Revitalization focus in Greensburg council race
Two Democrats and two Republicans have made restoring Greensburg their focus in the race for two city council seats in the Nov. 3 election.
Democratic candidates Randy Finfrock and Cheryl Lennert are running as a team with Democratic mayoral hopeful Robert Bell.
“We're running together because this is our home,” Finfrock said. “We know the backstreets, we know the side streets, we know the neighborhoods.”
Finfrock, an incumbent, is running for his second term. If re-elected, he said, he will continue to encourage economic growth in the city. He wants to streamline the process for those looking to build in the city.
“At one point last year, we had four building cranes active in our city,” he said. “I think we can have a second act.”
Lennert said she wants to restore Greensburg to the thriving commercial center that it had been.
“I would like to actually sit down and work out some kind of communication with current business owners,” she said.
Lennert said she wants to boost the city's relationship with the Westmoreland County Land Bank, which buys and renovates decrepit properties. She said she wants more residents to participate in deciding how Community Development Block Grants, the federal funds that many communities receive to restore areas, are spent.
“They do have a right to speak, and they do have a right to approve where that money is going,” Lennert said.
Republican incumbent Bill Eger said he learned when he was elected that party lines don't matter as much at the local level. He said he has stood by his principles but is usually able to work well with the board controlled by Democrats.
“I'm somebody who sticks to my guns. I am a conservative, but I'm not going to be combative just to be combative,” he said.
Eger said his goal is to continue to hold the line on taxes, which have not gone up in years. He wants to work on increasing the amount of parking downtown.
“There's no easy fix,” he said. “You can't just snap your fingers and say, ‘We fixed parking.' ”
Robert Klingensmith, the other Republican candidate, said he thinks the city code needs scrutiny, especially the regulations governing buildings.
“I want to get and review every ordinance that the city has implemented,” he said.
A city homeowner, Klingensmith said property owners have a hard time navigating city and state red tape if they want to renovate.
“It seems they've kind of discouraged homeowners from making any improvements on their own,” he said. “I just want, primarily, to ensure the city continues to grow. I want to contribute and play my part.”
Jacob Tierney is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.
