By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
MANVILLE — In a repeat of the 2007 elections, 67 percent of the 5,121 voters registered in Manville elected a Republican incumbent and a Democratic candidate Tuesday to fill two vacant seats on the Borough Council.
Democratic candidate Lou Fischer received 1,556 votes, while Republican incumbent Steve Szabo captured 1,498 votes to take the two open seats for first and second three-year terms, respectively.
Democratic candidate Ron Skirkanish received 1,392 votes, Republican incumbent Kathryn Quick received 1,223 votes and independent Rich Onderko earned 855 votes.
”I’m happy (that I won),” Mr. Szabo said. “And I wish Lou luck and I (thank) Rich and Ron for a campaign well fought.”
Mr. Fischer said he is looking forward to what he will be able to do throughout his first term.
”I’m very excited and hope I can make a difference,” Mr. Fischer said. “I want to make sure that at the end of three years, I have a list of accomplishments.”
Among these accomplishments, Mr. Fischer said, he hopes will be finding a way to stabilize taxes and redevelop the Rustic Mall.
”If the land is just there in three years, I will consider that a failure,” he said.
In addition, Mr. Fischer said he would like municipal services remain in Manville instead of relying on other towns through shared services agreements. He also said he wants recreational opportunities expanded for children, activities for senior citizens to be increased, and parking for businesses restored on Main Street.
”I don’t know if I like closing the side streets for parking,” he said. “But people need to be able to park, get in, get out, and move on (with their business).”
In the coming year, Mr. Szabo said he would also like to resolve the parking issue and begin to develop the Rustic Mall, in addition to continuing work with the several commissions he is currently part of, including building and grounds.
”I hope to stay on some of the same commissions,” he said. “For example, people have been talking to me about paving roads that have not been done in 40 years.”
Now moving into his second term in office, Mr. Szabo said he is more comfortable in his understanding of borough politics and is looking forward to learning more ways to better the town in the future.
”My first year was a learning experience, and as I progressed, I learned more and more,” he said.
For Mr. Fischer, he said he is ready to see the other council members at work and learn from them how to go about bringing change for the borough.
”I do take a little while to acclimate to a situation,” he said. “The other members know the ins and outs, and contacts and everything. But I catch on quick, and I think the council will work well together.”
With history in the making nationally as Democratic candidate Barack Obama won the presidency Tuesday, Mr. Fischer said more people were interested in getting involved as they researched the issues nationally and locally before participating in the elections.
”I think a lot more people voted because it was such a big election,” he said. “And the fact that this was so big convinced many people to sign up for the Democratic committee. I think this can get more people involved (in general).”
Mr. Szabo said he hopes that seeing so many voters lining up at the Thomas Kavanaugh Post 2290 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he voted Tuesday, will convince more people to pay closer attention to what is happening locally.
”I hope this gets more people involved,” he said. “I hope it was not just because of the presidential election.”
In general, both Mr. Szabo and Mr. Fischer said that they were pleased with their respective campaigns and the fact that they were able to avoid any mudslinging
”I did not want to make this seem like a dirty campaign,” Mr. Fischer said. “I come with integrity and an expectation of what we can accomplish. We focused on what we can do, not on what they didn’t do.”
Mr. Skirkanish said he is pleased with the campaign and wished both Mr. Szabo and Mr. Fischer good luck in the future on the committee.
Although he did not win this year, Mr. Skirkanish said this was a good time for him to get his name out to the public, as he plans on running again in 2009.
”I got some recognition to help me for next year,” he said. “But Mr. Szabo and Mr. Fischer do a lot for the community and their names are more recognizable.”
As it was his first election, Mr. Skirkanish said he did not necessarily know what to expect, but he is glad his running mate won because they share concerns over many of the same issues in Manville.
”I won with Mr. Fischer on council because I know my issues will get across loud and clear,” he said. “I have no regrets.”
For Mr. Onderko, he said running for a position on council was an attempt to inform voters about conditions in Manville to hopefully bring about change. Although he probably will not run again in the future, he said he thinks his mission was accomplished and hopes to see some changes in the future, including making cuts in department budgets and eliminating any significant increases in taxes.
”I would like to thank all of my supporters and especially the residents of Manville who voted for me and the changes they wanted to see in our town,” he said. “I will continue to raise issues relevant to us all. Hopefully more residents will attend council meetings going forward to keep the pressure on our elected officials to stop the unnecessary spending.”
Ms. Quick, whose term ends at the end of the year, could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Szabo and Mr. Fischer will be sworn in at the borough’s annual reorganization meeting in January.

