Vandergrift mayor running write-in campaign after close primary loss

Incumbent Vandergrift Mayor Barbara Turiak is running a write-in campaign for a second term in office.

Turiak lost to Councilman Lenny Collini by about 12 votes in the Democratic primary in May. The general election is Nov. 2.

There was no Republican candidate on the ballot on the primary ballot, though 128 Republicans cast write-in votes.

Both candidates have served on council together for years and have both publicly stated they have maintained friendly relations during the campaign.

Collini, a Vandergrift native, said running for mayor has always been a lifelong goal.

“I think, as mayor, I can get involved in the community more,” Collini said. “I want input from the residents and will try to get them involved in anything that would change the negativity that has plagued our town for a while now.”

The borough has a population of about 5,000.

If elected, Collini said he will surround himself with residents that “want to move forward and take this town to a brighter future.”

In her fourth year as mayor, Turiak said interacting with her constituents has been a priority.

She refers to Vandergrift as “her town,” after living there 17 years.

Turiak is a retired teacher in the Leechburg Area School District. She also taught in the Kiski Area School District in her career of more than 34 years.

“Being a mayor, to me, means listening to people, taking care of the problems of the town and, when we hold activities, seeing other people from other towns coming in for it,” Turiak said.

The candidates had varying views when asked about specific challenges facing the borough.

Collini said attracting more homeowners is on his radar.

“I would like to make Vandergrift more inviting to young couples or families,” Collini said. “We need to encourage home ownership instead of out-of-town landlords that have no idea who is living in their properties or what condition the property is in.”

Turiak said there’s never one challenge, and said “it takes a village” to run a borough.

“All people think their problem is the most important. I talk to people as I walk around town. They call me. I have an open door policy where citizens just walk in. I handle all problems the best that I can and I appreciate all people’s input,” Turiak said.

In the priority department, both candidates agreed tackling blight in the borough is needed.

“Although I think Vandergrift is a beautiful town, there are a few homes and buildings that need to be cleaned up or demolished,” Collini said. “I would like to work with council to get these blighted areas and research funding sources to make this a priority in the near future.”

Turiak said taking an up-close approach is how she’d keeps tabs on blighted trouble spots.

“The biggest priority for me, if elected mayor, will be getting rid of property blight in our town, traveling with the code officer and seeing where improvements can be made,” Turiak said.

Collini said he’d like to bring back the annual 4th of July celebration and host activities on Grant Avenue, promoting and celebrating the business section.

In Vandergrift, mayoral duties include presiding over council meetings and overseeing the police department.

The borough has been no stranger to drama in 2020, with the borough, two Vandergrift police officers and all council members except Casimer Maszgay named in an ongoing federal lawsuit filed last summer by Councilwoman Karen McClarnon.

The lawsuit alleges council members violated McClarnon’s constitutional rights and interfered with her ability to perform her job duties as an elected official.

Claims made by McClarnon in the lawsuit include accusations of some council members blocking her phone number, not returning her calls and excluding her from participating in key decisions.

Turiak has since been removed from the lawsuit.

The mayor may only vote at council meetings in the event of a tie.

The mayor is elected to a four-year term and receives a monthly stipend of $50.