Parks, building development, public safety draw 6 candidates to pursue Hempfield supervisor post

Options for Hempfield supervisor will range from political newcomers to a longtime incumbent when township Republicans go to the polls Tuesday to nominate candidates during the primary election.

Five hopefuls are vying for the party’s nomination to two open seats on the board of supervisors. The two top vote-getters will face off against one Democrat in the fall general election for two four-year terms. Township supervisors are paid $5,000 annually.

The largest municipality in Westmoreland County, Hempfield is in the midst of a large construction project along Route 30 that will be the new home to a park, municipal complex and other amenities, as well as change in its volunteer fire service.

The five Republican candidates are:

Tony DeGregorio, 73, a retired township public works employee and Marine veteran, said he is looking for only one term on the board.

He is concerned about what he described as excessive spending on the construction of the multimillion-dollar municipal complex, which is in its first phase. He is opposed to that project.

“They don’t think things out at all. All they see is all this grant money,” he said.

DeGregorio pointed to a need for investment in infrastructure and portable speed bumps to help with traffic and pedestrian safety. He is opposed to the current bid by township officials to have volunteer fire stations become “nonchartered,” meaning Hempfield manages the station and pays all its expenses while volunteer firefighters can continue to respond to calls. That is separating the station from the community where it is located, he said.

“What they’re doing now, how can you identify with your own fire department?” he said.

DeGregorio would like to see a group of state troopers who would respond to Hempfield calls only, rather than the township establishing its own police department.

Becky Durbin, 52, wants to see commercial buildings filled and hopes to improve the facades of those buildings by tapping into grant funding.

Balancing that commercial development with residential growth is important to keep the township’s revenue expanding, she said. The addition of the municipal complex will enhance that revenue, she said, plus it will be attractive to families looking for a place to live.

“We don’t want everything on the backs of the taxpayers,” she said.

Durbin is vice chair of Hempfield’s planning commission and is in her second term on the recommending body.

She hopes to focus on adding amenities that would be attractive to young professionals, such as housing they can afford and shops in the commercial areas, in an effort to keep them in town after college graduation. In addition, infrastructure investments are important, as is listening to firefighters as the consolidation process continues.

“They know the job, but we need to come together and find common ground for the safety of the community,” she said.

Paul Kosko, 64, said he wants to enhance public safety in the township and work with volunteer firefighters to determine how to best support them and the fire service. It will be important to look at the stations with loyal members who respond to calls regularly and see how the township can help them be successful as the consolidation process continues.

“I’m not against it because we’re starting to lose our volunteers,” he said.

He’d like to see a study of the township’s protection with fire, police and EMS.

Kosko has been active in the Boy Scouts for years, leading various groups and serving as a board member of the local council. He was employed by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and has a master’s degree in business administration.

As for the municipal complex under construction, Kosko said he has unanswered questions about the project.

“I’m very concerned as far as how we’re spending the money,” he said.

Jacob H. Silvis IV, 54, said infrastructure should be improved and the township should follow the comprehensive plan supervisors approved in 2023 to guide the township over the next 10 to 15 years.

“Those two things are critical,” he said.

Silvis is president and founder of Silvis Group, which offers residential and commercial landscaping services in addition to snow and ice removal for businesses. He is concerned about how residential growth in the township can create water runoff issues in nearby communities and reduce the amount of agricultural land.

“We are creating more water impact issues than we’re rectifying,” he said.

In addition, Silvis said, there should be collaboration with state police to enhance the protection of the township and incentives for volunteer firefighters to keep responding to calls. He’d like to see more communication with the public about the future of the township’s fire department as well as the municipal complex under construction.

“I think the park’s a nice feature to this side of the township, but I don’t know the full picture is being laid out to the general public,” he said.

Doug Weimer, 55, the only incumbent in the field, said he’d like to win his fifth term on the board to continue working on the municipal complex.

“I want to run again because I want to see that come to fruition,” he said.

In addition, Weimer said, he wants to continue the “nonchartered” process with the township’s fire departments.

“It’s all about saving the system, and we have seen great results,” he said.

Weimer pledged to continue the township’s decades-long streak of maintaining the property tax rate at 3 mills, as long as the budget continues to be balanced and township services aren’t affected. A majority of supervisors rejected an increase for 2025.

Weimer said he believes it is important for Hempfield to maintain professional municipal staff, allow planned growth and attract commercial development. Investing in park infrastructure is important, too, to keep attracting current and new residents, he said. A park and recreational space are being built as part of the first phase of the municipal complex construction.

Jerry Fagert, 64, is the lone Democratic candidate on the primary ballot.