Sharpsburg fills council vacancy

Sharpsburg officials tapped the executive director of a nonprofit organization as the borough’s newest councilman.

David Breingan, 34, was appointed unanimously on June 22 to fill a seat vacated by Councilwoman Carrie Tongram.

Tongram announced her resignation in May and formally stepped down June 15. The Democrat was in the second year of a four-year term.

Breingan, also a Democrat, was selected from three candidates to replace Tongram. Council interviewed each of them at a meeting prior to the vote. Breingan will fill the seat at least through the end of this year.

Since the vacancy developed after the May primary, Sharpsburg’s Republican and Democratic committees will each select a candidate to run in the general election. The seat will be on the November ballot as a two-year term.

Breingan has been the executive director of Lawrenceville United for nearly 10 years. He also served as a youth program consultant and community organizer.

“We do everything from community planning and community development to a lot of work around food access,” Breingan said. “From running a farmers market to distributing free food every single Friday. We manage a number of community gardens. (We) did a lot to improve the tree canopy in Lawrenceville and all kinds of other needs the residents might have.”

“There was a vacancy (on council). I know what it’s like to deal with vacancies, and I just wanted to offer my services to help through this transitional moment and serve my community.”

Councilwoman Sarah Ishman made the motion to appoint Breingan. She said his experience working for a nonprofit and its various community initiatives set him apart from the other council hopefuls.

“Dave has over 10 years experience in shepherding distressed communities through periods of growth and transition,” Ishman said.

“It will be great to get Dave involved with the riverfront development team. We have a great working relationship with that developer. Dave’s expertise in that area will make that working relationship even better.”

The Mosites Co. broke ground on a project formerly dubbed R47 and now called Allegheny Shores in October.

It will see more than 50 acres redeveloped for commercial, housing and retail use along the Allegheny River from Sharpsburg to O’Hara.