Power Mapping

Indiana County

The Indiana County Office of Planning and Development was established by the county’s Board of Commissioners in 1987. The Planning Commission is a ten-member decision-making body whose members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners.

The Planning Commission meets the second Wednesday of every month at 5 pm. It is unclear what the terms of service are, or how long each member has served.

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Laurie LaFontaine, Chairman

Based in White Township

She was given the award of Citizen Planner by the Indiana County Board of Commissioners in 2019 for her three decades of volunteer advocacy in community planning initiatives. She is described as forward-thinking, committed, and tenacious in assisting a county comprehensive plan, stormwater plan, updated SALDO, and sustainable development task force. She played a major role launching a trails movement in the 1990s and planning and completing the Ghost Town National Recreation Trail and other trails. She has been active in Livable Indiana Neighborhood Connections, Indiana WalkWorks, the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the Southwest PA Commission Public Participation Panel, and numerous other planning efforts 

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Ross Bricklemyer, Vice Chairman (R)

Owns a wholesale Christmas Tree Farm 

Wrote a letter to the editor  in the Indiana Gazette about the “council” (assuming he meant “commission”) in 2017 concerned about how CDBG funds were committed, stormwater management, and the development and enactment of a stormwater maintenance fee. He was in support of the maintenance fee. Mr. Bricklemyer is a Republican Committeeman.

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Joe Trimarchi, Secretary (D)

Vice President of First Commonwealth bank since 1980, ret.

Served as Mayor of Indiana Borough after being selected from five candidates by the council; the incumbent mayor, aged 87, stepped down due to health reasons. He was born in Ford City, Armstrong County, but lived his adult life in Indiana Borough. He did not win reelection in November, losing by 11 votes, and serving less than one year. Mr Trimarchi is a member and past president of the Westmoreland County College Educational Foundation.

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Thomas D. Rivosecchi

Solicitor

He is a general practice attorney based at Simpson, Kablack & Rivosecchi PC since 1994. He has been the counsel of record on a 2015 case before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to retain an above-grade rail crossing that was slated for destruction by the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad.

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Jeffrey Cable – No information found

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Josephine Cunningham (D)

Former teacher

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Dr. Jerry Pickering

President of the Board of Directors of the Allegheny Arboretum on the IUP campus. He is/was on the faculty in the Department of Biology.

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William Darr, (R)

Mr. Darr is a Republican County Committeeman

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John Somonick

Lives/lived in Homer City 

Mr. Somonic has written a book with John Wilson on raccoon trapping (1978). In 2015 he was presented with the 4th Annual Evergreen Award from the Indiana County PaSEC (Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps), and also received the Elk of the Year award. Has donated to the Indiana County Tourist Bureau

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In 2016, he was awarded Conservationist of the Year by the Pennsylvania Trappers Association. He is also active in the organization AWARE, which is a volunteer-based watershed restoration nonprofit. He has a life membership in all of the county watersheds and serves on many county association boards. Mr. Somonick is a map-maker and has mapped watersheds in Indiana County that were included in the county’s Comprehensive Plan. 

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In 2020, The League of Women Voters Environmental Issues Committee awarded him the Eighth Annual Peggy Clark Grassroots Environmental Leadership Award. Laurie LaFontaine was a member of the selection committee.

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Barbara Peace (D)

Active Democrat, attended ‘Demstock’ in August, 2022. She is active on twitter, supporting issues that commonly make up the democrat platform.

Armstrong County 

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Armstrong County Board of Commissioners

Three Commissioners

Four-year terms

Meetings are held at 9 am on the first and third Thursday of each month.

The entire Commission wrote a letter to residents on May 8, 2020, stating that they believed Governor Wolf’s COVID-19 related restrictions were unconstitutional, and encouraging the businesses to open. The letter closed with “Go to work Armstrong County”.

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Pat Fabian (D)

District and Position: At-large, Secretary

First elected: 2016

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: None found

Public positions/issues: Expand resource for mental health and substance abuse prevention; expand rural broadband; purchase new election equipment; consolidate the county’s Economic Development Department and the Planning/Community Development Department; promote county marketing and tourism. One of his biggest concerns is the Allegheny river: river access, floodplain insurance, locks and dams. The issues make it hard to promote tourism and new business, and will begin impacting residences. On a larger scale, he sees the workforce as a major issue, predicting a shortage of about 80k workers in the near future.

Other community involvement: Coaches his son’s baseball team. 

Additional bio: Mr. Fabian is in his second term as board commissioner, and has served at least two terms as a township supervisor. He has worked to renovate or remove blighted buildings in the county using CDBG funding. Commissioner Fabian wants to use incentives and tax abatements like Opportunity Zones and the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Act to encourage new residential development and to attract new business. During his first term, he worked to professionalize and staff up the planning and development department. He enjoys kayaking, camping, hunting and shooting. 

