Candidate for
Council Member; Borough of Swissvale; Democratic Party

I believe it is a blessing that we live in a representative democracy and that it is every citizen's responsibility to be well informed and participate in the process for it to be most effective. I feel that it will be a great honor and a privilege to serve my community by serving on our council.

My wife and I moved back to Swissvale from Arizona in 2008 to start a family. We chose Swissvale because of its proximity to parks, museums, the zoo, and many other cultural resources. My wife's family has resided in the Swissvale community for over 60 years. My young family lives and maintains a home on Lilmont that has been in the Mantia family for generations. We feel rooted in this community and want to take part in shaping Swissvale's future.

Our community in Swissvale is tightly knit. When we moved to Swissvale I knew all my neighbors several houses in each direction on both sides of the street in less than two weeks. We help each other out, we keep an eye out for each other and share our garden bounty. What a rare treasure it is to find a community like this in an urban area.

A community can only be as good as what it's people are willing to put into it. I do all I can to give back to our community and I ask everyone in Swissvale to do the same. If elected I will do my best to serve the community by promoting economic development, protecting and improving upon Swissvale parks and open-spaces, and looking toward a sustainable future by reducing the community impact on the environment where practical. I want to do my part in making Swissvale one of Greater Pittsburgh's best neighborhoods.