A Brackenridge resident with a master’s degree in public health is challenging the borough’s longtime mayor in Tuesday’s election.
Lindsay Fraser, 37, is challenging Mayor Thomas Kish, who is seeking his fourth term.
Both candidates have ideas on what is needed in the borough and how, as mayor, they can impact the town’s future.
Kish, 68, a retired crane operator from Allegheny Ludlum (now ATI), said his main responsibility as mayor is to improve the safety and welfare of residents.
“I push public safety constantly,” Kish said, “and, in my book, that it is the biggest thing to keep on.”
To that end, Kish is trying to add a full-time officer, increasing the ranks of the borough’s police department from four to five full-time officers.
“It’s hard to get part-timers and having another full-time officer will eliminate overtime, and that will be a financial advantage,” he said.
According to Pennsylvania law, borough mayors oversee police departments; they do not vote on council ordinances and issues.
Fraser, 37, who has a background in public policy, views the mayor’s role also as a public figure to promote the town and tap regional services.
“I’m able to be an advocate for our community at a regional level while having a deep loyalty to our local interests,” said Fraser, who is a former office supervisor for Harrison Township.
She would like to see the borough and other municipalities in the Highlands School District, including Harrison, Tarentum and Fawn, that share a comprehensive plan, work together as one community.
“A rising tide raises all ships,” Fraser said. What happens in Tarentum’s business district and how Harrison works with its open space and trail planning will impact Brackenridge, she said.
In addition to public safety, Kish said he focuses on listening to residents and relaying their concerns and problems to council for action. During his 12-year tenure, a perennial issue brought up by residents is sprucing up the town and fixing the infrastructure, he said.
“We have been improving a lot in the town such as the roads and infrastructure,” Kish said. “As long as you work well with your council, you get a lot of stuff done,” he said.
Fraser wants to focus on cooperation outside of the borough, pursuing shared services with neighboring communities for zoning enforcement and planning, and more.
“Zoning and ordinance enforcement is one of the most influential pieces of local government,” she said. Brackenridge and neighboring communities can share manpower and the expense for enforcing property maintenance and other issues, Fraser added.
“I think that we could be more efficient at serving the public if we really shared more resources with other municipalities.”
Additionally, Fraser sees potential for Brackenridge as a tourist destination given the town’s “rich cultural heritage and an abundance of natural resources.”
