Democrats sweep Riverview School Board races

Democrats swept the races for Riverview School Board, earning five seats for four-year terms and another for a two-year term in the Nov. 7 election, according to unofficial Allegheny County results.

Jennifer K. Chaparro, board president, won reelection with a leading total of 1,875 votes.

“I am grateful to the voters of Oakmont and Verona for their confidence in me to continue to serve on the board of directors for Riverview School District,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of positive momentum, enrollment growth, and academic and athletic achievements from which to build in the next four years. I am honored to do this important volunteer work and am excited to help lead our district in a positive direction.”

Joining her in winning four-year seats were incumbent Antonio Paris (1,756 votes), Erin Schuetz (1,680), Leanne Jacobs-Rohan (1,628) and Roger Pogoda (1,545).

Bridget Seery earned a two-year term, defeating Republican Ellen Hyland-Keelan, 1,728 votes to 1,414.

“I am humbled and honored to serve on the board of Riverview School District. I take seriously my duty to the community as a school director. I am thankful for those that supported me and for those that came out to the polls on Tuesday to vote,” Seery said.

“I also am happy to be one of the two board members from the Borough of Verona. I also thank Jeanine Hurt-Robinson for her service on the board, whose seat I am filling for the next two years.”

Paris acknowledged his supporters.

“This was my first official election,” he said. “Last year I was appointed by the board to fill the seat vacany of a former board member, and I was so happy and eager to be there. After last night, those feelings have only grown.

“Being able to serve my alma mater in such a monumental way and knowing that I have the support of my community to do so only makes me that much more excited and eager to be a board member for Riverview School District,” he continued. “These next four years will hopefully be some of the best for the district, and I hope to be a part of the reason why.”

Schuetz expressed similar appreciation.

“I am humbled and grateful to have received the support of our Riverview voters in being selected as a member of the school board for the next four years,” she said. “I will honor their support by continuing forward movement in our district and removing barriers to success for our students, faculty, staff and administration. Thank you for standing with me as I work for collaborative, rational, ethical and responsible oversight for our district and community.”

Jacobs-Rohan noted some of her goals:

“I’m so grateful Riverview voters elected me. I’ll work hard to keep the school safe, books accessible, and the arts and music thriving. I hope my experience with the mental health field can benefit the district and help students make positive connections with each other.”

For Pogoda, his gratitude extends to constituents “who have entrusted me with the most precious responsibility: creating a safe environment for their children where they can learn, grow and discover.”

“The results of Tuesday’s election were very validating for my family and I because it reinforces that we made the right choice for our children by moving to Oakmont almost six years ago,” he said. “Our hope was to find an engaging environment where our kids could flourish and become the best versions of themselves. I feel confident that myself and the rest of the board are well-positioned to play an important role in fostering that environment.”

Republicans running for the four-year seats were Nick Paradise (1,525 votes), Colette Saxon-Kmetz (1,337), Seth Wermager (1,267), Melissa Botta-Havran (1,235) and Isabelle McDade (1,233). The write-in vote total was 43.