 There are eight people seeking party nominations for the upcoming election for Ellwood City Borough Council. George J. Celli is the only candidate seeking the Republican nomination. Seven others are seeking four nominations from the Democratic Party. Three incumbents are seeking reelection and there is one vacancy left by Tony Court who is running for mayor. An * denotes an incumbent. Responses were not received from Anthony DeCarbo* and Peter Maietta.
*George J. Celli
Birth date: 12/26/54
Residence: 507 Penn Ave. Ellwood City
Birthplace: Ellwood City
Family: 1 son, Steve age 27
Education: Lincoln High School
B.S. Marketing: Robert Morris Univ.
Present employment: Retired
Past employment: Acct.,Aetna Standard
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection?
I'm seeking re-election to try and help the people of Ellwood, I believe I'm a good listener when people call me with their concerns and able help find a solution to their problem.
What experience or qualifications do you have?
I have been fortunate to serve the residents of Ellwood as their councilperson for the past 14 years. I served as their councilman when their street needed plowed from snow or patched. I was on council when a new Wastewater treatment plant and new Electric substation need built to serve our town.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue?
Some of the major issues we face are several from drugs and trying to keep drugs from coming into Ellwood. We may need more than one drug dog and more patrols in drug areas. Another issue we face is with these economic times we must find a way to continue to keep giving services to our residents. We must find a way to keep our young people here and working. We must keep trying to attract more companies like Appalachian Lighting to our area.
What is your top priority if elected and how will you implement it if elected?
It may not be a top priority to everyone but we promised the kids a skateboarding park and that’s one of the things I would like to see done. I remember the meeting when we had more young men and women attend our council meeting about skateboarding park than we ever had adults at the budget meeting. We were hoping for a grant but that didn't work out, however we have enough money in our parks and recreation fund to put a small one in.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer?
I would want someone to ask me if I was re-elected, when we call you with a problem or concern will you still listen to us and call us back with a answer. I will listen to you and if I can't the answer their question I will call you back with an answer, it may or may not be what you want to hear but I will call with a answer. I can't tell you how many calls I received over the past 14 years as your councilperson but I can tell you I have called them all back or seen them to try to answer their question and help solve their problems and concerns if it is possible.
Gene Coccia
Birthdate:
Residence: Ellwood City
Birthplace: Ellwood City
Family (with names and ages) Wife and two daughters
Education: Lincoln High School
Present employment: Work part time at the Butler Auto Auction
Past employment: Retired from the Ellwood City Post Office after 36 years as a letter carrier
Other public offices you have sought (successfully or unsuccessfully):
List all relatives who hold public offices or public employment:
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection?
What experience or qualifications do you have? Served on council for eight months after being appointed to fill a vacancy. Member of the Ellwood City Recreation Board over 10 years and alternate member of the Ellwood City Zoning Board. Veteran of the United States Army and vice president of the Ellwood City Saxon Club.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue? Stop wasteful spending. Example: Why do five council members need to attend a state conference at a cost of almost $4,000. One or two council members could attend and brief the others.
What are your priorities if elected and how will you implement it if elected?
Improve and better maintain our two parks – Ewing Park and Stiefel Park – these are two assets most boroughs our size do not have.
Hold absentee landlords accountable for their property.
Start an anonymous criminal hot line.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer?
Judith S. Dici
 Birthdate:
Residence: Ellwood City, Pa.
Birthplace: Ellwood City, Pa.
Family (with names and ages) Single
Education: Lincoln High School, Slippery Rock University, IUP, Pa. State Police Transitional Training.
Present employment: substitute teacher
Past employment: Pa. State Police BLCE, Ellwood City Area School District English and Spanish teacher.
Other public offices you have sought (successfully or unsuccessfully): N/A
List all relatives who hold public offices or public employment: N/A
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection? I believe we need to show respect and oversight for the way taxpayer money is being spent. Every taxpayer dollar spent by council comes from the hardworking taxpayer and they should be given the consideration they deserve.
We also need tighter control over the manner in which borough money is spent by council members with all expenses being itemized and documented. In the current financial times it should not only be the taxpayer who is asked to tighten their belt. Council members should be expected to do the same and held accountable for personal expenses they submit.
In addition, the welfare of the residents of Ellwood City should be of a higher priority than party affiliation.
What experience or qualifications do you have? I have been an working, taxpaying, contributor to society my entire adult life. I would be an asset to contract negotiations having been actively involved with negotiations in a previous job.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue? One main issue is how to hold the line on electric rates. Another would be the revitalization of the downtown area which is necessary to attract new small business owners as well as making EC attractive to companies contemplating moving into the area.
