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Mike Cherepko is the endorsed Democratic candidate for mayor of McKeesport in the Nov. 8 election. He has been a teacher in the McKeesport Area School District for 12 years and a member of McKeesport City Council for eight years. He currently serves as council president.

Cherepko is a graduate of McKeesport Area Senior High School and Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife, Nicole, have two children: Jake, 2, and Madeline, 4.

(To read Ray Malinchak's answers to the same questions, click here.)

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1.) Almanac: If you were trying to convince someone to move to McKeesport --- either a family or a business --- what would you say?

Cherepko: The answer is very easy for someone who has grown up in McKeesport. I would first stress the amenities our great City possesses, which are often overlooked. These include Renziehausen Park, the Renzie Senior Center, the Carnegie Library, Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus, the free Summer Concert Series, the Marina at McKee's Point, the Palisades, McKeesport Heritage Center, our own paid Fire and Police Departments, and numerous youth athletic programs and facilities. McKeesport also currently serves as the hub for the regional trail network.

For businesses, our City has huge economic advantages over other communities in the area. First and foremost, we are located at the confluence of two major rivers. McKeesport also has highway and railroad access in every direction, as well as an open industrial park with a flyover ramp to eliminate waiting on trains to access the site.

These advantages are further enhanced by the many economic incentives and programs our City has secured through our economic development department. Lastly, I would ask the prospective resident or business owner to come to McKeesport and talk to the people. They are, always have been, and always will be our greatest asset.

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2.) Almanac: McKeesport currently provides police service to Dravosburg, ambulance service to Port Vue and Dravosburg, and (through the MACM) sewerage to several municipalities. What other services might McKeesport market to surrounding municipalities to generate revenue and lower expenses?

Cherepko: I intend to follow the strategy we implemented more than eight years ago, when Mayor Brewster took office. We will continue to market our police service to surrounding communities to enable them to provide a professional police force at a much lower cost due to economies of scale.

In addition, I plan to expand this to the Fire and Public Works Departments. The same economic principles that make the sharing of police service cost effective also apply to the Public Works and Fire Departments. This will allow smaller boroughs and townships to keep their historical identities as independent local governments, while providing many of the economic advantages that would accrue to them via mergers.

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3.) Almanac: The so-called "Delta report" singled out code enforcement as a major complaint of residents. As mayor, what steps would you take to enforce property maintenance codes and clean up blighted neighborhoods?

Cherepko: Revitalization and enforcement of our zoning ordinance has been a major theme of my campaign. I believe that all of our citizens need to take pride in their home and their community. If we expect others to locate their businesses here and move here to raise their families, we must be proud of our homes and their appearance.

I will reorganize and personally monitor a vigorous Code Enforcement team beginning on my first day in office as Mayor, and will not stop until we can all be proud of our great City.

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4.) Almanac: One of McKeesport's assets is low-priced, affordable housing. Is there a role for McKeesport to play as a "bedroom community" for people who live in Pittsburgh? If so, as mayor, what would you do to market McKeesport as a bedroom community?

Cherepko: I will support and lead efforts to market the City to all potential residents and businesses. McKeesport is an attractive place to live due to the many amenities and recreational opportunities we possess.

However, McKeesport is not just a bedroom community. I feel it would be a disservice to the City not to recruit new businesses just as vigorously as we do new residents. We have many advantages over surrounding areas and cannot allow these amenities to not be utilized to the fullest extent.

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5.) Almanac: What, if any, role should new housing play along McKeesport's riverfronts? If housing plays a role, then as mayor, how will you encourage this?

Cherepko: The marketplace drives the location of new housing. Unfortunately, our riverfronts have mostly served an industrial role.

I will utilize federal and state clean-up funds and programs to rehabilitate any site in the City where a developer might desire to locate new housing, whether along the riverfront or anywhere else.

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6.) Almanac: As mayor, how will you work to rebuild the communication lines between the city and the McKeesport Area school board?

Cherepko: As a teacher in the MASD, I believe I have a distinct advantage over my opponent, as I understand the role of the School District and its mission. I plan to build a very close relationship with the district, and I feel that such a relationship is essential to curbing the problem of youth violence in the City, among other issues.

