Six vie for three California council seats
CALIFORNIA – Three current council members, a team of sisters and a former councilwoman threw their hats into the race for the three seats open on California Borough Council. The candidates, all Democrats, are: incumbents John N. Mariscotti, Patsy Alfano and Jim Maddiex; sisters Shelia Chambers and Shelly Roberts; and former councilwoman Amelia V. Gajan-Mitchell, who previously served two years.
Most of the candidates agree that the issues in the borough are the strength of the police force, the infrastructure and town-gown relations.
Gajan-Mitchell explained that she would like to finish what she started. For example, she wants to bring infrastructure to the area. She noted that the sewerage system is 25-30 years old and would eventually reach maximum capacity. She explained that for the community to grow, certain things must be in place – infrastructure, a police force and a “nice easily run situation.”
“Are you going to have full-timers or part-timers?” she asked of the police department. “You have to decide. You need to decide what is priority.”
Maddiex considers the police force priority, noting that he helped secure funding for a new police vehicle and pushed for part-time officers when he chaired the public safety committee.
Gajan-Mitchell would also like to strengthen town-gown relations.
That issue is something Roberts feels strongly about.
“I’m going to push whether I’m elected or not,” she noted of her desire to create a network among the four major entities of the borough – council, the university, the school district and the chamber of commerce. “Together they can solve problems.”
Roberts would like them to meet on a regular basis, a process Mayor Casey Durdines started with a recent community meeting.
“It astounds me that council doesn’t know what the school board is doing and vice versa,” she added.
Roberts wants the police department stronger, as well.
“All of these issues tie together,” she noted, adding that if the entities work together, some of the issues could be solved. “I want to save my little town if I can.”
Roberts noted the university looks “fabulous,” but the town is falling behind.
“We need to clean the blighted areas,” she added. “Most areas are good, but some are so bad.”
She would also like to know what benefits the community might receive with the building of the maglev system.
“I think it’s a great idea, but I’m not sure how it will help the community. I want some answers,” she added. “I’m not sure if I’m for or against.”
Her sister, Chambers, wants the borough to move forward, expanding infrastructure to build homes, therefore expanding the tax base, she explained.
Maddiex would also like to work with the university on the relationship with students and residents.
“I’m not in favor of raising taxes,” he added, noting that he voted against a sewage fee increase so that residents could hold onto their money. He wants to stay on council to watch spending, too.
Alfano sees the borough’s major need as residential development.
“I have specific items on my agenda I want to see through – sewage upgrade, getting bids awarded, see projects come to fruition,” he noted, adding that development would ease the tax burden.
Like the others, Alfano wants to build the police force, but added that the solution is in “trying to make accommodations for full-time officers on compensation.”
California Borough currently employs five full-time officers, but four of them collect workman’s compensation. Alfano wants to get the officers back to work or in retirement.
Mariscotti declined comment on all issues.
A biology and chemistry professor at Penn State of Greater Allegheny, Gajan-Mitchell is also the president of the borough’s recreation authority. She serves on the Board of Trustees at California Public Library, is the treasurer of the Long Branch Community Grange and a member of the California Optimist Club. During her term on council, she was the sewerage chair.
Roberts served as president of her condominium board when she lived in New Jersey, where she taught elementary school and was a librarian. Since moving home, she has attended council meetings for the past year, noting that her best attribute is her willingness to try. She plans to keep attending meetings whether elected or not.
Chambers managed a manufacturing plant for 45 years, bringing her business sense to the table.
“I have a vision to make this town grow,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to it. If I don’t make it, I’m not going away.”
Maddiex has experience as the public safety chairman and is the chairman of the recreation committee.
“I don’t necessarily agree with the others on votes,” he noted. “When I don’t, I speak up. I won’t agree just to agree.”
Maddiex noted that he is not so new to be na?ve to the council workings, but not old enough to be worn out yet.
Alfano, holding a political science degree from Duquesne University and a member of the recreation authority, the real estate broker wants to use his expertise to help bring in residential development.