Seven candidates in West Mifflin council race

Four incumbents are hoping to earn another term in office.

Anthony J. Olasz

Several West Mifflin candidates are vying for one of four, four-year council seats.

Incumbent Democrats Anthony J. Olasz, Dan Davis, Karen Santoro and Scott Stephenson are looking to keep their current seats. They face competition from Republican Jeffrey A. Kuzma and Democratic candidates Carla Payne-Harrison and Travis D. Knapp.

Olasz was recently appointed to council, replacing John Inglis, who was elected as a state representative in November. He works for Dodaro, Dalfonso, Matta & Cambest, where he specializes in municipal law and represents more

Dan Davis

than 30 municipalities, housing authorities and zoning/ planning commissions.

Olasz said he has extensive knowledge on Pennsylvania borough code, International Property Maintenance Code, Local Tax Enabling Act and has previously worked for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Law Offices of Michael Monce and Goehring, Rutter & Boehm.

“This past spring I had the honor to run for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s 38th Legislative District which gave me incredible insight and the opportunity to hear the borough

Jeff Kuzma

citizens’ thoughts, concerns and hopes for the future of our community,” Olasz said. “These conversations have continued throughout this campaign, and I hope to continue them for another term as a borough councilman.”

Davis is a West Mifflin resident for more than 30 years. The current President of South Hills Area Chamber of Government (SHACOG), Davis is an environmental and department manager at DLZ in Bridgeville and has working relations with Allegheny County, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike Commission as well as other involvement.

Travis D. Knapp

He hopes to continue with redevelopment of the former Century III Mall property, to be an advocate for West Mifflin residents by tackling blight, enhance recreational facilities, support veterans, implement energy efficiency and be actively involved in community issues such as Mon View Heights.

“I will continue to bring success to West Mifflin through listening, investigating and collaborating,” Davis said. “(Century III) has been a blight on West Mifflin residents for too long.”

A resident of the borough for 58 years, Santoro

Carla Payne-Harrison

is on the board of directors of Baldwin EMS. She was an original member of West Mifflin Ambulance 1979 and has been advocating for a recreation center in West Mifflin.

Santoro wants to prioritize public safety, support a new recreation center for multigenerational residents and work against raising taxes.

She is a former den mother, a West Mifflin band parent and PTO member and a retired West Mifflin School District Title I paraprofessional of 35 years.

Serving as the current president of the borough for eight years and an alum of West Mifflin High

Scott Stephenson

School and Point Park, Stephenson is running for a fourth term on council.

Stephenson is also director of athletics and boys basketball coach in Ringgold School District and wants to prioritize public safety, upgrade recreation programs and create more programs for senior citizens.

“How time flies. I can’t believe it’s already been 13 years since I was appointed, but yes it’s that time again,” Stephenson said. “Those that know me will agree that I’ve always made decisions that have had the best interest of our taxpayers and citizens.”

Karen Santoro

Kuzma has been coaching athletics, including baseball, softball and golf, for 22 years as well as teaching in the West Mifflin Area School District. He has attended and led many community events over the years.

He wants to help lead the community forward and carry on what he has learned as a resident of West Mifflin as well as discuss sites like the Century III Mall along with the possibility of a West Mifflin community center.

Kuzma also wants to bring some new ideas to the table on how to keep West Mifflin great.

Payne-Harrison is a lifelong West Mifflin resident and neighborhood advocate.

She is also a community housing coordinator and has built coalitions among local government, nonprofits, faith communities and businesses to tackle housing, hunger, and senior‑care challenges.

She said she is skilled at convening diverse stakeholders, finding common ground and driving shared impact to make sure she advocates for every resident in West Mifflin. She wants to be transparent and empower neighborhood voices and host town halls for residents to ask questions and get answers.

Knapp is a lifelong resident of West Mifflin and has more than 25 years serving West Mifflin and the surrounding areas in various forms of public safety. He is a life active member of Homeville VFC #1 in West Mifflin and a former assistant chief of the department.

Knapp plans to work with all four West Mifflin fire companies to help address the manpower shortage currently faced by many in the commonwealth to ensure that the borough is providing public safety services efficiently. He also wants to improve access to council meetings for residents by making them be recorded or livestreamed to improve transparency.

“My final and maybe most important goal is to work with everyone from the mayor, council, rank and file employees to make sure we are listening to our residents’ needs and ensure that all voices are heard,” Knapp said.