Indiana Township election features 8 candidates for 4 district seats

Four seats on the Indiana Township Board of Supervisors are up for grabs in the November election, which constitutes the majority of the five-member body.

The candidates are seeking four-year terms.

Republican incumbent Paul Jorgensen takes on Democratic challenger Amy Giammattei in District 1.

Republican incumbent Albert Kaan is challenged by Democrat Nettie Owens in District 2.

Republican Mayor Darrin Krally faces Democratic challenger Emily Cook in District 3.

Democratic incumbent Sarah Hertweck is challenged by Republican Luke Rayman in District 4.

The following are responses from the candidates to questions from the Herald.

District 1

Name: Paul Jorgensen

Age: 68

Political affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Vice president, Print Operations

Education: did not provide

Elected or political experience: 12 years of experience as District 1 Supervisor for Indiana Township

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

Indiana Township is a beautiful place to live and raise a family. It’s rural in nature, yet close to the city, we have excellent schools and a sound infrastructure making this community a very enticing place to live. Therefore, the most pressing need we face is to manage the growth, while maintaining the heart of the community.

How would you solve it?

Managing growth requires a number of important initiatives that are all currently underway. Our comprehensive plan is being updated, our planned residential development (PRD) ordinance is being reevaluated, and we need to maintain our financial stability to continue to support ever increasing costs without relying on increasing taxes.

What skills would you bring to council?

In addition to 12 years of working in municipal government, I bring a commitment to fiscal responsibility (in my 12 years, we’ve always balanced our budgets and the only tax increase was a for additional funding for our fire departments). I’ve also demonstrated a proven desire to work together within our community to enhance quality of life (investing in improving our parks and keeping new high voltage power lines from traversing our landscape).

Name: Amy Giammattei

Age: 64

Political affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: retired teacher/therapist

Education: Bachelor’s of Science, Biology/Education, West Virginia Wesleyan

Elected or political experience: Within Indiana Township, I closely worked within a grassroots effort to protect local land against DLC towers; Parks Board; Friends of Hartwood Board.

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

We need to take a hard look into the sustainability of our zoning practices that allows development. Infrastructure, environment, and fiscal issues need to directly inform policy.

How would you solve it?

It is time to complete our outdated comprehensive plan. This would be my priority coming onto the board. This endeavor will allow us to use expert steering committees to go after hard facts and citizen input to build and revamp our ordinances as needed. I encourage denser residential and commercial growth in the areas where it is permitted.

What skills would you bring to council?

I am highly organized. I am focused on environmental issues and understand issues that effect Southwestern Pennsylvania and the most current avenues forward. I am an active listener, and am open to hearing comments and directly answering questions.

District 2

Name: Albert (Al) Kaan

Age: 75

Political affiliation: Republican

Education: Some college

Occupation: did not provide

Elected or political experience: I have served two four-year terms on the Indiana Township Board of Supervisors. I am seeking re-election for a third term.

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?”

Indiana Township is in a good position financially and operationally. It is a pleasant place to live with a rural atmosphere, but close to shopping and recreational facilities. Municipal services, parks, and children’s playgrounds are provided and adequately supported by the current township budget.

The most pressing need we currently face is to continue to provide services at this level, with a balanced budget, in an environment where the cost of everything is increasing substantially.

How would I address this?

This need can be addressed if we continue on the path we’re (on). This includes controlled growth, responsible fiscal management and working with other communities and organizations to meet our obligations, while building a cash reserve to deal with any unanticipated emergency that should occur. We are currently involved in updating our comprehensive plan and our ordinance pertaining to planned residential developments is being updated to give us additional control over development in our township.

What skills would you bring to the Board of Supervisors?

I have served two, four-year terms on the board, and I am very involved with our township and serve on the boards of the Allegheny County League of Municipalities and the Allegheny County Association of Township Supervisors.

I bring experience in problem solving and fiscal responsibility from having filled many supervisory positions in my military and law enforcement careers.

Name: Nettie Owens

Age: 44

Political affiliation: Democrat

Education: Bachelor’s of Arts in computer science from Johns Hopkins University, minor in entrepreneurship & management

Occupation: CEO and business consultant

Elected or political experience: none

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

Indiana Township’s most pressing need is to address the unprecedented level of growth and development that has put a strain on the township’s resources. The secondary need is to improve the level of communication from the township to its citizens.

How would you solve it?

I will continue to do the work I have been doing as a private citizen and that is to work with citizens and township supervisors to quickly move to update the comprehensive plan and to use this tool to inform updates to the township ordinances that govern development approvals. I will continue to ensure that meetings are live-streamed, and notifications are provided by email including those for public hearings.

