Jan 26, 2016 2 min read

Charleroi’s most recent borough manager hopes to become the 49th Legislative District’s Democratic nominee in a bid to succeed retiring state Rep. Peter J. Daley.

Donn Henderson, 55, a former supervisor in Fallowfield Township, where he continues to reside, was also Charleroi Main Street manager and Irwin Main Street manager in Westmoreland County. His position as Charleroi borough manager was eliminated earlier this month by council.

“My knowledge of the challenges taxpayers, local government and businesses face in the district is from hands-on work at the grassroots level,” Henderson said in a statement Tuesday.

Henderson was appointed by the Washington County commissioners to serve on the boards of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, tourism and Health Partners. He has also been a leader in the Mon Valley Intergovernmental Cooperative, Mon Valley Blight task force and the River Town Program, which promotes economic growth based on outdoor recreational services and business.

Through the redevelopment authority he has been part of projects such as the development of Tanger Outlets in South Strabane Township and construction of senior housing in Claysville.

In Charleroi he was active in promoting the rehabilitation of several homes in Charleroi and his involvement in small business funding and recruitment projects has included the Sustainable Marketplace for Arts, Artisans Recreational and Trending businesses grant program to assist Mon Valley firms with start-up and expansion costs.

“I am proud to have been involved with area elected officials and administrators looking at how we work together to improve as a region not just in our own towns,” said Henderson, who was asked recently to serve on the state Pennsylvania Downtown Center board of directors.

His leadership and membership includes the Mon Valley Initiative, Mon Valley United Way, Fallowfield Lions Club, library board and the Greater Charleroi Community Development Corporation.

Henderson said, if elected, he hopes “to bring back some civility to Harrisburg. The borderline hate-speak needs to end and our representatives need to learn to talk to each other and work things out in a manor expected by the people they serve.”

For the last 34 years, Henderson has also owned his own disc jockey business – DJ Donn Henderson – from which he pledged to retire if elected.

Henderson becomes the third Democrat in the race, joining Alan Benyak and Mark Alterici. Two Republicans, Donald “Bud” Cook and Melanie Patterson, have also announced their candidacies.