Harrison neighbors, former co-workers vie for 2nd Ward commissioner seat

Harrison neighbors Jamie Nee and Jeffrey “JR” Reynolds learned they were running for the same township commissioner’s seat when they ran into each other turning in paperwork at the county elections office.

They had worked together for years at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where Nee still works as director of social work for Allegheny Health Network. Reynolds had been in security.

“Whoever wins, the township will benefit from it,” said Reynolds. “This isn’t a race to hurt anybody. This is a race to help people. Both of us have that capability.”

Nee, a Republican, and Reynolds, a Democrat, are vying for the 2nd Ward seat held by Commissioner Gary Lilly, a Democrat who is not seeking reelection.

The 2nd Ward covers Natrona, the Allegheny Technologies metals plant and the area above the plant from Argonne Drive up to 12th Avenue, known as West Natrona . Nee and Reynolds live near each other in the West Natrona area.

Theirs is the only contested race for two commissioners’ seats up in this year’s election. They each ran unopposed in the May primary.

The other seat representing the 4th Ward is held by board Chairman William Heasley, a Democrat also not seeking reelection. Jim Erb, a firefighter at Citizens Hose, where he also is director of the ambulance service, is unopposed on the ballot after winning both party nominations in the primary.

Erb defeated challenger Dylan Seelnacht for the Republican nomination. There were no candidates for the Democratic nomination, which Erb won as a write-in.

The three other commissioner seats — held by Charles Dizard in the 1st Ward, Eric Bengel in the 3rd Ward, and Gary Meanor in the 5th Ward — will be up for election in 2023.

Nee, 57, is a Latrobe native who has lived in Harrison for 20 years. She moved to Harrison from Arnold with her husband, Brian, whom she met in college. They have twin daughters, 31, and a son, 24.

With her children grown, Nee said now felt like the time to serve her community and bring “positive change.”

“I’ve raised my children here. I have three small grandchildren that are in the community,” she said. “I want them to be able to grow up in a community that’s vibrant and alive with social connections and lots of industry and development.

“Most importantly, I want them to be able to grow up in a community that is kind and caring toward each other.”

Nee said she’d do that by building relationships and working with educators, first responders and health care and social agencies in the community.

“There are lots of things that need attention in the community, including blight and absentee landlords, particularly in Natrona,” she said. “We need to look at economic growth and development. I think we have an opportunity to do that in working in collaboration with Brackenridge and Tarentum. I want to make sure I’m working to improve the local quality of life for everybody.”

Reynolds, 60, is a Natrona native. He and his wife, Christine, have two daughters, ages 13 and 11.

A former firefighter, Reynolds was chief and assistant chief at Citizens Hose and director of the ambulance service.

Reynolds said the condition of the Natrona area is heartbreaking, where older residents with beautiful homes suffer from properties that are abandoned or not maintained.

“Natrona is beloved to me,” he said. “Natrona used to be a vibrant area. It used to have a lot of things. Natrona Comes Together has done great things, but they need help. The commissioners need to stop fighting amongst themselves and do what they can to help the community.”

Reynolds said his plan would include hiring more code enforcement officers.

“A township our size should have more than part-time code enforcement. They should have at least five full-time employees,” he said. “It would not only pay for itself, it would improve the living conditions of almost everybody in Harrison Township.”

Reynolds said he also would want to get more help to the township’s firefighters, paramedics and police.

“Our fire departments are underfunded,” he said. “They could used some extra money to help them along. It’s very expensive to be a fireman in today’s day and age.”