Manville council candidates focus on taxes, flood control

Taxes and flood control dominate the four Manville candidates' campaigns for two seats on the borough council up for grabs in next week's election.

Democratic candidates Joseph Lukac III and Ronald Skirkanish are running against Republican candidates Sherri Lynn and Richard Onderko.

All the candidates are newcomers and each sees the election as an opportunity for change. Democrat incumbents Kenneth Otrimski and Theodore Petrock III lost the primary to Lukac and Skirkanish.

"Not enough is being done in town and as taxpayers we've had enough and we decided to step up and do something about it," said Lukac.

If elected, Lukac said, he would refocus the flood control committee to address the needs of residents devastated during the rainy season.

"These people are looking for some kind of hope, but they keep losing their homes and I think they deserve better than that," he said.

Skirkanish lives in a flood zone and said the control project would be at the top of his priority list, if elected.

"We'll leave no stone unturned for any alternatives to get this project done," he said, adding he would speak with state and local officials to create an action plan for the borough.

Skirkanish said he would also like to see taxes stabilized and parking increased for businesses on Main Street.

For Onderko, a Republican majority on the council would help resolve many of the issues.

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