Apr 27, 2009 2 min read

BROWNSVILLE – Voters in the Brownsville area will have a chance to ask questions of the borough council, mayor and school board candidates at a Meet the Candidates forum sponsored by the Brownsville Women’s Democrat Club and the Brownsville Neighborhood Watch group. Annette Shimer of the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh will moderate the forum. It will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at the Brownsville No. 1 (North Side) Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. Norma Ryan, one of the event organizers, said invitations have been sent out to everyone seeking office in the borough.

“Every candidate has received one, and the write-ins, also, because the lady from the League of Women Voters said they accept anyone running for office. She said they like to encourage anyone who is interested in running for office,” Ryan said.

Ryan said both incumbent Lewis Hosler and write-in challenger Lester Ward have said they will be participating, as are three of the four declared Democratic council candidates: Jack Lawver, Paul Synuria and Tracy Sheehan Zivkovich, and write-in candidate Ross Swords. Incumbent Tom Bush had not committed to participating in the event as of Thursday afternoon.

The forum committee has also invited all seven candidates running for the four open seats on the Brownsville Area School Board, but as of Thursday they had not received any responses.

Ryan asked that if there are any additional individuals planning to launch write-in campaigns, they should contact Barbara Herre at 724-322-7189 to register.