3 candidates seek 2 seats on New Kensington Council

Three men — Chase Balla, Nicholas DiCarolis and Phil Toney — are seeking two seats on the New Kensington Council.

Councilmen Todd Mentecki and Corey Pistininzi did not seek reelection.

Mayor Tom Guzzo, a Democrat, is running for his seat unopposed.

“At 26 years old, I want to give back to the community that has given me so much,” said Balla, who works as an outside sales representative at Groff Tractor and Equipment. “I want to see New Kensington build something better.”

Balla, a Republican, said one of his strengths is listening to people.

He said New Kensington has made strides, pointing to events like Fridays on Fifth and the Farmer’s Market, but still faces issues with crime. Seniors and people on fixed incomes, he said, also grapple with increasing taxes and rates.

Balla called for a shared vision of New Kensington among community members and city officials. Community members should feel comfortable sharing concerns with officials, and officials should take action on what the community suggests.

Some “commonsense” solutions, he said, could include livestreaming meetings, a dashboard of city projects and pavings, and obtaining grant funding to support police and public safety.

“I’m willing to give people the shirt off my back. I take tremendous pride in saying I’m from New Kensington. I’m a product of people that have helped me in my life.”

If elected, Balla said, he’d bring accountability and transparency to New Kensington.

“I’m willing to work along both sides of people. I’m open to communication and have conversations to understanding what’s affecting us and what’s holding us up. I will put my best foot forward for the residents of New Kensington.”

DiCarolis, an assistant principal in the Penn Hills School District, wants to ensure an increase in small-business growth in the city and collaborations with the New Kensington-Arnold School District.

He’s excited for the prospects of a new Aluminum City Arts center at the old Alcoa building at 200 Freeport Road.

“These are exactly the types of projects I want to help out with,” said DiCarolis, 37, a Democrat. “These organizations coming into the region are great opportunities for us to get New Kensington back to where it used to be, with a modern spin.”

DiCarolis said one of his strengths is listening to others. He is wrapping up a term on the New Kensington-Arnold School Board and believes that would translate well to the city council.

“Being on the school board, for three years, I was the finance chair and understand budgeting issues and ensuring fiscal responsibility for constituents while still making logical and positive changes,” he said.

Increasing small businesses in New Kensington “can only have positive dividends,” he said.

A father of three children, DiCarolis said he wants to make sure New Kensington is attractive to younger families and homebuyers.

“I’m committed to this town,” DiCarolis said. “I want to make a positive change to a community that has helped me and my family become successful adults. I want to make sure the opportunity is available to all people in the city.”

Toney, retired after 40 years working for New Kensington’s water authority, identified goals of bringing a grocery store to downtown and more retail stores.

A lifelong resident, Toney remembers when Downtown New Kensington was bustling with business and activity.

“It’s nice we have businesses popping up downtown,” said Toney, 70 a Democrat. “I’d like to get some retail shopping downtown and get some traffic moving through downtown outside of dining purposes.”

Toney also floated an idea to work with the Westmoreland County Community College to expand its downtown location.

“With Penn State New Ken closing, we might have an opportunity to do something with housing down in that area, to entice kids to further their education through community college,” he said.

Toney also identified supporting police, fire and EMS as a priority.

He said negotiating is one of his biggest strengths.

“All my life, anything I’ve done, I’ve done it wholeheartedly,” Toney said. “At 70 years old, the only thing I’m concerned about is keeping the city thriving.”