James “Jim” Parsons, Amanda Pagnotta, Isaiah Wilson and Charles F. Fox — all Democrats — have been elected to serve four-year terms on Oakmont Council, according to unoffical results from the Allegheny County Office of Elections.

The other two candidates on the ballot, Republicans John Arnold, 81, an incumbent, and Joseph Rodkey, 58, were unable to secure spots.

Parsons, 66, was the top vote-getter with 1,835 votes (19.9%).

A former journalist, Parsons said he has always advocated for transparency in government. Council has done a great job with communications, he said, and he hopes to contribute to those efforts.

Parsons said his plans include listening to constituents, fellow council members, the borough manager and borough staff to learn as much as he can.

“I think what we saw in Oakmont last night is similar to what we saw across the nation,” Parsons said about the clear Democrat sweep in the borough. “I think we saw the results of an electorate that’s tired of extreme politics whether it’s on the left or right.”

He said residents have expressed the desire for officials who work together to find the best solution for everyone.

“They want their elected officials to control expenses, control taxes and fix roads in a way that’s not extreme,” Parsons said. “I’m looking forward to working with the other members of council, Mayor (Sophia) Facaros and (Borough Manager) Scot Fodi. In my career, I was always the person who was criticizing officials, and now the shoe is on the other foot.”

Joining Parsons as a new face on council is Fox, 46, who secured 1,708 votes. He wants to use his experience as an attorney to assist the borough in navigating legal matters, he said.

“I’m honored to have been elected to Borough Council,” Fox said. “Oakmont had a number of good, qualified candidates, all motivated by the same goal — keeping our community moving forward. I’m grateful for the support of the residents and eager to work with Council, the borough manager and assistant manager, and all our departments for the benefit of Oakmont.”

Incumbent Isaiah Wilson, 26, was elected to his first full term as a council member. He was appointed to his current position in January 2024 to fill a vacancy left by former council member Tracey Holst. Securing 1,755 votes, Wilson hopes to incorporate long-term solutions and responsible planning to address aging infrastructure, stormwater management, and traffic and safety concerns.

Another incumbent, Pagnotta received 1,790 votes.

“It feels great for people to see that we’ve made some really positive changes with council,” Pagnotta said.

She said the council has been able to improve communication with residents, create more inclusive spaces and provide resources for community needs.

“If you compare the number of voters from last year that voted for me this year, it was a couple hundred higher that placed their faith in me,” she said.

Pagnotta said she was humbled by the increase, saying she was happy residents saw the positive action from council and her contributions to it. Being on council, Pagnotta has led the charge with communication improvements.

She hopes to continue those efforts, she said, and her goal is to create a live update file to keep residents informed about current projects such as roadwork, grass mowing and other community projects.

Arnold and Rodkey earned 1,015 and 1,077 votes, respectively.

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