Forest Hills Election Preview

Five candidates are vying for three seats on Council in the upcoming election, which takes place Nov. 8.

In the primary, the Democratic nominations for council went to incumbents Steve Karas, and Bill Burleigh. 

Paul J. Palko, who ran unopposed as a Republican, also secured his nomination.

Candidate Harry White lost in the May primary on the Democratic ticket, but had the highest number of Republican votes. During the Nov. 8 election, he will be listed on the ballot as a Republican. 

Of the three council people, Karas, who was elected in 2007, is the only one coming out of a full term. Both Wood and Burleigh were appointed to fill vacancies in November 2009 and January 2010, respectively. 

Karas, the borough property chairperson, who teaches in the physical therapy program at Chatham University; Wood, the operations and policy chairperson, who works in campus ministry and coordinates membership at Shadyside’s First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh; and Burleigh, the planning and zoning chairperson, who owns the small, technology business Data Consulting Solutions, Inc., are coordinating campaign efforts, using integrated campaign literature and canvassing together. The incumbents are running on a platform of providing the volunteer fire department with the funds they need to protect citizens, strategic planning for the future of the borough and providing excellence through experience and building on a successful business district.

Retired from military service, Palko said during the primary that he spent roughly five and a half years in active duty with the Marines and another 30 in maintenance with the Air Force. He has lived in Forest Hills for 26 years and has volunteered with emergency medical services just as long.

Palko said he hopes his dedication to the community will win him a seat on council in November.

“I think a life in the service gives you a certain level of discipline and tends to lead you toward a more rigorous way of looking at things,” Palko said. 

White said he is a bipartisan candidate with both Democratic and Republican support. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he has been an employee of CSX Transportation for 34 years. He is a lifelong resident of the area.

“I am committed to addressing public safety issues in order to ensure a safe and secure borough—safety is my priority,” he said.

White also said the following issues all would be on his priority list if elected:

• maintaining quality borough services and efficiency in government by eliminating wasteful spending and enforcing a balanced budget;
• putting citizens first at all times
• keeping up the property values within Forest Hills, and I will vote for all legislation to keep municipal codes enforced;
• ending "politics as usual" and working tirelessly in promoting positive change for Forest Hills.

Current issues in Forest Hills include a , which recently was passed by council, and a

For more information on the candidates,