On my first day in office, I will be assembling a task force comprised of City, Community, and School District leaders to make recommendations on exactly how the two entities can pull their resources together to attack and solve this problem once and for all.

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7.) Almanac: What do you see as the future direction of Downtown --- particularly the Fifth Avenue-Shaw Avenue corridor?

Cherepko: I believe this area has made great strides as a direct result of the ongoing Main Street revitalization. I will further stress recruiting new businesses to this area so that the beautiful streetscapes can once again bustle with shoppers and customers.

In regards to the area near UPMC McKeesport, I believe the emphasis should be on recruiting health related businesses in conjunction with UPMC. I have met with the leadership of UPMC, and I am certain that we will hit the ground running with these efforts.

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8.) Almanac: McKeesport has several different development agencies (RACM, MIDA, MDC, etc.) and housing organizations (MHA, MNI, MHC, etc.). What do you see as the future role of these agencies and groups? What, as mayor, will you do to shape their direction?

Cherepko: I will immediately make a concerted effort to organize all of these agencies in a more central location and require all of them to provide descriptions of their programs and incentives to be incorporated into a "New Business Manual." These will be utilized in our recruitment efforts and will be placed on our website for ease of access.

These programs are vital and are often underutilized, as people are not aware they exist. This will not occur under my administration.

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9.) Almanac: About 31 percent of McKeesport residents are African-American, yet many city authorities and non-profit organizations are run by whites. What can we do to improve minority representation and participation in local civic life?

Cherepko: I disagree with the assertion and hope that the best qualified individuals are in fact running the City's programs. I pledge, and my record of inclusion has shown, that I will consider all candidates irrespective of their race, religion, or political affiliations to serve in my administration.

I assure you that ability level will be my only criteria in making such selections. In short, if you want to help us face and overcome our problems, you will be involved under my administration.

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10.) Almanac: Help for municipalities from the state and federal government is drying up. As mayor, what are some new sources of revenue that you think can be tapped for McKeesport?

Cherepko: I feel that recruitment of new businesses and residents is the only long-term permanent solution to this problem. In the short term, I believe the sharing of services and the refinancing of existing debt are viable paths that must be pursued, but not answers.

There are no easy answers to this question, but I promise to surround myself with the brightest people we have and to leave no stone unturned in my efforts to expand our tax base and find the revenue necessary to maintain the rebuilding program so successfully begun by former Mayor James R. Brewster.

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11.) Almanac: What are McKeesport's three biggest assets and/or strengths?

Cherepko: First, the biggest asset McKeesport has to offer is its people. The citizens of McKeesport can overcome any challenge brought before them, and they comprise one of the greatest workforces in the country.

Secondly, our natural resources and infrastructure give us a clear advantage as an economic and industrial center, as well as being the historical hub of the Mon Valley.

Lastly, I believe our recreational opportunities are second to none. McKeesport offers Renziehausen Park, the Renzie Senior Center, the Carnegie Library, Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus, free Summer Concert Series, the Marina at McKee's Point, the Palisades, McKeesport Heritage Center, numerous youth athletic programs and facilities, and McKeesport currently serves as the hub for the regional trail network.

More affluent communities and those often thought of as "great communities in which to live" have far less than what our great City has to offer.

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12.) Almanac: Allegheny County has 130 municipalities. Are you in favor of consolidating some of these municipalities with each other, or into Allegheny County? Why or why not? Would you pursue a merger of McKeesport with another municipality? Why or why not?

Cherepko: I have listened to local, county, and state officials debate the merits and drawbacks of such a consolidation. I believe the solution lies in the middle of the two positions.

While I agree our current structure is more costly due to duplication of services and the lack of effective utilization of economies of scale inherent in our current system, I do not believe the residents or local elected officials of our local municipal governments will ever agree to give up their identities in favor of a mass consolidation of government.

Instead, I believe the sharing of services and mergers of responsibilities is not only achievable, but has already begun. A city like McKeesport should provide Public Works, Police, and Fire Service to its surrounding communities via sharing of services. This solution allows local governments to achieve economies of scale while maintaining their unique historical municipal identities.

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