The ARCC Meet the Candidates Event Recap
I had the opportunity to attend the Ambridge Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Meet the Candidates event on April 18th at the Laughlin Memorial Library. Candidates for School Board, Mayor, City Council, and the Court of Common Pleas were in attendance, each allotted three minutes to discuss their credentials and why they chose to run for office. Each candidate was passionate about the Ambridge community, with their own unique ideas about how local government should operate. Below is a brief overview of what each candidate discussed at the event.
School Board Candidates
Scott Angus
Candidate for School Board
Scott Angus is the current President of the Ambridge Area School District Board, and is running for his 3rd term. He is a lifelong resident of Harmony Township. He believes that the district has made great strides during his tenure, but also that there is more work to be done, such as an updated curriculum. He asks voters to give him one more term to see the progress already made through to the end.
Robert Keber
Candidate for School Board
Robert Keber has been on the School Board for four years. He is a resident of Economy, with most of his family hailing from Ambridge. He has also served as an athletic trainer at Ambridge, as president of JV softball, and with the junior tamburitzans. Mr Keber believes that the district needs to put the students first, and give them the tools to succeed, instead of leaving the students as an afterthought after other spending decisions have been made. He also feels that Ambridge needs to work at being more competitive with the charter schools in the area, in order to keep students within the district.
Roger Kowal
Candidate for School Board
Roger Kowal has lived in the area his whole life, and this is his 3rd time running for School Board. He has been involved with coaching track in the district, and also served as an officer at Penn State Beaver. Mr Kowal believes that the School Board needs to remember that they are answerable to the residents of Ambridge. He feels that the Board should listen to its constituents and focus on the people of Ambridge.
Valerie Pedigo
Candidate for School Board
Valerie Pedigo has lived in Ambridge for two years. She has a background in finance, having earned her masters at Texas A&M. Mrs. Pedigo believes that quality of education is very important in kids’ lives and leads to better opportunities in adulthood. She is a proponent of strategy, leadership, and community-planning, and believes that the School Board must be responsive to the community and encourage an open dialogue. She feels that Board members must serve as stewards to community and collaborate with other branches of government in order to achieve their goals. Mrs Pedigo wants to develop a long-term strategic vision for the district.
James Wear
Candidate for School Board
James “Jim” Wear feels that new voices are needed on the School Board. He argues that all he ever hears from citizens are complaints about taxes, or low standardized test scores, or the temporary superintendent. He feels that many changes are needed in order to make the district more successful. For instance, he feels that students should be the priority and that the Board must work to get the community involved in decision-making. He also believes that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) should be present in children’s education from kindergarten through high school.
Mitch Yanyanin
Candidate for School Board
Mitch Yanyanin is a retired school teacher from Economy, and is running with Mr Kowal. Formerly, he was the president of the New Brighton School Board. He was also appointed by Governor Tom Wolfe to the Department of Education’s Charter School Appeal Board, where he has been involved in over 100 decisions affecting areas across the state. He hopes that his experience in education will encourage voters to cast the ballots for him on May 16.
City Council Candidates
Candidates not in attendance: Tony Cafarelli, Megan Clark, Justin Miller, Joe Pucci
Deauntae Clark
Democrat Candidate for City Council
Deauntae Clark is a lifelong Ambridge resident, and this is his first time running for a seat on City Council. Previously he served in the Marine Corps and two years with code enforcement. He believes that he understands the issues that are plaguing Ambridge, such as the closed businesses and blighted houses, and promises to do what is best for the community. Mr Clark feels that the citizens of Ambridge need a voice in City Council, a voice that he is willing to provide if elected.
Martin Flannery
Democrat Candidate for City Council
Martin “MJ” Flannery has served on the Council in previous years. He believes that the best way to run City Council is through the flow of ideas, with members working together to achieve the Borough’s goals. He is a strong supporter of the downtown beautification plan that has been developed, but acknowledges that other problems, such as the derelict mills and entryways into Ambridge, remain. Mr Flannery would like to work with the other Councilmembers to better the community.
