NEW CASTLE Mayoral hopefuls focus on downtown

Both candidates want to continue working on the area's revitalization.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Bringing business back to downtown and securing the safety and services of residents are the top priorities of the two candidates wanting to become New Castle's next mayor.
Democrat Richard L. DeBlasio and Republican Wayne Alexander are squaring off for the post being vacated by Timothy Fulkerson, who decided not to seek re-election.
DeBlasio, 47, cites his 10 years on city council, most recently serving as council president, as experience that would help him move easily into the mayor's job.
DeBlasio also notes his work as a nursing-home administrator gives him experience working with budgets, contract negotiations and employee benefit issues.
His opponent, Alexander, 50, cites his many years of experience volunteering with nonprofit organizations including serving a six-year term as the state treasurer for the Pennsylvania United Way and as president of the Lawrence County Family Center, a general partner in a $2.4 million home construction project in the city for low-income people.
No. 1 priority
Alexander and DeBlasio both say their No. 1 priority if elected will be to address the diminishing revenues in the city while still maintaining public safety.
"Before these basic services are cut, or taxes raised to support these protections, my administrative staff and department heads will take cuts first," Alexander said. "That is, we will feel the pain before we pass the pain on to the city taxpayers."
DeBlasio said as mayor it would be his responsibility to investigate consolidating jobs through attrition without compromising the efficiency and quality of city services.
Both say they also want to continue the work of the present administration with downtown revitalization.
The city is undergoing a $5 million face-lift, thanks to a state grant given in conjunction with a private developer's work on the Neisner-Centennial building for a Warner Brothers themed mall.
Alexander said he will aggressively market downtown New Castle to job-promising businesses.
He says he is also a proponent of Millennium Park in Neshannock Township -- a project that is tying into the city's sewage system -- because it will benefit all of Lawrence County.
DeBlasio said his time on city council has given him an advantage because he is aware of unique and innovative projects in the planning stages, which have not yet been initiated in the city.
cioffi@vindy.com