May 13, 2007 By Jackie Beranek 4 min read

UPPER TYRONE TWP. – Two Democratic candidates, incumbent Sam Killinger and newcomer Democrat John D. Schmidt, and will square off in the May primary election for one six-year supervisor’s term. Killinger said he wants to continue working on the Act 537 sewerage plan and to serve the people of the township.

“Clean-up days was one of my projects that I started, and it has gone pretty well,” said the 49-year-old Killinger. “We also made an effort to contribute more to the Scottdale Public Library and the Everson Volunteer Fire Co., and I would like to continue to make sure that we are helping out wherever we can.”

Killinger said he would also like to secure some extra grant money to help with the proposed sewerage project that will take in parts of Owensdale, Everson Bottoms, Kifertown and Kingview.

He said the sewerage plan has already been submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the supervisors are awaiting approval. After that, the supervisors will appoint a sewerage authority board that will then apply for financing for the more than $2 million project.

“We will have to see what the board comes up with, but I’m sure that they will be looking at some kind of a low-interest loan. We also might try to get some county and state money,” he said.

Killinger’s main goal in this election is to make the community a better and safer place to live in, he said.

“We have about 2,200 residents living in the township, and I’m sure if you ask them, they would say that they want the township to grow and taxes to stay low.”

Killinger said he hopes to see more businesses come into the township. He additionally said that he is the only working supervisor, and he is chairman of the board of supervisors.

“I’m a hard worker, and I try to bring a solution to problems,” he said. “Everyone’s welcome to give me a call at the township building or at my house anytime. I simply want to continue the work that I have started.”

Schmidt said he decided to run for the supervisor’s position because he wants to do a little bit better and a lot better for the township.

“In this day and age, the township needs to be run like a business,” he said. “That’s not happening now, and I think we need a change.”

Schmidt, 58, said many township residents have told him that they are ready for a change and are looking forward to more growth and improvements within the township.

“I have the business background,” said Schmidt, a marketing specialist with Northwood

Realty in Greensburg. “I also entered into a business relationship as an insurance consultant with DeFurio-Mongell in Scottdale so that I could use my 36 years of insurance experience.”

Schmidt has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in management and marketing from Clarion University. He has been involved in community projects for several years and has served on various boards with the community.

Schmidt said he helped raise close to $500,000 for Frick Hospital over a nine-year period through its golf tournament and served for two years on the financial development board for the American Red Cross in Greensburg, which raises funds for three counties in western Pennsylvania.

Schmidt said he hopes that people will vote for him because he can add something to the township with his business background, but he said he realizes that a lot of elected positions are like popularity contests.

“I’m not in it to be popular,” Schmidt said. “I really think that I have something to offer the residents of Upper Tyrone Township. I live here, my wife is from here, and we are raising our children here.”

If elected, Schmidt said he would not be a working supervisor or roadmaster. He also said that expansion and growth come with infrastructure such as sewerage.

“These are complicated situations that need to be addressed,” he said. “It is not a popularity contest. These heavy decisions need to be made by someone with a business background.”