What is your top priority if elected and how will you implement it if elected? Some of the issues that I would put high on my list would be:
1. Expand and vary the use of Ewing Park facilities for: a. senior citizen programs b. teen activies.
2. Hire more full or part-time police officers to avoid paying out the enormous amount of overtime which is draining borough funds. If not curtailed, how will this overtime be paid? Most likely from another increase in either the electric rate or property tax.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer? It would be the question relative to why I am seeking the office.
Glenn E. Jones
Birthdate: 5-21-38
Residence: 104 4th St., Ellwood City, Pa. 16117
Birthplace: Kingston, Pa.
Family (with names and ages) Wife, Sandra, 65; daughters Jennifer Rosenberger and Rebecca Jones.
Education: 4 years of college.
Present employment: retired
Past employment: State Farm Insurance Co., claims representative
Other public offices you have sought (successfully or unsuccessfully): None
List all relatives who hold public offices or public employment: None
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection? To do what I can to make Ellwood City a great place to live, work and play.
What experience or qualifications do you have? Four years of college. Business administration, major accounting.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue? Finances – We have to watch our expenditures closely. We must keep taxes as low as possible because many of our residents are on a fixes income.
What is your top priority if elected and how will you implement it if elected? A review of the budget for 2010.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer? No response
Rocco Ierino
Birthdate: 7-3-53
Residence: 509 Summit Ave.
Birthplace: Ellwood City
Family (with names and ages) Son, John, 28; daughter, Roxanne, 23; brother, Frank and sisters Chris and Julie.
Education: Lincoln High School
Present employment: Self employed for 24 years.
Past employment: U.S. Steel
Other public offices you have sought (successfully or unsuccessfully): NA
List all relatives who hold public offices or public employment: Tony Court
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection? 1. I was asked by borough president. 2. Tired of seeing our town fall apart. I love Ellwood City and will never quit fighting to keep this a safe place to live and raise a family.
What experience or qualifications do you have? My first time running.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue? Ellwood is being overrun by drugs and thugs. Stop it!
What is your top priority if elected and how will you implement it if elected? Make the people of E.C. more informed as to what is going on. I would like to put a digital sign in front of the police station. Nobody knows when meetings are and special events. We had a crime watch meeting. Five people showed.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer? What are you gonna do for us? Make Ellwood City a better and safer place to live.
*Angela M. Valvano
 Birthdate: 10-26-1976
Residence: 200 Fourth Street Ellwood City, PA
Birthplace: Ellwood City
Family (with names and ages)
Husband Scott Williams
children: Isabella (14), Anneleise (11) Angelo (10)
Education:
Present employment:
Past employment:
Other public offices you have sought (successfully or unsuccessfully):
List all relatives who hold public offices or public employment:
Why are you seeking this office? or if you are incumbent why are you seeking reelection?
The gears of progress are slowly beginning to turn in Ellwood City. My decision to seek a second turn hinges on the fact that we have so many important decisions to make in the next four years. We are at a real crossroads, and I want to continue to be a part of moving Ellwood City forward.
What experience or qualifications do you have?
In my first term on Borough Council I have taken every opportunity I could find to educate myself on the issues facing the borough, and am looking forward to continuing to use the knowledge and relationships I have built to continue to serve the people of Ellwood City. That said, I think that the best qualifications any councilperson can offer is the ability to view every decision logically, seek out all information, strip away the personal politics and use common sense. I have tried my hardest to do so.
What do you see as the major issue in this election and what is your position regarding this issue?
The single most pressing issue facing the borough over the next four years is going to be how to continue to offer our residents all of the services we provide currently, in the face of stagnant revenues and rising costs. I feel we can avoid reduction in services by taking a twofold approach. We must work hard to attempt to increase our tax base, through attracting both new businesses and new residents in our vacant housing. At the same time we must be realistic in our budgeting and look outside the box for new ways to minimize costs. This is not going to be an easy process, and I think I have a firm grasp on what our residents feel are their priorities.
What is your top priority if elected and how will you implement it if elected?
There is a long list of projects that are top priorities, Downtown Revitalization and the rehab. Of Circle Playground immediately come to mind, contracts to negotiate, funding to be pursued, police chiefs and managers to be interviewed. These are all huge priorities. The most important thing I hope to do, however, is continue to try to bring together all our regional government, all of our elected officials, our citizens, and break down the barriers that for so long kept us from progressing. The days of the state having one agenda, the county another, school board doing x, council doing y, and an inactive chamber of commerce have long past. Promoting an active and enabled community where everyone is involved and working for the common good and towards common goals is my number one priority. There is no reason, with our wonderful residents and beautiful amenities, that we cannot be a real example of transformative change in the region. We just all have to stay on the same page.
What one question would you like someone to ask you regarding your quest to be elected and how would you answer?
I genuinely wish people would ask more questions of the candidates, period. Local elections should be more than popularity contests. Voters armed with FACTS elected better leaders. We, as elected officials, should be able to stand behind every vote we cast. So seek us out, and ask lots of questions, not just one.
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