Monroeville council will see some changes after this year’s elections, with second-term mayor Nick Gresock finishing his time with the municipality and multiple council seats in play.
Four seats are open on council, however only one of those seats will have multiple candidates vying for it in the May 20 primary.
Mayor
In the mayoral race, two Democrats will face each other in the primary: Dennis Biondo Jr. and Mandal Singh.
No Republican candidates have filed.
“I want to serve the community,” said Singh, 80, a former medicine researcher with UPMC, who currently serves on the Gateway school board. “I’ve lived here since 2010 and have been active on the local library and school boards, and so thought this could be another good way to serve the community.”
Biondo Jr., 40, who is is finishing up his first term as a councilman, said he was approached by Gresock about running for mayor.
“Initially I kind of wanted to stay on council,” Biondo said. “But he kept asking about it and along with school board member Sean Logan, they talked me into it.”
Biondo is the council’s liaison to the municipality’s Convention Visitors Bureau, and had a front-row seat to the 2024 efforts to save the Monroeville Convention Center.
“I think the mayor did a great job with that, and having been part of it, I think I could be in a good position to address an issue like that if it comes up,” he said.
Council seats
Biondo also is running for reelection to his Ward 7 council seat, and will be challenged in the primary by fellow Democrat Allison Ramsey.
“I’ve always done volunteer work with Monroeville and we’ve lived here for a long time,” said Ramsey, 46, a paramedic and medical coding technician with Monroeville Fire Company 6. “I’m looking to bring some diversity to the council.”
Ramsey said her focus, if elected, will be on capital improvements, keeping the municipal budget under control and working to bring more small businesses to Monroeville.
In Ward 3, Republican Gary DeLorenzo and Democrat John Washington do not have primary challengers, and will likely face one another in the general election.
In Wards 1 and 5, incumbent Democrats Joseph Hyzy and Mike Adams are running unopposed.