Two incumbents retain their seats on Hermitage board

Economic development will remain a key focus of commissioners.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- City voters may have ousted one incumbent in Tuesday's city commissioner race, but the two others retaining their seats said it will be business as usual for the city.
"Just keep going the way we've been going," said Pat White, a Democrat, who won a seventh term in office.
However, because White took third place in the election, he will get to serve only a two-year term.
The city charter requires that three of the five commissioners be elected every two years, meaning that the winner with the lowest vote total serves only a two-year term.
Incumbent Bill Scanlon and Duane Piccirilli, also both Democrats, won four-year posts.
Incumbent Joseph Augustine; William Finzel, a former street department superintendent for the city; and businessman Chuck Nelson, all Republicans, were unsuccessful.
Piccirilli, who will be resigning his seat on the Hermitage School Board, said a big turnout helped get him elected because a lot of people want to see some new faces on the city board.
Budget is priority
He said getting involved in the 2004 city budget will be his first priority.
Scanlon, who won a 10th term in office, said he doesn't anticipate any major change in direction for the board.
Road improvements were his priority at one time but that's changed, Scanlon said, noting that storm sewer improvements are a No. 1 issue today.
The city has set aside $270,000 for that work, but Scanlon said he would like to see that boosted to $500,000.
Economic development continues to be a priority, Scanlon said, referring specifically to the planned LindenPointe technical park on South Hermitage Road as a key issue.
Hermitage is a partner in that development.
Personal goal
White said LindenPointe's development continues to be a personal goal for him as well.
He said he first got elected in the early 1980s when times were tough as the area was in an economic decline. The board of commissioners has been successful in restoring the city's financial health, he said.
"When you go to work and do what is right for the community, you get re-elected," White said.
gwin@vindy.com