What skills would you bring to the Board of Supervisors?

I have 20 years of experience operating a business. I have also been a board director of multiple non-profit organizations. I bring experience in bringing teams together to work on a common goal, communication, system, and process development, organizational development, leadership, listening, and creating space for all voices.

District 3

Name: Darrin J. Krally

Age: 53

Political affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Business owner — Human Resources and Business Consulting services

Education: Bachelor’s of Arts, University of Pittsburgh

Elected or political experience: 20-plus years serving Indiana Township as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and mayor for four years.

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

The most pressing need in Indiana Township, at this time, is the need for a continuation of all programs and policies enacted by the current Board of Supervisors, which include no new tax increases for decades. We have molded Indiana Township into one of the most desirable communities in Allegheny County. We have been named a Banner Community by Allegheny County’s Executive Oversight Board for 11 straight years!

How would you solve it?

Indiana Township has become a model of “good government” to all of our neighboring communities over the last 20+ years. This must continue in order for our Township to grow and flourish over the next 20 years.

In short, reelect, Darrin Krally, Al Kaan and Paul Jorgensen, along with political newcomer, Luke Rayman, on Nov. 7.

What skills would you bring to council?

The skills I bring to the Board in order to be successful township official are knowledge, experience, understanding, respect, fairness, consistency and leadership.

I have lived in Indiana Township for nearly 25 years and I understand the issues. I am a proven leader and will ask my constituents to re-elect “good” government on Nov. 7. Please do so with mail-in ballots. Or simply come to the polls and cast your vote.

Name: Emily S. Cook

Age: 46

Political affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Paralegal

Education: Associate’s degree

Elected or Political experience: None

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

Our community needs to feel heard and have a sense of unity, particularly with development. So, to have a clear and defined path forward for residential development that is harmonious and fair would, in my opinion, be paramount to the communal foundation.

How would you solve it?

I want to gather citizen feedback, address concerns and weigh costs of our current zoning laws. We can then decide how development should look — together. We have the power to rewrite our zoning to suit our needs and shape our future.

What skills would you bring to the Board of Supervisors?

I am objective and can see the facts and data in front of me that can and should be used to determine the best course of action. I find this trait to be highly useful in the judicial side of the role as well as the legislative side. Community issues can get heated, but I believe that I can help to provide balance through my unwavering pragmatic approach.

District 4

Name: Sarah Hertweck

Age: 39

Political affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: mother and property manager

Education: Bachelor’s of Arts, communication, University of Dayton.

Elected or political experience: one, four-year term as township supervisor

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

To grow and develop in a way the residents feel comfortable and is proven to be fiscally responsible to tax payers.

How would you solve it?

Repeal a loophole that we have in our zoning code that only benefits developers. It is widely controversial and disapproved of by residents. If we stick to our zoning code, property owners are still free to develop, and we’d have dramatically less lawsuits brought to us by our own residents.

What skills would you bring to council?

I will continue to use listening and leadership skills to push for more transparency and accessibility. I can and will advocate for innovative and exciting ways to broaden our tax base. Residents can count on me to deliver clear positions on the issues, along with the determination to stand up to outside interests and keep Indiana Township the community we love.

Name: Luke Rayman

Age: 23

Political affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Non-profit advocacy manager

Education: Bachelor’s of Arts, University of Pittsburgh.

Elected or political experience: I have worked and volunteered in community organizing for four years. I have also managed a local political campaign that put people over party, and I am looking to bring a fresh perspective to our township government.

What is Indiana Township’s most pressing need?

Indiana Township is a wonderful community that has given me many opportunities to succeed. I want to continue that success and work to move our township forward.

There are two big issues I would like to address as your township supervisor: transparency/budget improvement and accountable planned residential developments.

Residents should be able to easily see what is occurring within our township and have a voice on every issue before our board.

How would you solve it?

Transparency is the cornerstone of effective government. I’m committed to revitalizing our township’s communication methods, introducing live streaming, phone notifications, active township social media presence, and providing a more detailed line-item budget. All to help residents be informed.

Regarding PRDs (planned residential developments), I support a temporary pause on the ordinance. Let’s collaboratively engage experts within our community to craft an ordinance that safeguards private property rights, preserves community integrity, and addresses concerns of our current residents.

What skills would you bring to council?

I’m a strong advocate for a generational update in our township to ensure progress. With a background in serving on the board of our local youth basketball league, which benefits 600 youth, and my career dedicated to giving a voice to those battling life-altering diseases, I will listen first, then act. Each day is about serving others, not myself. I hope to lead with integrity and serve with gratitude as a supervisor in our community.