Riverview School Board race sees a sweep by Democrats

Four Democrats won their bids, from a six-candidate pool, to serve on Riverview School Board.

According to Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial results, Chistopher Conard, 44; Adeshewa Metzger, 44; Bridget Seery, 46; and Michael Smales, 41, will serve four-year terms.

Seery, an incumbent on the Democrat ballot, was top vote-getter with 2,078 votes (19.4%).

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Riverview School Board for another four years,” she said. “I am excited to do that with my runningmates, who have been collaborative and a joy to work with during the election.

“I am very appreciative of the voters who cast their ballot to keep me in office. I will work to maintain their trust and continue to push to maintain a Riverview School District with expansive opportunities for students.”

Smales, 41, a newcomer, earned 1,957 votes. He previously told TribLive the biggest issue facing the Riverview School District is balancing the finances of the district, particularly in light of the state budget impasse and possible changes to federal education funding.

“I would like to thank Verona and Oakmont for their trust and support, and I’m very much looking forward to working with everyone on our school board to maintain and improve our district’s schools,” he said.

Seery plans to help find a way to stem rising operation costs while maintaining curriculum and programming for students.

“Continuing to advocate for adequate funding is one of the main responsibilities I see, as it is enshrined in our state constitution and the state is under a judge’s mandate to fulfill this obligation,” Seery had previously told TribLive.

Metzger, another new face on the board, earned 1,973 votes on the Democrat ballot. She plans to use her experience as a grant writer to assist the district.

“We stand together, friends. I am humbled, honored, and proud to be elected to serve our community. I look forward to my upcoming term as a Riverview School Board member,” she said.

Conard, another newcomer, secured 2,024 votes on the Democrat ticket. He plans to take a hard look at the district’s spending.

“We need to ensure that the faculty and staff have the resources to provide the best education possible. However, we should challenge the cost of supplemental aids, like digital learning tools, and look for the most cost-effective solutions that provide the best outcomes for the students,” he had previously told TribLive.

Wilton, an incumbent, was unable to secure reelection after earning 1,270 votes. After being cross-filed in the primaries, she was featured on the Republican ballot. Republican Nick Paradise also was unable to secure a seat after earning 1,404 votes.