Incumbent Allegheny Township supervisor has a challenger in the Republican primary

Republicans James Morabito and Kathy Starr are vying for one open seat on Allegheny Township’s board of supervisors.

Township supervisors serve six-year terms.

Starr is the incumbent supervisors chairwoman since 2003. A lifelong township resident, Starr, 78, owns a catering business in the township.

A newcomer to the political scene, Morabito, 57, has resided in the township for 28 years and owns a used car dealership in Lower Burrell.

The primary is May 18. No Democrats filed for the seat.

Both candidates answered three questions in writing.

Their responses were edited for clarity:

Why are you running for supervisor?

Starr: I‘m running to insure my objectives listed below (next question) are met. The township has a dedicated municipal staff and board that have worked hard on these objectives. I don‘t want that to change.

Morabito: The residents of Allegheny Township want change in our community. My opponent, Kathy Starr, has been a supervisor for close to 20 years in our township. It’s time for change, fresh ideas and a strong check and balance. We need accountability. I listen to the needs of the people.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish?

Starr: I have always had five goals for Allegheny Township.

I have been working on the first one, economic development, continuously since 1993 as a member of the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce and most recently as a member of the Remaking Westmoreland County study group. Since my family has four businesses right here in Allegheny Township, it is vitally important to me that the township present fertile opportunities for economic growth. Right now, we have our best shot at making that goal brighter than ever before with the renovation of Route 356. I want to do all that I can to make that growth happen.

My second reason for running is to continue to ensure minimal government intrusion on the lives of our citizens. Freedom from onerous rules is precious.

My third and fourth reasons for running are to continue to keep Allegheny Township out of debt and out of court.

My fifth reason for running is to provide every possible service for our citizens. The annual Clean-up Day with free recycling; the best broadband width with the most coverage we can get; Crisis Intervention Training for our police; as well as stellar road maintenance and outstanding fire and police protection, to name a few.

Morabito: I will be applying for a lot more grants than are applied for now. There is so much grant money out there for projects. We will not have to use taxpayers money to fund these projects, either.

I will set up a committee for Finnin Park, doubling the size of the playground area because we have more families with small children moving into the area and no where for them to play. We have a lot of acreage there not being utilized.

What is the biggest challenge or crisis facing Allegheny Township?

Starr: Allegheny Township does not have a crisis, but we do have a challenge. That challenge is our diversity and our ability to communicate with citizens from the farming areas to the very affluent residential areas.

The supervisors need to understand the needs of all our people and work as hard as possible to see that they are met. That challenge could be best met by citizens attending our monthly board meetings, by Zoom now, but very soon in person.

Morabito: The most pressing issue right now is the empty plazas. This is ridiculous, and in the last 15 years, these plazas have continued to decline.

We have only a 10% occupancy rate in our main plazas and nothing has been done about it.

My opponent wants to keep our township rural, but that’s not helping our tax base, which is almost non-existent without filling these storefronts. The taxpayers will be feeling the effect of this, and we need more choices in Allegheny Township to spend our hard earned money. I will fill these plazas, which will bring more job opportunities.

I’m working with a national commercial Realtor to begin this mission as soon as I’m elected. I will bring back Allegheny Township better than it has ever been.