Lower Burrell Councilman Rob Hamilton will not seek reelection but promises to return

Lower Burrell Councilman Rob Hamilton will not seek reelection later this year in order to pursue a doctorate.

Hamilton, 32, a veteran, has a full plate with a young family and a new position as executive director of Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard in East Liberty.

Hamilton is in the first year of his four-year Ph.D. program in instructional leadership and management at Robert Morris University.

He said he’ll try to run again for council in roughly four years.

“When I served in the Army for four years, I wasn’t done serving, and that led me to veteran services where I continue to serve veterans,” he said. “Once I complete my Ph.D., I will come back to serve my city.”

Councilman Chris Fabry said he’s going to miss Hamilton, who brought new ideas and energy to the city.

“Rob made substantial changes and improvements in the Public Works Department that will be felt for years to come,” he said.

“Rob not seeking reelection is a loss for the city,” Fabry said. “I hope his eventual replacement is as dedicated and committed as he is. It’s important to me that if you are on council, you are in it for the right reasons, and Rob always has been.”

Hamilton, who comes from a military family, has lived around the world. He came to Lower Burrell because it is the hometown of his wife, Kristen. Once settled, the couple tore down their Lower Burrell home and rebuilt it as a place to raise their family with two young children.

“My commitment to Lower Burrell is much longer than a four-year council term,” he said.

Although he is preparing for his departure, the one-term councilman has thoughts on what the city needs to do to grow its business base and increase the quality of life in the bedroom community despite a shrinking commercial base. He points to the loss of two banks, at least one restaurant, and the vacancies at the U-Haul site, which was formerly home to Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney department stores along Leechburg Road.

“Until we are willing to take a hard look at the way we are operating, we’ll continue to lose businesses and have a hard time attracting more people to come to Lower Burrell,” he said.

Hamilton wants the city to develop a strategic plan, interviewing stakeholders such as residents, businesses and anyone else benefiting from increasing the vitality of the town.

A plan is needed, he said, to address the town’s aging infrastructure, including its sewage system, which will take millions of dollars to fix and update.

For a positive change in the city, residents need to be more involved, he said.

“Everybody wanted to complain about the national election, there was so much fighting over red and blue. If you care so deeply, then what are you doing at the local level that affects us the most?”

During his tenure, Hamilton said he is proud of the city completing the $3.3 million City Hall renovation, restructuring the public works department and relaunching the city’s website, among other tasks.

“I want to help to continue to identify new opportunities and strategies that best represent the city, not just an individual who wants to hold office,” he said. “The people should be in control, not just elected officials.”