FARRELL COUNCIL RACE Political veterans vie against newcomers for council seats

A former mayor, a current councilman, a Democrat stalwart and a community activist are on the ballot.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. --The race for two city council seats could be billed as "the old versus the new" or "experience versus change."
It sees four Democrats competing for the seats: a former mayor and councilman, a current councilman, a politically active woman who has never held elective office and a political newcomer.
There are no Republicans on the May 20 ballot so the winners of the primary will most likely also win the general election in the fall.
Former Mayor Eugene C. Pacsi is seeking a return to city politics after allowing his last term to expire at the end of 1999 as he made an unsuccessful bid for Mercer County commissioner.
Pacsi served as a city councilman from 1974 to 1979 and as mayor from 1979 to 2000.
Councilman Mark A. Petrillo, completing his first four-year term, is seeking re-election, but Councilwoman Helen Marenchin isn't.
Betty Marshall, who has been active in city and county party politics for years and made an unsuccessful bid for a council seat in the past, is on the ballot, as is Olive M. "Ollie" Brown, a newcomer to the political scene but someone who is well known for her community activist efforts.
Petrillo
Petrillo said he is running again to help see the city emerge from its state designation as a financially distressed municipality.
He's a former city firefighter who was elected to council after he retired, and he sees jobs, economic development, housing, recreation, inter-municipal consolidation -- which he supports -- as key issues facing Farrell.
Those are items the city is continuing to work on now, Petrillo said.
Brown
Brown said she has worked in the Shenango Valley and Farrell for more than 26 years to try to bring some positive things to the area. She's succeeded, being largely credited with being the driving force behind a number of community improvement programs, including Wheels To Work that provided free cars to needy people, an anti-drug community group and the Farrell-Sharon Weed & amp; Seed program.
Now, she wants to focus her efforts on the city.
Marshall
Marshall, vice chairman of the Mercer County Democratic Party, said she is concerned about the city's present condition, which prompted her to take another shot at the office. It is the responsibility of the governing body to help provide the fundamentals of life such as jobs, housing, education, utilities and social services, she said.
The city needs programs to create jobs and promote economic growth, something that she thinks really isn't being done now, Marshall said, adding that recreational programs for city youth "are below average and insulting."
Farrell needs new ideas and new direction, she said.
Pacsi
Pacsi said he can help the city rebuild its tax base by bringing in new businesses and jobs. His experience in the city government gives him the background and knowledge to work with other communities as well as the state and federal governments to help accomplish that goal, he said.
He sees the ongoing five-municipality merger-consolidation study as a key issue, and said he will support whatever recommendations the study committee presents.
Rebuilding the city's northwest section is another key issue that must be addressed, Pacsi said.