Council incumbents to face newcomer
Two city councilmen are touting their work to pull Washington from the brink of bankruptcy while a political newcomer is hoping to take one of their jobs in next week’s municipal election.
Two city council seats for four-year terms are up for grabs on the Nov. 5 ballot with challenger Tracie Rotunda Graham vying for a position against incumbents Joe Manning and Matt Staniszewski.
Manning, a one-term Democrat, and Staniszewski, a two-term Republican, both say they have worked during their tenures to stabilize the city’s financial situation and want to continue making improvements to Washington’s main business district. Rotunda Graham, 52, who is running on both the Republican and Democratic tickets, did not return multiple phone calls to discuss her candidacy.
Manning 52, worked as a full-time city firefighter for more than 20 years before retiring in late 2009 and winning his first term on council. He currently is helping his wife, Lynn, with her Canonsburg-based marketing and public relations business Alpha Omega Communications.
Manning said he’s most proud of working to lower health care expenses for the city and helping to retool the code enforcement office. He also pointed to efforts to form the city fire department’s rapid intervention team that works closely with North Strabane and Peters townships to offer mutual assistance if a firefighter is trapped in a structure.
“It’s the strides we were able to make with the budget and health care, and working closely with other municipalities,” Manning said. “I feel it’s good for the city and good for the region.”
His re-election chances appeared to be in doubt when he did not secure enough valid signatures before May’s primary, but he mounted a successful write-in campaign to make it on the general election ballot as a Democrat. He wants to continue working on the city’s budget and revitalizing the downtown business district.
“My focus right now is the budget and keeping it where it’s manageable to avoid some of the financial pitfalls the city experienced the past few years,” Manning said.
Staniszewski, 36, is running for his third term even after he began his new job as New Castle’s economic development director in September. The job requires him to establish residency in the Lawrence County city by mid-March, although he could receive a waiver from that mandate.
Staniszewski did not think his new job or the looming residency situation would create problems and wanted to instead focus on economic and infrastructure improvements made in Washington during his tenure.
“When I first got on council (in 2006), it was on the brink of bankruptcy,” Staniszewski said. “By working together, the city is back in the black and has a positive future moving forward with consistent and steady leadership.”
As the public works director for the past six years, Staniszewski touted his five-year street paving plan that is updated annually. He also points to tax incentive programs to bring new businesses and families into the city.
“I’m continuing to work for neighborhood improvements and economic development in the business district,” he said. “The city of Washington needs to be a welcoming place to operate a business, own a home and raise a family.”