Editor’s note: The Herald is featuring candidate interviews in contested municipal and school board races only.
Aspinwall Democrats have five candidates seeking party nods for four council seats in the May primary election.
Candidates include current council President Jeff Harris, Councilwoman Lara Voytko, former councilwoman Patti McCaffrey and newcomers Andrew Corey-O’Connor and Sarah Shaffer.
Incumbents Marcia Cooper and Mary Hancock declined to seek reelection.
The Republican race is uncontested with three candidates seeking four party nods. Those candidates are Donald Mazreku, Terry Nelson Taylor and Aggie Lotz.
Here are responses from the candidates to questions posed by TribLive:
Jeff Harris
Age: 56
Political affiliation: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and sciences, Virginia Tech
Occupation: Director, customer success at Icertis
What is the biggest issue facing Aspinwall right now? A big focus for Aspinwall right now is ensuring the safety and quality of life for our residents.
Freeport Road remains a major concern, needing improved lighting, updated crosswalks and visibly marked pedestrian crossings with clear signage. We are also working with PennDOT to possibly reduce the speed of Freeport Road from the current 35 mph down to 25 mph. Additionally, we’re moving forward with Phase 1 of our park improvements derived from our comprehensive plan, which includes a new multi-use court and pickleball facilities to enhance recreation options.
Finally, advancing the recommendations from the recent parking study is critical to improving accessibility and addressing parking concerns in our busy areas. These initiatives are essential to maintaining Aspinwall’s charm, adapting to growth, and improving overall safety and livability for all our residents.
Lara Voytko
Age: 56
Political affiliation: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and German, Duke University
Occupation: Senior sales specialist, Leica Biosystems
What is the biggest issue facing Aspinwall right now? Continuing to improve aging infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner.
During my eight years on council, I have brought paving projects up to date, instituted a paving schedule, repaired brick streets and mitigated flooding by separating storm water from sewage on the Eastern, Center and Western avenues as well as strategically adding catch basins.
This year, we are re-bricking four streets, repairing alleys with paving and select brick replacement, and assessing catch basins with structural subsidence. We will be improving safety by enhancing crosswalk visibility, adding crosswalks where absent and addressing sinking brick crosswalks.
The largest project this year is the long-awaited repair of the crumbling Fifth Street retaining wall.
I am developing a long-term plan for replacing our aging water and sewer lines to reliably keep the water flowing to and from our residents, thus minimizing the cost and inconvenience of multiple annual breaks.
Patti McCaffrey
Age: 62
Party affiliation: Democrat
Education: No response
Occupation: Realtor, RE/MAX Select Realty, 20-plus years.
What is the biggest issue facing Aspinwall right now? Addressing Aspinwall’s aging infrastructure remains a key priority, requiring a clear plan and long-term budget strategy to ensure lasting improvements. Continued implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, which I began working on in 2019 with Aspinwall Council, also needs more community input and strategic planning to effectively realize its full benefits for all residents.
As a separate issue, more transparency and better communication between the borough, council and residents is needed.
Our community deserves thoughtful, lasting solutions. By investing in infrastructure and working together on the Comprehensive Plan, we can build a stronger, more vibrant future for Aspinwall.
Andrew Corey-O’Connor
Age: 44
Political affiliation: Democrat
Education: Some college
Occupation: Hospitality management
What is the biggest issue facing Aspinwall right now? Public safety, specifically speeding and traffic, are the biggest challenges in the borough right now. I believe the mayor, council and the police need to continue to concentrate on traffic calming incentives and enforcement.
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My other goal is to improve the timely communication with residents. Utilizing Savvy Citizen and Rave 911 regularly will be helpful in accomplishing this goal. I’m open to looking into hiring a part-time employee to aid in this endeavor.
Sarah Shaffer
Age: 43
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Education: B.A., political science, Columbia University
Occupation: Director, marketing
What is the biggest issue facing Aspinwall right now? I think the biggest priority for Aspinwall is to focus on long-term resiliency and sustainability. Can our infrastructure withstand flooding or help mitigate the impact? Are we encouraging and supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly growth and progress with our policies? Are our local businesses set up to thrive without compounding issues like limited parking?
Based on my experience leading our local community organization, Aspinwall Neighbors, these aren’t challenges the local government can or should face alone. The strongest solutions will be from a fully engaged community working toward the same goals. We have a strong platform to start from with the Comprehensive Plan and some exciting opportunities for the community with the Brilliant Avenue line. It’s essential that we maintain the things that make Aspinwall so special as we look to the future.