Editor’s note: The Penn Hills Progress is running candidate interviews for contested municipal and school board races only.

According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, incumbent councilman Mark Brodnicki faces newcomers Shawn Kerestus and Alan Waldron in the Democratic primary for two spots on the November ballot in the Penn Hills council race.

Clayton Walker is the only candidate on the ballot for the two Republican nominations.

Here are the Democratic candidates and their responses to the election questions posed by the Penn Hills Progress.

Submitted Mark Brodnicki  

Mark Brodnicki

Why did you decide to run for election? While we have Penn Hills moving forward as far as streets being paved, parks being updated, a new bike trail is in the works, more work is needed. The mayor has a plan, of which I support, to show other communities what a great place Penn Hills is to attract more residents and businesses. We have kept municipal taxes down and I intend to keep that way.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? As far as issues, crime always grabs front page news. In reality, most of the crime that occurs in Penn Hills is not from our residents, but from people coming into and passing through from Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. We are actively working with Allegheny County to combat that.

Why should people vote for you? During my time on council, I have learned that the way to get things done is to listen to the residents and the other people on council and try to work with them. I have seen arguments and bickering before (not on this council) and things don’t get done that way. We should work together to keep Penn Hills moving forward.

Submitted Shawn Kerestus  

Shawn Kerestus

Why did you decide to run for election? I’ve always had a passion for public service, to not just complain about the problems facing our community but to actually do something about them. At the end of the day, I simply want to improve the lives of the residents of Penn Hills.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Violent crime and blight are the biggest problems facing Penn Hills and our neighboring communities today. We can only tackle these problems by working with the school district, neighboring community leaders and Western PA nonprofits to develop a regional multifaceted strategy. These issues are far too big for the municipality to maintain the current “Go it alone” approach.

Why should people vote for you? First, I’m educated; I hold a masters in public administration from the University of Georgia. I’ve been a volunteer and president of the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation for the last four years and have made many great connections with regional nonprofits that can help Penn Hills. Finally, I’m dedicated to improving our community and I’m not afraid to think outside of the box.

Submitted Alan Waldron  

Alan Waldron

Why did you decide to run for election? I’m a Penn Hills resident of 20 years and have been active in the community for the past 13 through the Penn Hills CDC and other projects. I just enjoy being involved, giving myself new challenges and working with good people to do great things.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? I think Penn Hills needs to rehabilitate its image both inside and outside of our borders. We need to show the greater Pittsburgh region that we’re not just what they see on the news, but a community with many beautiful, unique and diverse neighborhoods where the people are hard-working and neighbors are friendly and helpful. Internally, we need our residents to have faith in their government again. We’ve been closed-off and difficult to work with for too long. We need to be more transparent, approachable, and open to community input. Achieving this will help attract new residents and retain existing ones, which will then attract new businesses to Penn Hills.

Why should people vote for you? Professionally, I’ve designed and developed websites, mobile apps and other software for the past 25 years with an emphasis on community collaboration systems and digital marketing. I believe this type of experience is what council needs to become a more proactive and forward-thinking body.

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