6 candidates compete for 3 seats on Bridgeville Council
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Three Republicans and three Democrats are vying for three seats on Bridgeville Borough Council in the Nov. 7 election.
Candidates were asked to provide general biographical information and to answer the question: What do you view as the most pertinent issue for Bridgeville, and how do you plan to address it?
Joseph Colosimo (D)
Education: Graduate of Canevin High School; degree in business administration from Robert Morris University
Occupation: Retired construction foreman from Casper Colosimo & Son Inc.
Previous public office: Current council member
I sincerely care about Bridgeville. My wife, Deb, and I chose to purchase our home here over 38 years ago, and we have successfully raised our three daughters in this great community. I have always been an involved member of this community, helping wherever I can and wherever I see a need. I am currently on the public works Committee and am chairman of parks and recreation. We are currently making improvements in all four of our parks.
I am a delegate as well as the treasurer on the Char-West Council of Governments. I have perfect attendance at council and Char-West COG meetings. I am on the board and a lifetime member of the Bridgeville Area Historical Society, a member of the Bridgeville Friends of the Library, an associate member of the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, helping wherever needed. Former member on the Board of the Goodwill Housing.
In the past I have served on the Bridgeville Zoning Board, Washington Elementary School PTA board; been a coach, manager and officer of the Bridgeville Athletic Association, and in Chartiers Valley School District, booster president and officer for softball, basketball and volleyball.
I believe politics is about public service, not power. I promise to do more than just show up once a month at a council meeting. I am an involved councilman and want to keep making progress. We have been working hard on many improvements for Bridgeville concerning flooding and infrastructure. We have been very successful in obtaining grants to pay for these improvements. I want to continue to make sure this town stays in good repair, moves forward, remains an affordable, great place to live and work, while still retaining the small town charm that is important for Bridgeville.
Jason Ferri (R)
Age: 54
Education: master’s degree from Duquesne University.
Occupations: social studies department chairman and advanced-placement history teacher; co-director of Elevated Performance Volleyball; proudly work with Special Olympics as the co-director of the Special Olympics – Unified Volleyball League.
Previous public office: I have not held public office. I have been in leadership roles throughout my life bringing an open minded, collaborative perspective.
Pertinent issue: a collaborative, responsive borough government. Shane Franchick, Jason Sarasnick and I look to bring renewed vigor that will have all the residents’ voices heard and represented. We will meet with constituents from different parts of the borough and all party affiliations throughout our term to address their concerns and their ideas.
Business growth: We will make it easier to start and run a business in our community, so more strong businesses will call Bridgeville home.
Our walkable town with added vitality: We want Bridgeville to continue to be a fun, active place to live, work and play. Folks should feel safe walking the streets, frequent our businesses, engage in activities at the historical society and library, or picnic in one of our parks.
With your vote, we look forward to serving you for the present and the future of our community. We are here to make Bridgeville better for you.
Shane Franchick (R)
Age: 39
Education: Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, 2002; BA in history and psychology, University of Pittsburgh; master’s degree in education, Kaplan University
Occupation: Real property specialist, 911th Airlift Reserve Station
Previous public office: None
Bridgeville is a small town where red versus blue doesn’t matter as much as taking care of your local community. I am interested in making sure Bridgeville establishes a collaborative responsive borough government.
Together with Jason Sarasnick and Jason Ferri, it is our hope that by working with current council members and all local residents, we can address the many needs of Bridgeville to include public safety, business development and community beautification.
With business development and growth, Bridgeville can invite more people to come in and see what all Bridgeville has to offer and what makes it so unique and treasured. To do this, we have to appeal to the up-and-coming businesses and make this an affordable and sensible choice for people to invest in Bridgeville while also bringing in more tax revenue to support the local public works efforts of the community.
As a walking community, Bridgeville residents should feel safe while out with their families. Sidewalk maintenance, traffic control, street lighting and police services are just some of the things that I look forward to staying up to speed on and keeping our residents safely thriving in our great town.
My most important role is to be a mentor and provide leadership to the youth of Bridgeville and the Chartiers Valley communities. I have taught Catholic education for the past 10 years at Corpus Christi-Holy Child Church in Bridgeville. I have also been the treasurer of the Bridgeville Athletic Association and Chartiers Valley Communities Softball Association for the past three years. I have coached all different levels of soccer, baseball, softball and basketball.
Michael Neely (D)
Age: 40
Education: BS in psychology, Clarion University
Occupation: territory manager
Previous public office: none
Pertinent issue: I have a profound passion for building a strong, unified community. In these times of division, it’s important to me to create a safe space where residents can come together, voice their concerns, and actively engage in shaping the future of our borough.
My vision is one where residents feel heard, valued, and are encouraged to participate in decisions and community-led initiatives. Local politics should be a beacon of unity and focus on the well-being of all its residents. Together, we can bridge divides, strengthen our community and remind the nation that it all starts at the local level.
Nino Petrocelli Sr. (D)
Occupation: Owner of Custom Tailoring and Uniform
Previous public office: Current council member
Bridgeville Borough is my life. Since I arrived in this country from Italy at age 21 and became a U.S. citizen, I have been involved as a member of the chamber of commerce, Kiwanis, Bridgeville Public Library Board, and a supporter of the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, Bridgeville Area Historical Society and many other community and nonprofit organizations.
I have dedicated so many years to making Bridgeville comfortable and affordable for all by being a fierce watchdog for taxpayers, both homeowners and business owners. As a member of council, I have been responsible for a road paving program that has been very successful and affordable for so many years.
We have been making major improvements in Bridgeville regarding flooding issues and infrastructure, as well as road paving and our parks. We are getting grants to help pay for these improvements. Let’s keep a good thing going. We are making progress and I want to continue to give back to Bridgeville which has given me so much.
Jason Sarasnick (R)
Age: 54
Education: Chartiers Valley High School graduate; business management, CCAC
Occupation: Owner of Sarasnick’s Hardware
The issue I am most dedicated to is creating a better environment for Bridgeville thrive in. I believe this is built through support Bridgeville-branded businesses to aid in our local economy and creating a safe community where residents feel secure and welcomed.
I believe this can be achieved through collaboration of the borough and the residents, where residents are heard, and council members are doing. That’s why I believe Jason Ferri, Shane Franchick and I are dedicated candidates who look forward to serving the community, and to provide Bridgeville with new and innovative ideas that will go toward a better future.