3 seats on County Council contested
In the Nov. 2 election, six of the 15 seats for the Allegheny County Council are on the ballot, three of which are contested races.
In District 1, Democrat Jack Betkowski is facing off against Republican Joe Wise for the seat currently occupied by Republican Tom Baker.
Mr. Betkowski is in his second term on the Board of Commissioners in his home area of Ross.
His work as commissioner has given him a “fuller understanding of the issues facing our local communities and what it will take to address them,” he said.
One of those issues, the main one, he said, is stormwater. If elected, he said, he hopes to encourage the council to help connect municipalities so they can solve various stormwater issues.
Mr. Betkowski previously ran for the District 1 council seat in 2017.
Mr. Wise, a Moon native, said his interest in politics comes from his father’s career in local government.
He said part of his goal was to bring the council “back to basics” and “ensure Allegheny County government works” for the people.
“National and societal issues have their place in politics, but not in Allegheny County Council,” he stated on his website.
His goals for the council include annually adopting a balanced budget and levying taxes and fees.
District 1 extends from Findlay, Moon and North Fayette in the west through a half dozen Ohio River Valley communities to Ross and West View.
In District 3, incumbent Democrat Anita Prizio is facing Republican Meredith Dolan for the seat representing the Aspinwall, Etna, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Indiana, Millvale, O’Hara, Reserve, Shaler,
Sharpsburg and West Deer areas.
Ms. Prizio first won her seat in the 2017 election. Since being on council, she has voted in support of the paid sick leave bill and various ordinances to help improve air quality.
She also helped to launch and is the chairperson of the council’s Committee on Sustainability and Green Initiatives.
Ms. Dolan, moved to Fox Chapel in 2017 after leaving Washington, where she worked as chief of staff for Ohio congressman Robert Gibbs.
She has advocated for infrastructure improvements in the county, specifically having the council help local municipalities better assess what upgrades are needed.
As part of her campaign platform, Ms. Dolan also has talked about supporting law enforcement and opposing tax hikes. In addition, she also plans to support ordinances that “encourage family friendly leave policies,” she said.
In District 8, Democrat Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis is running against Republican Eric Casteel for the seat currently occupied by Democrat Paul Zavarella.
Ms. Naccarati-Chapkis lives in Plum and works as the executive director of the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment.
Part of her platform is advocating for clean air and water, as well as affordable and safe housing. Her goal is to advance the county toward a “healthier, more equitable and more prosperous region,” she said.
Mr. Casteel, also lives in Plum and is running for council to bring it back to its “specified function and focus on county fiscal issues,” he said.
His platform also focuses on funding law enforcement and emergency services to ensure they “have the equipment and training they need to do their job right,” he said.
If elected, one of his top priorities would be to develop recovery plans for business and families that have been impacted by the pandemic, he said.
District 8 includes municipalities such as Plum, Monroeville, Wilkinsburg and 14 other Mon Valley communities.
Council President Democrat Pat Catena of District 4, Democrat Bob Macey of District 9 and Democrat Bob Palmosina of District 12 are all running for reelection unopposed.