergrift Council, and incumbent Kathy Chvala will return for another term, according to unofficial Westmoreland County election results.

Five candidates ran for three open council seats. John Uskuraitis, who cross-filed as both Democrat and Republican, got the most support, collecting 27.4% of the vote. Republican Karen McClarnon came in second at 19.6%, followed by incumbent Democrat Kathleen Chvala, at 19.3%.

At 38, Uskuraitis will be council’s youngest member. He hopes to improve the council’s relations with Vandergrift residents.

“I just want us to be accessible to people,” said Uskuraitis. “I want the public to be able to come to us and speak to us and address us with any issues.”

Uskuraitis also plans to improve the borough’s parks and implement better code enforcement, which is an issue that also resonates with McClarnon.

In the borough, three serious incidents reported at a rental property — domestic disturbances, overdoses, or other dangerous instances where police are called — should prompt the town to contact the homeowner and result in the tenants’ eviction. But that’s not happening, McClarnon said, and the failure hurts the entire community.

“I think it is being a detriment because we have neighbors who have to tolerate continual disturbances, continual issues that are bringing their property value down and their quality of life down,” said McClarnon.

McClarnon, a former school administrator and current owner of Organized Interiors, will enter her term with the goal of increasing fiscal transparency and of bringing an openness to new ideas.

“I think everyone who lives in this town has the right to know what’s going on,” McClarnon said.

McClarnon plans to make budget details more transparent to the public, and she also hopes to encourage council to receive ideas and feedback from new voices.

“Not everyone was born and raised here — I believe we need to open our ears and eyes and listen to people more.”

Chvala, 72, was first elected in 1990 and now serves as the council’s president. She could not immediately be reached for comment.