Meet the Candidates Recap

Yesterday evening held the final Meet the Candidate session for this local election. Four council seats and four school board seats are up for election.

All school board candidates were present except for Norm Boots. Less than half of the council candidates were present for the meeting.

Incumbent Michele Lamenza, former Councilman James Barry and newcomer Caleb Cragle were the council candidates present.

School Board Recap:

Each candidate gave their opening statements and why they believe they would be the best candidate for the position.

• Barb Wilson, newcomer running for school board, believes she would be a good candidate because she is a school educator with lots of hands on experience.
• Renee Pitrelli, current member of school board running for reelection, believes she is a good candidate because she wants to continue to focus the schools efforts on teaching students good values and preparing them for their future.
• Kathy Pansera, current member of school board running for reelection, believes she would be a good candidate because of her many years of previous experience on the board, being part of making many tough – but rewarding – decisions throughout the years.
• Kathy McCommons, newcomer running for school board, believes that because she currently has three daughters in the Ellwood City School District she has an invested interest in the betterment of the schools which would be a desired trait for a school board member.
• Anthony Buzelli, current member of school board running for reelection, believes he is a good candidate because he has the ambition to provide the best education possible while keeping taxes to a minimum.

Topics discussed:

• Outsourcing
• Taxes/Budgets
• How to bring good press to the school
• Accomplishments (for currently board members)

Council Recap:

Each candidate gave their opening statements and why they believe they would be the best candidate for the position.

• James Barry, former Councilman, believes that he is a good candidates because when he was on council previously there was only one tax and one electric increase. He said that the council who is in place now has an “increase problem.” He said that if he’s on council he will make sure that if any wages do get cut (to reduce spending) they are “from the top not the bottom.”
• Michele Lamenza, council incumbent seeking reelection, believes she would be a good candidate because of what she – and council – have accomplished during the last four years. She stated that she listened to the wants of the people and council worked towards making them happen.
• Caleb Cragle, newcomer, believes he would be a good candidate because he has an invested interest in the community – this is where he is raising his young daughter and he is concerned for her future with all the negativity that’s been floating around recently. He would like to highlight community betterment and breed a positive community attitude.

Topics discussed:

• Ellwood Electric/other electric options
• Tax increases
• The police department
• Armstrong Cable/other cable options

Voting for all positions will be on Nov. 7.