Category: Another Viewpoint, Politics || By

The following candidates running in the May 19 primary election submitted information to Tube City Almanac before May 2.

These announcements were written by the candidates, not by the Almanac's editor. In some cases they were slightly edited to fit this space.

Tube City Community Media Inc. provides this forum for the public's information only. The appearance of a candidate's name in this space does not imply endorsement.

Announcements received after the May 2 deadline will be printed at the editor's discretion.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

McKeesport City Council: Paul Shelly Jr. | Alfred (A.J.) Tedesco Jr. | V. Fawn Walker

McKeesport Area School Board: Dale (Terry) Cooper | Marti Gastel | Mary Jane Keller | Patricia A. Maksin

West Mifflin Borough Council: Daniel J. Davis

(Click here to read the candidates' announcements)

. . .

McKEESPORT CITY COUNCIL

PAUL SHELLY JR. is seeking a Democratic nomination for re-election to McKeesport City Council:

"For many reasons, I am seeking re-election to McKeesport City Council.

"First and foremost is the fact that I have Sue's blessings and encouragement. I wouldn't have done it otherwise. Family first.

"I know that for the last few months, I have not performed up to my abilities and that I am disappointed in myself. I apologize. I was affected by an illness that prevented me from contributing as much as I should have. I believe that I owe it to all the folks that supported me and the rest of McKeesport to rectify that situation.

"There is much work to do in McKeesport. As hard as I worked early in my term and will continue to do through January, I don't think we have even stopped the bleeding in McKeesport. We have a budget deficit, major roads in disrepair, a pared down workforce, youth getting into trouble, houses collapsing and little economic development. It will take innovative thinking and hard work to rectify these situations. I am compelled to do my best to provide these.

"I already have ideas for improving McKeesport that I will share with you soon. I'm excited and believe that there is still hope for McKeesport. We need to be the first local community to recover from the the long past economic loss of the mills. We are the gem and hub of the Mon Valley and when we do it, other local communities will follow our lead.

"When I first ran, my goal through service was to leave all of our children, yours and mine, with a better hometown then we were left with. I will not quit, be it on Council or in some other form of Public Service, until that goal is accomplished.

"I've done things to bring money and new homes into McKeesport, helped make our streets safer for our children during inclement weather, been the swing vote on a financial option we exercised that brought another $100,000 into city coffers, fought a few ideas that residents and I didn't believe were in the best interest of our community, and invested time coaching and mentoring our city's youth.

"Not bad but not enough. I know I can do much more.

"Due to my illness and the subsequent loss of work, my financial situation is still tenuous, I am on the road to rectifying that and actually will be spending much more time in town and am in a better situation than ever to serve.

"With your forgiveness for my recent absence, God's blessing, your help, and a lot of door knocking, I will be able to make a positive difference in McKeesport for four more years."

Shelly's website is at www.paulshelly.com.

. . .

ALFRED (A.J) TEDESCO JR., 32, is seeking a Democratic nomination for election to McKeesport City Council:

• Lifelong McKeesport resident committed to the future of McKeesport


• University of Pittsburgh alumnus


• Member of ASPCA and Western Pennsylvania Humane Society

Platform for McKeesport

• Transparent and open government


• Create and obtain additional resources for public safety forces that will keep our city safe


• Create economic development opportunities for our city and dealing with abandoned property


• Fiscal responsibility for your tax dollars


• Create additional recreation opportunities for our children

Education

• Bachelor of arts degree in political science and history, University of Pittsburgh


• Associate of science degree in liberal arts, Community College of Allegheny County


• McKeesport Area High School

Current Occupation

• Allegheny County Department of Court Records (formally Clerk of Courts), 2002-present
  

  Director of External Collections and Restitution (March 2004 to present)
  Supervises the county's distribution from criminal cases. Also, supervises the office's contact with external collection agencies used for older non-paying accounts. Responsible for collecting and applying these accounts.

Endorsements

• McKeesport Fire Fighters IAFF Local No. 10


• McKeesport Police Barbell Club

. . .

V. FAWN WALKER is seeking a Democratic nomination for election to McKeesport City Council. She is endorsed by the city Democratic Committee:

"I have set out my campaign with a clear vision and purpose. A lifelong resident of McKeesport, I am 29 years old and a Democrat. I was born and raised in McKeesport to parents Schelley & Myrna Lloyd-Gould and Bobby Walker.

"I am on a ticket with the other endorsed Democratic candidates, Dale R. McCall and Darryl Segina.

"My political career was inspired in McKeesport as a youth. As a student at McKeesport High School I participated in SADD, MADD, the student newspaper; and was among the top 10 African-Americans with highest GPA in the class of 1998.

"I have a B.A. in political science from one of the oldest historically black universities, Johnson C. Smith University located in Charlotte, N.C.

"While at JCSU I worked on various political campaigns and lobbied in Raleigh for the 'Voters Owned Elections Act.'

"Next, I moved on from here to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a master's of science in criminal justice administration from Point Park University.

"My goal is to assure that my campaign is not a one woman show but a grassroots effort that represents the community.

"My approach has been to walk and talk to voters through door-to-door knocking; attending meetings of local organizations; and having community events.

"While signs are important and give you notoriety, voters deserve a hardworking candidate that will truly work for their vote. Signs along with other non face-to-face strategies such as internet and word of mouth will only get you so far.

"I have a committee of volunteers walking with her as well as making phone calls.

"I would not fool myself to believe that I can do this on my own as an average tax-paying American with a 9-to-5 job and a child --- that would be an unrealistic undertaking. A public office is about working for what the people want --- this can only be done by working together.

