Republican incumbent, Democratic newcomer vie for votes in Latrobe mayoral race

Christine Marquis wasn’t expecting to run for mayor of Latrobe, but she accepted the Democratic nomination for the post after supporters waged a successful primary write-in campaign on her behalf.

On Nov. 4, Marquis will face off against Republican incumbent Eric Bartels. Bartels is seeking his second term as mayor, following previous service as a council member beginning in 2016.

Under Latrobe’s city charter, the mayor chairs council meetings and votes on matters of business — along with six council members.

A longtime poll worker in Latrobe’s 3rd Ward, Marquis said colleagues there “always said for the past 10 years I should run for mayor. I just got the write-ins, and here I am.”

It’s the 57-year-old’s first bid for public office. With no listed candidate in the Democratic primary, Marquis garnered 25 write-in votes to 17 for Bartels — who was unopposed on the Republican ballot.

Originally from Greensburg, Marquis has lived in Latrobe for close to three decades, raising three daughters with her husband.

She said she would like more people to know about the positive aspects of living in Latrobe, including walkability among recreational, educational and retail areas and a selection of eating establishments.

“It truly is a place to raise a family,” she added. “I feel that Latrobe can grow in a positive direction. It has everything to offer, but nobody knows that.”

Marquis said she would like to see the city’s businesses increase.

She said she would bring to the role of mayor a talent for collaboration. “I just try to make things work to everyone’s best interests,” she said.

Marquis holds a degree in health planning and administration from Penn State. She began her varied career as a financial counselor in the emergency room of UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.

She’s also worked as a gymnastics coach and an equestrian instructor. A CPR instructor, she is working to purchase a local business and helps to manage a rock band whose members include her husband.

She’s worked for several nonprofits, most recently serving as senior director of operations with the Greensburg YMCA.

Bartels, who will be 48 by Election Day, teaches history at Norwin High School. He also is an adjunct professor at Saint Vincent College, leading courses on state and local politics and methods of teaching social studies.

He has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Clarion University.

Bartels said, if he is elected to continue as mayor, he will bring to bear his experience as a city official. He said that includes working cooperatively with city department heads and with various groups in the community such as Greater Latrobe School District and the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program.

“We can work together to solve common problems,” he said. “Instead of someone new coming in with a learning curve, it helps when you have council experience.”

Bartels said he would like to continue with the city’s efforts to tackle blighted properties and to offer a tax abatement program to help encourage redevelopment of such areas.

“It’s an opportunity for people who are looking to come in and invest in the city,” he said. “I see a lot of progress coming along in that.”

Bartels said he’s worked with council to update city building systems for heating and cooling while also acquiring software to improve recordkeeping and make enforcement of city codes more efficient.

“It’s been an ongoing effort modernizing our services in the last couple of years while not breaking the bank,” he said.

Bartels said he’s excited about the city’s preparations for beginning in-house collection of household refuse next year, an option deemed a better deal for residents than was available through a new hauler contract.

“I work positively with people, and I’ve never had any particular axe to grind,” Bartels said. “I’m just trying to help keep people living in and businesses operating in the city and make it an attractive place for people.”