3 Democrats vying for 2 New Kensington Council seats in primary

New Kensington Democrats will have three candidates to choose from to fill two ballot spots for city council.

Incumbents Dante Cicconi and Tim DiMaio are seeking to remain on the five-member council. Newcomer Laurie Scheid is looking to take one of those seats.

There are no Republican candidates on the May 16 primary ballot.

Mayor Tom Guzzo and Councilmen Corey Pistininzi and Todd Mentecki are not up for election this year.

Cicconi, 41, has been on council for eight years and is seeking his third four-year term. He is a landscape architect and entrepreneur.

DiMaio, 59, was first elected to council in 2011 and is seeking a fourth term. He works in maintenance for the New Kensington-Arnold School District.

Scheid, 63, operates Jazz Music Travel in New Kensington. Her background includes promoting shows and events as a singer and band leader.

Before being elected to council, Cicconi, a New Kensington native, served on the city’s planning and shade tree commissions.

“I strongly believe in the direction the city’s going in. Obviously, the results are seen right now in the renaissance the city’s going through,” he said. “It’s honestly a blast to be a part of and to work with all of the individuals involved.”

As a councilman, Cicconi has overseen parks and buildings.

“I’m always trying to make improvements to the park system,” he said. “That’s where I can use my experience as a landscape architect to make the right decisions when it comes to our parks system.”

With his background in construction, DiMaio, also a city native, has overseen the city’s public works department. Before his time on council, DiMaio tried to run for mayor and made unsuccessful bids for that office and council as a Republican before changing parties.

“I think the town’s moving forward. We’ve done a lot without raising taxes,” he said. “I think the city’s moving in a direction that’s going to be viable.”

DiMaio said he has a good working relationship with the city’s street crews. When it comes to snow removal, he says they are the best around.

The city recently bought a small paver for about $10,000, which DiMaio said can be used to pave side streets and alleys.

“I’d like to find grants to pave more streets. We want to start updating our fleet of vehicles at the city garage,” he said. “We’re trying to do this without raising taxes. I’m not one for raising taxes.”

After being born in New Kensington, Scheid said, her family moved to Lower Burrell. She lived out of the area for about 20 years before returning to Lower Burrell in 2014 and buying a home in New Kensington in 2018.

Scheid said she is focusing on plastics use awareness, emergency preparedness and gun violence measures, issues she says affect the safety and well-being of city residents.

Single-use plastics are a major contributor to pollution, she said.

“I believe that by raising awareness about new and existing recycling initiatives, we can make a significant improvement in the cleanliness of our city,” Scheid said. “Our roadways should be clear of plastic litter, and if we can turn more parking lots and empty buildings into green spaces instead of asphalt, we can lower the urban heat effect, which will only get worse if we don’t do something now.”

Scheid said she wants to ensure that New Kensington is prepared for natural disasters and emergencies.

“Recent events have shown us the importance of being prepared for the unexpected,” she said. “I will work with city officials and emergency responders to develop and implement effective emergency plans that keep all our residents safe.”

Scheid called gun violence a national epidemic.

“While I respect the language of the Second Amendment, I would also seize an opportunity to work with law enforcement, community leaders and other stakeholders to lower violent rhetoric and take a more inclusive view of our Constitution in order to strive for a more balanced outlook for our city,” she said.