MANVILLE: Democrats pledge to fulfill campaign promises

By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
   Democrats, with the help of tie-breaking votes by the mayor, will control the Borough Council agenda in 2013 after electing Mark Gregor and Ron Skirkanish to council Nov. 6.
   Mr. Onderko and running mate Susan Horensky-Star lost to Democrats Mark Gregor and Ron Skirkanisch. They had 1,632 and 1,616 votes, respectively, to top Mr. Onderko’s 1,522 and Ms. Star’s 1,394.
   The results came in late as the polls closed but mail-in ballots were outstanding at the county. The two Democrats had about a 100-vote lead but the winners were not officially declared until around midnight. The Republicans had hoped the mail-in votes would make them the winners.
   They defeated incumbet Councilman Richard Onderko and Susan Horensky-Star.
   Borough Councilmen-elect Gregor and Skirkanish will fill the seats of Republicans Onderko and council President Sherri Lynn. Ms. Lynn chose not to run again.
   ”I would like to thank everyone who came out to vote this past Tuesday,” said Mr. Gregor. “Turnout was high and it was a strong indication that the residents of Manville want a change in the way our Council serves its constituents.”
   He said he and Skirkansich “will do our best to make the correct decisions to move Manville forward.”
   Mr. Gregor thanked his wife Debbie, three sons and his friends for their support.
   ”Although there were winners and losers during this election, I will now put the politics aside and work as part of the council “team” starting this January,” said Mr. Gregor. “I hope everyone on council looks forward to working together as a team because we cannot correct the problems facing Manville without total camaraderie. The promises I made during my campaign will be the priority on my list and everyone in Manville will be the true winners in this election.”
   Mr. Skirkanish thanked Mayor Angelo Corradino, a Democrat, for “his tremendous support during my campaign and for the cleanup efforts within Manville in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
   ”Second, I would like to thank all of the Manville residents who supported me in this year’s election efforts,” he said. “I will make our town proud once again by keeping my campaign promises. I plan on working hard and making the proper decisions to keep Manville moving forward. I look forward to working with the entire council and municipal departments. I will always make myself approachable for any of my constituent’s thoughts or concerns.”
   Mr. Onderko was disappointed the majority of voters believed “the blatant lies spread about my record,” but said, “The people have spoken.”
   He said it was “a high honor to serve on our town’s council the past three years. I wish our opponents and all the people of Manville the very best.”
   He said he would continue to fight for flood mitigation and attend every flood commission meeting.
   ”We need to keep the momentum going,” he said. “The good people of Manville deserve better. I also would like to give a special thank you to all my supporters who believed in me and gave me the encouragement to serve.”
   Ms. Horensky-Star said she was disappointed she did not get a chance to sit on the council again.
   ”Thank you to everyone who voted for me,” she said. “I will never give up on the Manville residents. I will continue to serve my community by holding the mayor and council accountable to all residents and their wallets. I am going to be at every council meeting to ensure that the public are treated with respect, even if their opinions aren’t that of the mayor. I will continue to be involved with politics and maybe even run again.”
   Mr. Gregor and Mr. Skirkanish will be sworn in at the January reorganization meeting to begin three-year terms.