Voters in Penn Hills who go to the polls Nov. 5 will have two choices for their mayor and solidify two new council members and a controller.

Between the mayoral candidates, Pauline Calabrese edged out John Petrucci on the Democratic ticket in the May 21 primary. Petrucci, however, earned enough write-in votes on the Republican ticket to emerge as the party’s candidate. He is a registered Democrat.

On council, two out of seven candidates who sought party nominations on the Democratic ticket in the primary emerged victorious. They are Jim Getsy and Frank Pecora; they are running unopposed. They will replace council members Gary Underwood and Mark Brodnicki.

Nicholas Futules Jr. is running unopposed for the municipality’s controller seat.

Following is information submitted by the mayoral candidates as well as their response to questions posed by the Trib.

Pauline Calabrese

Party: Democratic

Term: 4-year, mayor

Home: Crescent Hills Road

Age: 57

Occupation: Attorney

Political experience: One term, Penn Hills School District Board of Directors (2014-2017)

What are the two biggest challenges facing Penn Hills and what ideas or policies will you offer, support or promote to address them? Our two biggest challenges are inter-connected. We have a public relations problem, which erodes our economic base. Pittsburgh is literally one of the hottest cities in the world right now, with Penn Hills being right on the edge of it. We absolutely need to capitalize on this phenomenon, while keeping our current residents secure in their homes. I would (1) Continue to develop my relationship with media outlets, county, state and federal officials, and charitable foundations; (2) Revamp local code to make it more friendly to businesses and meet with developers to make our side of the Allegheny River mirror the other side; (3) Add new housing to complement our current stock to attract both young people looking for affordable housing, and baby boomers with disposable income; (4) Meet with the Mayor of Pittsburgh and other leaders to learn from their mistakes; (5) Capitalize on our outstanding location and beautiful geography, touting our gorgeous riverfront and beautiful hill top views; and (6) Open the gateways to our neighborhoods. My plan of progress would widen our tax base, increase our home values and provide business and job opportunities to our residents.

How has your background and experience equipped you for this seat? As a professor at Carlow University, I taught Business Law and Employment Discrimination Law. While on the faculty at CCAC, I taught U.S. Constitution and American Government. I also present Continuing Legal Education to attorneys and Certified Public Accountants. I have also volunteered for Neighborhood Legal Services, providing free legal services to residents of Penn Hills, earning the Pro Bono Legal Excellence Award in 2018. In July of 2019, I was recognized for providing free legal services to Veterans. I have served on the Boards of Arsenal Family and Children’s Center and the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center, providing medical and dental care for the working poor, regardless of religion. My skills include oral and written communication skills, negotiation skills and organization and managerial skills. As an attorney, I draft and review complex contracts for a living. As an educator, I take great pride in simplifying complicated matters. But perhaps most relevant are the managerial and budgeting skills I have acquired after having raised five children.

John Petrucci

Party: Democrat on Republican ticket

Term: 4-year, mayor

Home: Riverview Drive

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office

Political experience: Penn Hills Council (2017-present)

What are the two biggest challenges facing Penn Hills and what ideas or policies will you offer, support or promote to address them? My platform is simple: I want to rebuild the economy of the Municipality. We went from a population of 64,000 to 42,000, all while the cost of running the Municipality has increased. Our municipal workers expect a raise each year, but how far can we can stretch the tax dollars that are coming in before we have to raise taxes or eliminate services? Raising taxes or eliminating services is unacceptable to me. So I have brought back the Economic Development team made up of a diverse panel of bright young men and women. This group has reached out to the Orton Foundation and New Sun Rising who have helped revitalize other local communities. This group is working on bringing families and businesses back to Penn Hills so that the tax base can increase and grow our town. They are working on a tax abatement program for vacant land around Penn Hills to entice light manufacturing, which would bring jobs also. I have proposed that we give some of the vacant houses in Penn Hills, free and clear of all tax liens to developers to rehab them and sell them to new families that want to live here and grow their family. We must look to the future. I am looking to establish a sewer authority that would own all the sewer lines and be self-sufficient in running its organization, and to revitalize our own plants and filtrate our own sewage cutting all ties with Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, while establishing a set rate for the customers in Penn Hills that they can live with.

How has your background and experience equipped you for this seat? Aside from these ideas, I’m very active in the community. Whether it’s cleaning up litter or proposing policy, I am always working for the betterment of the community. In my year and 10 months as a councilman, change has been accomplished. But we must forge ahead. We now record the council meetings and broadcast them over the internet. Seniors get a three-month payment plan for the municipal taxes plus a 10% discount. A comprehensive sewage analysis lead to a five dollar decrease. Policies on nepotism and criminal background checks have been established. All of this was done while I am watching over government spending of tax dollars. I am always accessible by phone or internet to the people of the community. The days of the election of a councilman as a status symbol are gone – you get elected by the people to get involved help out in making your community better for all who live there. That is why I ran for office and as a councilman of Penn Hills, and that’s what I will continue to do. I won on my own merit for council in 2017 against an incumbent, and 5,273 voters wanted change and change is what I gave you. Change from the same old same old. New fresh outside the box thoughts, open to all ideas. I involved young bright professional men and women in the future development of Penn Hills. I am only the vessel cutting a path for the future younger generations. They are the future of Penn Hills.

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