"I enjoy having voters walking with me through their areas and having people believe in me as a candidate."

. . .

McKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD

DALE (TERRY) COOPER, MARTI GASTEL, MARY JANE KELLER and PATRICIA A. MAKSIN are cross-filed, seeking nominations on both the Republican and Democratic tickets for election to McKeesport Area School Board.

They are running as a ticket endorsed by the White Oak Democratic and Republican committees:

Dale (Terry) Cooper

• Life-long Resident of the McKeesport Area School District


• Resident of White Oak for 22 years


• Married to Yvette Cooper and with her is raising two daughters in the McKeesport Area School District


• Graduate of McKeesport High School


• Served in the U.S. Navy on board the U.S.S. Nimitz CVN 68 from 1974-1976


• Small Business Owner in White Oak of 2Neat Detailing since 2004


• Previously employed as a general manager and trainer with Pizza Hut, Inc./PepsiCo Inc


• Member of the McKeesport PTA and the McKeesport Orchestra and Basketball Boosters


• Has coached wrestling for the McKeesport School District and Allegheny Academy


• Has coached basketball at McKeesport Central Catholic


• Holds the position of Officer with the American Legion Post 701 in White Oak


• Experienced in both the business world and as a small business owner, along with having children currently attending the McKeesport Area School District, Terry will provide the necessary insight as a business owner and parent to serve as your school board director

Marti Gastel

• Longtime resident of McKeesport


• Married to Robert Gastel


• Owner of Dorothy's Candies located in White Oak


• Member of the Regional Chamber (of Commerce) Alliance


• Attends St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Versailles


• Selected in Cambridge's Who's Who


• Studied for master's of journalism at West Virginia University School of Journalism


• Award-winning journalist


• Post-baccalaureate certification in non-fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh


• Graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in Early Childhood Education from Point Park University


• Holds a paralegal degree in business law specialty from Duquesne University


• Former manager of media relations at St. Francis Medical Center and Allegheny General Hospital


• Former reacher in Title 1 Schools, City of Pittsburgh


• Experienced in both business and education, Marti brings the knowledge, and leadership skills necessary to serve as your school board director

Mary Jane Keller

• A Life-long resident of the McKeesport Area School District


• Resident of White Oak for 20 years


• Married to Richard D. Keller and the mother of three children who were educated in the McKeesport Area School District


• Graduated from McKeesport Area High School


• Received a bachelor of science degree from Duquesne University as well as a master's equivalency


• Taught for 35 years in the McKeesport School District, retiring in 2008


• She and members of her family have served the McKeesport Area School District for a period of 88 years


• Life member of the National PTA, PSEA and NEA Teacher Association


• Life member of St. Pius V Church. Serves as a eucharistic minister, member of the finance committee, joint parish council St. Mary Czestochowa-St. Pius, and the council of churches in the Mon Valley Deanery


• Member of the Lions Club International for 25 years, 15 years with the Dravosburg Lioness Club for 10 years and 10 years with the White Oak Club. Currently serves as Zone Chairperson for District 14-B Region 2


• Serves on the board of directors for the Lions Diabetes Research Center at UPMC McKeesport


• Co-chair of the annual diabetes auction that benefits UPMC McKeesport


• Democratic Committee Woman for District 5 of White Oak Borough for the past 10 years


• Serves on the board of directors of the Jodie Matta-Dililnger Foundation for cancer patient care at UPMC McKeesport


• Experienced in working with the school district as a teacher along with her vast volunteer experience, Mary Jane has the skills necessary to serve as your school board director

Patricia A. Maksin

• Life-long resident of the McKeesport Area School District


• Resident of White Oak for 30 years


• Married for 35 years to Art Maksin and they have raised 4 children in the McKeesport School District


• Member of the Christy Park United Methodist Church


• Employed as a McKeesport Area School District Teacher for the past 36 years. Retiring in June 2009


• Current president of the McKeesport Area Education Association. Has served in the past as the Vice President of the McKeesport Area Education Association


• Holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the Pennsylvania State University


• A former member as well as former co-chair of the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Ball


• Has been active in McKeesport Area High School's Lady Tigers Basketball, Softball and Volleyball Boosters and PTSA


• Experienced in working with the school district both as a teacher and as president of the McKeesport Education Association, Pat has the knowledge, and experience to serve as your school board director

. . .

WEST MIFFLIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

DANIEL J. DAVIS, 44, is seeking a Democratic nomination for a seat on West Mifflin Borough Council. He is endorsed by the West Mifflin Democratic Committee:

"It is time for improved representation of this Borough of West Mifflin by re-establishing the pride and splendor this area is and was known for.

"I know I am capable of providing this leadership and assisting in the unity that this council needs to move forward. We must resolve to rid ourselves of disruptive council meetings and replace them with meetings that resolve the pertinent issues in a unified manner if we are to move the Borough of West Mifflin forward in these critical economic times.

"West Mifflin is and can continue to be a large economic player in this area and in Allegheny County. Our council cannot forget the businesses and the people which we are made up of.

"For over the last 15 years, I have resided at Parkside Drive in West Mifflin. I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. I have a vested interest in the future of West Mifflin.

"I attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic and have a bachelor of science degree in biology from The Ohio State University.

"For the last 21 years, I have worked as an environmental project manager for the architectural and engineering firm of L. Robert Kimball & Associates, located in their Moon Township office.

"If you have any questions or ideas to help me improve West Mifflin, please call me at 412-464-5701 or e-mail dandaviswm@aol.com."