White Oak's Marton sworn in as president of county mayors association

Five mayors were installed as officers in the Allegheny County Mayors Association.

Magisterial District Judge Thomas Miller swore in the new executive board on Thursday night at The Rose Bar & Grille in White Oak.

White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton is association president, Bethel Park Mayor Cliff Morton is vice president, East Pittsburgh Mayor Louis Payne is treasurer, and Castle Shannon Mayor Don Baumgarten and Chalfant Mayor Jim Perry are mayors-at-large.

"I'm amazed so many people came out," Marton said of Thursday's event. "I'm very pleased to represent White Oak."

"It's good to be the leaders of the leaders," Morton said.

"I look forward to doing the work that needs to be done," Payne said.

Baumgarten said the county mayor's association is a great organization.

"We try to build it up the best we can," he said. "We want to offer programs that the mayors want to come and hear about. I'm happy to be part of it."

All have had different officer roles on the executive board before. Marton moved up from vice president.

"She's a great spokesperson to our community," state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, said. "Every endeavor we've ever worked on, we've found great success in. I wish her all the best."

"It's a great opportunity for the Mon Valley to have a mayor as president of the county mayors association," Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey said. "They couldn't have had a better mayor. I grew up in White Oak."

Miller has administered the oath of office to Marton at various times throughout the past years.

"I swore her in as a councilor," he said. "I swore her in as mayor. I officiated at her wedding."

"She's earned this," White Oak Councilman Charles Davis said. "She's been in public office for a number of years."

"Ina is the most outstanding person I've met," Marton's husband Robert Zitcovich said. "Her greatest attributes are her love of God, community and animals. She is truly an honorable and remarkable mayor."

"She represents all the people of White Oak," borough resident Jodi Perozich said. "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican. She does the best for all the people."

McKeesport's new Mayor Michael Cherepko said it's fantastic to have the county mayors association president be the mayor of a neighboring borough.

"That's why I made it a priority to make sure I support her on her big day," he said.

The Allegheny County Mayors Association was formed in 1950 as the Association of Borough Mayors of Allegheny County. The name was changed in 2001 when then-Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy said he couldn't join because Pittsburgh was not a borough, but a city. The name was then changed and the cities of Pittsburgh, McKeesport, Clairton and Duquesne joined.

"It's a wonderful organization," Allegheny County council president Dr. Charles Martoni said. "I've been a member since it started. They do a great job and have great leaders."

The association, which has 68 active members and 20 associate members, meets quarterly at restaurants, clubs and banquet halls across Allegheny County to share information about performing responsibilities as mayors. Speakers who have addressed those meetings include former Gov. Ed Rendell, former state Attorney General and current Gov. Tom Corbett, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr., former county Executive Dan Onorato, current county executive and former county council president Rich Fitzgerald, county health director Dr. Bruce Dixon and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.

Retired Chalfant Mayor Steve Orosz will be secretary of the executive board, but could not attend Thursday's event because of illness.

Duquesne Mayor Phil Krivacek spoke about his community and other matters in the Mayor's Spotlight portion of the association meeting. Sampson's Mills Presbyterian Church Rev. Bruce Byers gave a blessing before the meal.

FBI special agent Mark Evelsizer spoke about the FBI National Academy.

He said law enforcement leaders receive "advanced training in such areas as behavioral science, forensic science, media relations, leadership and legal issues" at the academy.