Mike Mikulich
Democrat Candidate for City Council
Mike Mikulich is currently the President of City Council. He has been a resident of Ambridge his whole life, and has served on Council since 1987, in addition to seats on the Veterans Advisory Board and the Beaver County Transit Authority Board. He has also served in the Navy, as a fireman, and as an EMT. Mr Mikulich is passionate about the Borough and truly believes that it is a good community filled with good citizens. He believes that the Council needs to keep the citizens informed about happenings on Council, and hopes to be elected for another term.
Tina Iorfido-Miller
Democrat Candidate for City Council
Tina Iorfido-Miller is currently the Vice President of City Council, and the chair of Parks and Recreation. She is running for her 3rd term. Mrs. Iorfido-Miller has many accomplishments on Council, especially in regard to community festivals, such as the Fall Festival and the Festival of Churches. Her work has also led to the acquirement of a piece of land at the intersection of Merchant and Henning Streets, which will in the near future be transformed into a new park for the Borough. She hopes to be elected to another term so that she may see the park project through to fruition.
Kathleen Sabol
Republican Candidate for City Council
Kathleen Sabol has been a resident of Ambridge her whole life, and is the owner of Cafe 501. She took her inspiration for governing from President Trump, believing that if a businessman and property owner could become President, then a businesswoman and property owner could run for City Council. Mrs Sabol feels strongly that code enforcement is not doing enough to improve the Borough, and that City Council needs to step up and do something about the “deplorable” properties plaguing the area. She believes that stiffer fines and harsher penalties may be necessary in order to correct Ambridge’s problems, citing the 1982 social science theory known as “broken windows” theory.
Mayoral Candidates
Candidates not present: Richie D’Ambrosio, Joanne Trella
David Drewnowski
Democrat Candidate for Mayor
David Drewnowski is a long-time Ambridge resident. He formerly worked at J&L Steel, as an Ambridge firefighter for 31 years, and fire chief for 19 years. Mr Drewnowski is active in giving back to the community through service, and is passionate about what he does. He firmly believes that the police are not doing enough to make Ambridge a safe place to live, arguing that the statistic that claimed that crime was down 12% in the Borough was false. He claims that crime is actually on the rise in Ambridge, with robberies with a knife up 300%, assault up 50%, and forcible entry up 14%. With a police budget in excess of $1 million, Mr Drewnowski feels that this is unacceptable.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas Candidates
Candidates not present: Myron R Sainovich, Deborah Lancos Decostro, William M Braslawsce, David Neely
Diane Zack Buchanan
Candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Diane Zack Buchanan has lived in Beaver County her whole life, as have three generations of her family. She has 20 years of experience serving as an attorney, as well as 20 years as a registered nurse. She has served as Beaver County Assistant Solicitor, on the Beaver County Bar Association Board of Governors, on the Beaver County Domestic Rules Committee, as chair of the Beaver County Women in Law Board, and as founder of her own law firm. Mrs Buchanan has a strong focus on integrity in all that she does, and believes in bringing family values to the court. She also feels that more women’s voices need to be heard in the courts.
Mitchell P Shahen
Candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Mitchell Shahen has 34 years of experience in law, including civil, criminal, estate, family, and municipal law. He has served as the Beaver County Conflicts Counsel, the Beaver County Post Conviction Relief Act Conflicts Counsel, and the Special Appointment Death Penalty Counsel. He has also served as Municipal Solicitor (Georgetown and Hookstown), on the East Rochester Zoning Hearing Board, on the Midland Borough Zoning Hearing Board, on the Hopewell Township Building Code Appeals Board, and the Beaver County Tax Assessment Board. He believes in the importance of patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control in decision-making.
The event was very informative and enlightening, and the residents of Ambridge are fortunate to have so many passionate, qualified candidates running for office. Thank you to the ARCC, the Laughlin Memorial Library, and the candidates for providing this service to the community.
