Candidate for
Commissioner; Township of Mount Lebanon; Ward 1; Democratic Party

As Commissioner, I will use my experience in community banking, project financing, community planning, and housing and economic development to preserve Mt. Lebanon as a community of choice.

As good as Mt. Lebanon is, we need leaders with a vision and experience to enhance our position as a community of choice. Being a community of choice is good for all of us who live and work in Mt. Lebanon + new investments (by homebuyers, homeowners and businesses) mean a strong local economy and increasing property values, which helps to keep our taxes low.

Many of our neighboring communities + ones that are on the radar of those making investment decisions + are enhancing their assets, community facilities and services. It is the responsibility of our Commissioners, our local leaders, to continually strive for excellence in all that we do so that we maintain Mt. Lebanon's competitive edge and preserve our position as a community of choice.

As Commissioner, I will work hard everyday to ensure that Mt. Lebanon grows and succeeds.

My focus will be on:

• Pursuing excellence in local government + conducting Mt. Lebanon's business efficiently and effectively while maintaining high quality services + police, fire, emergency management, streets and infrastructure, recreation, library and other community facilities.

• Achieving financial health + financial discipline, managing and reducing expenses and encouraging appropriate new investment (expanding our tax base) are all critical to achieving financial health, and are essential to keep our taxes low for all residents. I believe there are opportunities to reduce costs through partnerships, cooperation and efficiency improvements. I will bring financial discipline to the job and guard against deferring payments to the future for costs that should be paid today. I will seek to grow revenues by identifying additional resources available through public and private sources, encouraging appropriate investment and development that is compatible with our community's character.

• Addressing our challenges + I am concerned about traffic issues, inadequate planning, deferred capital investments and our local business districts. These issues, if not addressed, can chip away at Mt. Lebanon's competitive edge. Traffic issues, for example, continually affect our neighborhoods and quality of life. I will explore all alternatives to mitigate traffic. A good place to start is a renewed focus on enforcement of the traffic laws. At the same time we need to create a long-term strategy to reduce and/or redirect traffic.

• Engaging residents in planning and implementation activities + I have learned that the best way to maintain a thriving community is by engaging residents in neighborhood-based planning. The best ideas and action-oriented results come from the people that live and work in the community. Good planning builds and strengthens a neighborhood's assets and proactively addresses challenges head-on.

• Investing in the future + Capital improvements are investments in our future. Mt. Lebanon needs to revisit the process for capital improvement planning and implementation. By investing in our recreational facilities, infrastructure and other assets, we can better preserve our standing as a community of choice.

• Supporting local merchants + We have several vibrant commercial districts in Mt. Lebanon. The success of the businesses throughout the town is imperative, and my focus will be on the Beverly Road and Uptown business areas. Our local government must improve its partnership with local merchants and ensure that these centers of economic activity remain viable.