6 GOP candidates will battle for 4 open seats on Murrysville Council

Six Republican candidates, including two incumbents, will contend in May’s primary for a chance at four open Murrysville Council seats in the general election.

With no Democratic candidates filed, the winners in next month’s primary are virtually guaranteed a council seat.

Jason Lemak, 43, is an electrical engineer who has lived in Murrysville the past 11 years. He said he wants to listen to residents’ opinions about how to make the municipality the best place for them to live, work and enjoy their families.

“I’m an analytical and resourceful problem solver and will come up with creative solutions to best serve the community’s interests,” he said. “Those creative solutions, for me, have to begin with listening to our community members.”

Incumbent and current council President Dayne Dice said he is running “to keep Murrysville a place that residents can take pride in.”

Several first-time candidates cited council’s recent exploration of an earned income tax hike among their reasons for running.

“I’m passionate about our community and dedicated to maintaining its rural character for future generations,” said small-business owner Jamie Lingg, 47. “If elected to council, I’ll work diligently to avoid tax increases, maintain our community’s rural character by controlling growth, and to minimize government intrusions into your everyday life and property.”

Since 2019, municipal staff identified a need for alternative revenue sources, likely beginning with the 2022 budget. Chief Administrator Jim Morrison cited rising costs, fewer homes being built annually, and the earned income tax outpacing real estate tax when it comes to annual revenue.

The municipality has not raised taxes of any kind since 2007.

Brad Funari, 45, an attorney and partner at ReedSmith in Pittsburgh, said he wants to bring his education, professional credentials and life experience to the council.

“I will leverage our location, resources and talented residents to attract businesses to Murrysville and foster an atmosphere for new and existing businesses to grow and flourish here,” he said. “I will pursue competitive bidding practices and explore alternative funding sources to finance our infrastructure and capital improvement projects within our means, rather than raise taxes as our incumbents are promoting.”

Council members discussed an empowering ordinance that would allow them to, if they chose, pass a later ordinance boosting Murrysville’s percentage of the earned income tax by anywhere from 0.1% to 0.5%.

Earlier this month, council opted to table the empowering ordinance and wait for more specific figures about what percentage a future earned income tax hike might take.

Newcomer Joseph Conklin, 40, is the business operations manager for the Penn State Extension. He said he also is interested in Murrysville maintaining its rural character.

“The current comprehensive plan concentrates on developing office and multi-unit apartment buildings,” Conklin said. “The plan looks like Monroeville 2.0. … We need to stay the course and focus on high-value, large-lot, single-family dwellings that make Murrysville a great place to live.”

Incumbent Carl Stepanovich said he is running for re-election to “keep Murrysville a great place to live for people at all stages of life.”

Council members serve a four-year term. The primary election is May 18.