6 candidates to appear on Bridgeville council ballot
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Voters in Bridgeville who go to the polls Nov. 5 will find six candidates in the race for three open borough council seats. All are running for a four-year term.
Following is information submitted by the candidates as well as their response to questions posed by the Trib:
Question 1: Why did you decide to run in this election?
Question 2: What do you feel is the largest issue that needs to be addressed?
Question 3: What should voters know about you?
Nicholas Ciesielski
Political party: Democratic
Address: Maple Street
Age: 33
Occupation: Front of house and entertainment manager, Railyard Grill and Tap Room; Former AIU educator at the ACH
Previous elected office (if any): None
Question 1: I would like to leave the community I live in better than I found it. An opportunity to rejuvenate and empower our historical borough, revitalize our watershed and orange belt, and reconnect our inner community commerce and surrounding areas. To invigorate and initiate new ideas while holding true to our ideals.
Question 2: Our borough needs to feel empowered and safe, this can be accomplished through supporting and building local business while restructuring our watershed and sewer infrastructure.
Question 3: I would like voters to know that my youthful exuberance doesn’t come without experience. I have taught for the last 10 years in the county prison and at our local Chartiers Valley School District. My current position has allowed me to give back to our community in multiple facets. While being able to see and hear first hand the day to day concerns of our community. I live, I work, and I hope to further serve our community.
Michael Tolmer
Political party: Republican
Address: Chestnut Street
Age: 50
Occupation: Director, business development and account management
Previous elected office (if any): President of Bridgeville council
Question 1: I’m currently serving as president of Bridgeville council and I would like to continue to serve Bridgeville as a member of council.
Question 2: We continue to address the flooding issues that affect our borough along McLaughlin Run. While we have implemented projects to mitigate the flooding, there are still ongoing projects that I would like to see through to completion. Also, traffic is always an issue in Bridgeville as we are neighbors to three large and growing communities. We work with these communities to see how our shared intersections can be improved to alleviate the traffic congestion.
Question 3: That I am a born and raised resident of Bridgeville. I understand that Bridgeville has a wonderful downtown “Main Street” that should be promoted while keeping an eye on the future. I enjoy working with the members of our council, borough employees, our different boards and our state representative and senator and I hope that I am lucky enough to I get another chance to continue that service.
Nino Petrocelli Sr.
Political party: Democrat
Did not respond. According to the borough website, Petrocelli is a current Brigeville councilmember.
Jason Ferri
Political party: Republican
Address: New York Street
Age: 50
Occupation: teacher and coach
Previous elected office (if any): none
Question 1: With many of my past duties lightening, I feel called to give back to our community. I believe I bring a unique skill set and a fresh point of view to the positives and difficulties that we, in Bridgeville, are engaged in and I want to make a difference in the town, my family and I have been proud to call home.
Question 2: Bridgeville is like the center of a wheel in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. It is affected greatly by neighboring communities both in positive and negative ways, whether its infrastructure and utilities, traffic, our economy or public safety. I feel its very important to continue to work with the surrounding areas to find common ground to improve the region at large and make sure Bridgeville’s interests are not neglected and are well represented.
Question 3: My priorities will be safety, vitality, collaboration. I want to first, keep our community safe and make sure first responders have the resources they need. People move to Bridgeville and companies consider Bridgeville due to its safe reputation. We want to continue and improve upon that so that whether you are retired, single, a young couple or raising a family, you feel safe to walk the streets, enjoy Washington Avenue, engage in activities at the historical society and library, or picnic in one of the parks. Second, accentuate the tremendous assets we have and add to the vitality of the town through public events and celebrations, keeping the streets and public areas beautiful, helping businesses thrive, and improving parking and traffic flow. Third, work with all our constituents to make sure their voices are being heard, and work with both parties, and surrounding communities to collaborate to bring dynamic ideas and solutions to our present and tackle the challenges of our future.
Joe Colosimo
Political party: Democrat
Address: Ella Street
Age: 68
Occupation: Construction – still working fulltime
Previous elected office (if any): Bridgeville Borough councilman
Question 1: I care about Bridgeville. We are still dealing with issues relating to the June 20, 2018, flood. We are working hard on solutions and I would like to see it through to completion.
Question 2: The biggest problem we have is implementing measures to help prevent future flooding. The issue is finding funding to pay for the solutions. Some projects that have been suggested would cost millions of dollars. Bridgeville Borough doesn’t have that kind of money. We have been visited by federal, state, county and local officials, but so far we have not received any help. Our challenge is to complete as many projects that we can in a financially responsible manner. It’s a challenge, but one I know I can help meet.
Question 3: I have a degree in business administration from Robert Morris. People should know I work hard to research and to do the right thing for all of Bridgeville. I believe strongly in getting involved and doing whatever I can to give back to this community that means so much to me and my family. I am a current board member of the Bridgeville Historical Society; an associate member of the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department; a member of the Bridgeville Friends of the Library; a delegate to the CharWest Council of Government; a board member of Goodwill Housing; a charter member of Bridgeville Day on the Avenue committee; former officer, coach and manager of the Bridgeville Athletic Association; and a former member of the Bridgeville Zoning Board.
Joel Lakus
Political party: Republican
Did not respond.