From sewer sludge to paid family leave to no-tax-hike pledges, a wide range of issues dominate the respective platforms of Allegheny County Council candidates facing off Tuesday. Six council races are on the general election ballot, but just three were contested in the general election. Joe Wise, a Moon Township Republican, died on Saturday. He was contesting the District 1 seat with Democrat Jack Betkowski of Ross. Wise’s death does not guarantee Betkowski’s win. Tens of thousands of mail-in ballots already have been cast, and voters still can select Wise when they go to the polls. Should Wise receive more votes than Betkowski once results get certified, County Council and its Republican Caucus would be tasked with filling the vacancy early next year, according to Sam DeMarco, chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County and an at-large member of County Council. Those running unopposed include Council President Pat Catena of District 4, Bob Macey of District 9 and Bob Palmosina of District 12. A majority of both Democratic and Republican candidates vying against opponents have flagged the need to improve collaboration among communities countywide in order to solve pressing problems plaguing the region — such as lingering air and water woes and cash-strapped areas that can’t afford to hire full-time police or eradicate blight. Here’s a look at top priorities cited by candidates: District 3 Constituents span West Deer, Fox Chapel, Etna, Millvale, Hampton, Indiana, O’Hara, Reserve, Shaler, Sharpsburg and Aspinwall. Democratic incumbent Anita Prizio of O’Hara sums up her top three issues in six words: "Clean Air. Clean Water. Good Jobs.” Having long championed efforts to improve the region’s air quality and environment, Prizio pledges if re-elected to cleaning up the storm sewers, upgrading aging infrastructure and eradicating lead from water while bolstering the growth of the clean energy sector. "We need to robustly enforce and update all air quality regulations,” said Prizio, a lifelong resident of O’Hara who earned a master’s in business administration as well as law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She’s a court-appointed special advocate and also owns and runs an internal engine parts company, Pittsburgh Crankshaft Service. "I have used my law degree to fight for the interests of children in family court,” said Prizio, "and now I’m fighting for your interests on Allegheny County Council.” Prizio secured her seat on the council in 2017 by edging out former Republican incumbent Ed Kress by 309 votes. She points the hydropower plant announced in late January as one of the county’s green initiative achievements thus far. When operational in 2023, the $50 million plant in Emsworth will provide power for the courthouse, jail and other county buildings. She was tapped this past summer to head up a new, seven-member council committee on sustainability and green initiatives, which Prizio says "will bring diverse perspectives on an issue that is vitally important to our county and the region.” She says she has refused campaign donations from special interest groups and corporations. "I do not accept money from corporate PACs, property developers or fossil fuel interests,” Prizio said. Republican challenger Meredith Dolan of Fox Chapel is an Ohio University graduate. She worked her way from an unpaid intern on Capitol Hill to chief-of-staff for Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio before relocating to Fox Chapel with her children and husband. He is a high school history teacher in Hampton. Among Dolan’s top priorities: investing in public safety, infrastructure and "services to children and families in the deepest need.” She also wants to make it easier for residents to get answers from government officials rather than navigating a "maze” of bureaucracy and unanswered phone calls. "Every municipality in District 3 is different and they all have different needs,” Dolan said. "And I think that has been something that’s been lacking for this district on the county level: to just really make sure that these constituents are getting what they need. "I am working for the people that I’m representing, and that’s why I’m running for Allegheny County Council.” Dolan volunteers with nonprofits such as North Hills Community Outreach, Foster Love Project, Second Harvest Thrift Store and N Street Village, which provides housing for the homeless, victims of abuse and people struggling with drug addiction. When it comes to sick leave — which has stirred controversy on the council amid legislative ambiguity in recent months — Dolan vows to "fight for good laws that encourage family-friendly leave policies to give mothers, fathers and families the time they need.” Rather than turning to far-reaching mandates, however, Dolan calls for "developing a plan that helps families, protects business owners and keeps solutions as local as possible.” If elected, Dolan plans to join what she describes as a "growing, pro-taxpayer faction on County Council opposed to raising taxes on working families and retirees.” She also emphasized the importance of ensuring police "officers have equipment they need and the support of elected leaders when they do their job right.” District 8 County Council’s District 8 — where a Democrat has held office since 2000 — includes Plum, Monroeville, Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Rankin, Swissvale, Trafford, Turtle Creek, Wall, Whitaker, and Wilmerding. Democrat incumbent Paul Zavarella vacated the seat. Republican Eric Casteel of Plum said his primary goal as a councilman would be to bring the county "back to the basics” of its Home Rule charter by limiting its scope and reach and focusing on fiscal responsibility in budgeting. "This is not to say that there are not social justice issues, but that seems to be the primary focus right now for county council,” Casteel said. Casteel is a Westinghouse nuclear cybersecurity engineer who grew up in Hopwood, Fayette County. He’s a Laurel Highlands High School graduate who earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. He has worked for about 40 years as an executive and as an entrepreneur at several small- to medium-sized companies. He says he’s will be an advocate for improved communications and collaboration between county and local governments. Though he identifies as a conservative, Casteel vows if elected to "seek input from District 8 municipalities and represent all residents regardless of party.” He touted attending 15 meetings of municipal boards within District 8 in recent months "just to understand what their problems are” and how county officials might be able to help. He learned, for instance, that families and businesses continue to need help rebounding from the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. He’s not a fan of the county’s newly approved police accountability review board because he doesn’t think it’s fixing any underlying problems, particularly since it currently applies to Allegheny County Police and not the more cash-strapped municipalities that rely on part-time or state or regional law enforcement. Still, Casteel does want to see more investments in public safety and improving policing as well as police relations with residents countywide. "We’ve got a shortage of police forces in smaller communities,” he said. "We need to provide the equipment and training necessary for our first responders to do their jobs right and with the full backing of county leadership.” Democrat Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Plum Naccarati-Chapkis cited several focus areas in her platform: affordable and safe housing; quality education, transportation and health care; thriving businesses; and environmental health problems. "We need to thoughtfully address the inequities that exist across the district and the county,” Naccarati-Chapkis said. "I will advocate for a healthy, equitable, prosperous and sustainable community for all residents.” She has 25 years experience working in the nonprofit sector and serves on several nonprofit boards. She’s also a member of the Plum Zoning Hearing Board. Naccarati-Chapkis serves as the founding executive director of Women for a Healthy Environment, a nonprofit focused on addressing environmental exposures and issues that impact public health. She previously spent 14 years working for a regional land trust to acquire properties for the benefit of the environment and the public, including additions to North Park and South Park. Among her top goals: helping to ensure "that we have safe and affordable drinking water all across the county.” Naccarati-Chapkis said she’d also like to pounce on the "opportunity to have a real discussion about climate change and how the county can apply a holistic approach to addressing it.” The University of Pittsburgh graduate says she’ll bring to the role extensive experience working with local, state and federal officials as well as private foundations and corporations. She says her research on social determinants of public health can assist in addressing challenges such as improving access to health care, transportation, clean water and clean air. "I will be an advocate of all of District 8, including the areas that have been most left behind,” she said. "Nonprofit partners, labor, government, industry — it requires all of those folks working together.” Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@triblive.com or via Twitter .