Seven vie for Brownsville Borough Council
BROWNSVILLE – Seven candidates are seeking the four open seats on Brownsville Borough Council. Two incumbents, Shawn Bush and Scott Rohrer, are not seeking re-election. Two currently-seated councilmen are running for office this election, incumbent John Hosler and Russ McMaster, who was appointed to council late last year to fill the vacancy created when Walt Costello moved out of the borough. Also running are Barry Cook, Sam Nicola, Robert Pritts, Tuck Rohrer and Tony DiCenzo. All of the candidates are running on the Democratic ticket.
Hosler is running for his third term on council.
“I’d like to have the roads paved around Mulligan Manor. I’d like to see a track at Brownsville-Luzerne Park for quads and I’d like to see more jobs brought into the borough,” Hosler said.
The possibility of a Native American casino or riverboat gambling has been an issue in Brownsville for some time. Members of the public raised the issue at a recent candidates forum, and each of the candidates was asked to address the issue.
“As for legalized gambling, I’m not for it and I’m not against it. I’d like to see more about it. I’d like to see how much money it could bring to the Brownsville school district and Brownsville Borough, then make my decision from there,” Hosler said.
McMaster is seeking his first full term on council.
“My platform is to try to improve Brownsville, increase job opportunities, improve recreation for the children and attract an industrial park to Brownsville,” McMaster said.
McMaster said he’s been trying to do his part to battle the drug problem in Brownsville, hanging up posters for the Fayette County Drug Task Force with a toll-free number for anonymous tips. He sees the proposed regional police force as a way of providing the force with the additional funding needed to keep it running.
Like Hosler, McMaster said he is neither for nor against gambling.
“I want to see it black on white before I decide anything,” McMaster said.
Cook is no stranger to the council chambers. He has served on council twice before, once for eight years once for four years. He also served a term as mayor.
“I’m not happy with the way things are in town. I think we need some changes,” Cook said. “We ought to give the town back to the people. We’ve been fighting this thing downtown for some time and I think the borough should get these historic buildings back and sell them to the people.”
Cook said he’d also like to see the council reduced to five members, given the loss of population in the borough. He is also opposed to current efforts to form a joint police force with Brownsville Township, since the borough already patrols Brownsville Township. As for gambling, Cook is skeptical.
“I don’t think we’re going to get any gambling in Brownsville. If it did come, I don’t know whether I could support it. It depends on how much money would come to the borough,” Cook said. “I don’t think people realize how much gambling is already going on in Brownsville. The borough has $18,000 in the budget from mechanical devices.”
Nicola, who served as mayor for eight years and is the former police chief and street department foreman, said there are things he can do as a councilman that he couldn’t do as mayor.
“I want to make sure all the streets and alleys in the borough are blacktopped,” Nicola said. “I’m not pleased with our ordinance that if you want to repair your home, you have to get a permit. That ought to be free. That’s my number one priority,” Nicola said.
Nicola estimated about $4 million a year is spent on gambling in Brownsville already, including bingos, state lottery sales and poker and cherry machines.
“I’m for gambling. There’s gambling now. There’s more gambling in Brownsville today than ever before,” Nicola said. “I’ve gambled all my life. I’ve lost money gambling, but I’ve survived.”
Pritts said he’s running for office for the sake of his children. He has been actively involved with youth sports in Brownsville since he was a teen.
“I stayed here because I have a lot of pride in our town. We’ve let old-time politics ruin our town. We’ve had people come in who promised us the moon and haven’t even given us a good outhouse,” Pritts said. “We need to work closer with our school district and instill pride in each of the communities in our school district.”
As for gambling, Pritts doesn’t see it as the economic salvation of Brownsville.
“The only thing that’s going to save Brownsville is the people of Brownsville themselves. Gambling isn’t going to save it,” Pritts said. “My personal opinion, I’m not against it and I’m not for it. It would have to benefit the entire community, not just a few people in the community. Let’s do it the right way and not because someone wants to pad their pockets.”
Tuck Rohrer said he’s proudest of the 43 years he has served with the South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department.
“My slogan and my platform is ‘Moving Brownsville Forward.’ I’d like to see our town work toward developing our infrastructure and job opportunities,” Rohrer said.
Rohrer said that while he supports a 24-hour-a-day police force, the borough must work within the constraints of its budget.
“I think a 10-hour police force with the state police is economical for a small area, but I support a 24-hour police force if we can do it economically through a regional police force,” Rohrer said.
As for gambling in Brownsville, Rohrer said discussions appear to be premature.
“I don’t know why we’re getting so involved with this gambling issue. There haven’t been any laws passed. How am I supposed to make a decision when I don’t know what the law is?” Rohrer said.
Tony DiCenzo declined to comment on his candidacy or any of the issues in the race.