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Don Myers (R)

District and Position: At-large, Chairman

First elected:2020

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: None found

Public positions/issues: Took part as a speaker in a 2nd Amendment Rally in 2021

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Jason Renshaw (R)

District and Position: At-large, Vice Chairman

Boards and Committees: Liaison to the Armstrong County Conservation District

First elected: 2016

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: None found

Public positions/issues: Tourism, energy, health care, and fiscal responsibility were his platform issues. He believes the key is to ‘harness the resources that Armstrong County provides’.  Posted an event of himself on his County Commissioner facebook page reading to children at “The Divine Redeemer”, a private Catholic school.

Occupation: Farmer.

Other community involvement: Armstrong County Tourist Bureau board of directors; Armstrong County Farm Bureau board of directors.

Attend school in county: Yes, lifelong resident of Armstrong County.

Additional bio: Mr. Renshaw farms the land he grew up on, expanding it over the years from a dairy farm to a beef and hay farm. It is also a wedding destination and hosts a fall pumpkin festival.  He is a Republican Committeeman for South Buffalo and is on the Armstrong County Farm Bureau board of directors. 

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Commissioner Renshaw was honored by the FBI in August, 2022, for his assistance in an out-of-state government corruption case about three years ago. Due to the pandemic, his recognition was delayed. Mr. Renshaw is focused on attracting more new businesses to the area as a way to alleviate the burden of tax revenue placed on residents. He is enthusiastic about input and feedback, and wanted to continue the ‘town hall’ format after his election.

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He holds a BS in Safety and Environmental Science, and worked in safety for five years after graduation before returning to full time farming. He teaches safety skills classes through the Community College of Allegheny County.

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Indiana County

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Indiana County Board of Commissioners

Three Commissioners

Four-year terms

The Board meets at 10:30 am on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

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Robin Gorman (R)

District and Position: At-large, Vice Chairman

First elected: 2020

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: None found

Occupation: Chief Community and Government Relations Officer and Executive Assistant to the President, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (23 years).

Additional bio: Ms. Gorman has experience working with local, state, and federal government, and values fiscal responsibility and working smarter, not harder. Prior to her position at the university, her specialty was workforce and economic development. That work included piloting the first formally recognized industry consortium in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. Ms. Gorman has experience with Innovation Zones and has presented to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. She says she is passionate about developing people to their fullest potential, and sees economic development as synonymous with workforce development. BA in Secondary Education. MS in Workforce Education, Penn State University.

Sherene Hess (D)

District and Position: At-large, Secretary and Treasurer

First elected: 2016

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: She is actively working to find opportunities for the County in renewables, so presumably she is positive towards solar farms.

Public positions/issues: Economic development and workforce development–she is heading up and initiative to establish the Indiana County Sustainable Economic Development Task Force, part of which will be focused on identifying new opportunities in the renewable energy sector, sustainable agriculture, and environmental restoration and natural resources stewardship. Ms. Hess seems to take a ‘whole systems’ view of community issues, seeing an interconnectedness with support services, economic development, environmental protection, and fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

Occupation: Environmental resources conservation and management professional, 24 years. Last listed employment: Natural Resources Specialist, US Dept. of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service.

Other community involvement: President of the League of Women Voters for 14 years

Attend school in the county: No.

Additional bio: Sherene Hess has had a career in environmental resources conservation and management for almost a quarter of a century. Many of those years were focused on farming communities. She lists NEPA as a skill, and is proud of having assisted agricultural producers in western Pennsylvania to protect soil and water. Whe is responsible for expanding the county’s recycling center and water quality education programs.

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Now in her second term as a Commissioner, she counts among her achievements: refinancing county debt (saving $850,000 annually); contracting for an audit to save energy costs; and advocating for a fleet management program. She plans to continue fiscal responsibility to county residents in her second term, focusing on reducing county expenses, increasing revenues by means other than a tax increase, and other efficiency and cost-cutting measures.

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Ms. Hess was suddenly widowed, an experience that made her grateful for governmental support systems as she worked to raise her four sons along. She was the first in her family to attend college, and she holds a BS in Environmental Resources Management from Penn State University.

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R. Michael Keith (R)

District and Position: At-large, Chairman

First elected: 2020

Up for Re-election: 2024

Public position on solar: None found

Occupation: Experience in manufacturing, including time as a plant manager.

Other community involvement: Treasurer of Indiana County Livestock Committee; member of the Green Township Community Association.

Additional bio: Mr. Keith became a Commissioner in 2020, and has previous government experience; he was on the Board of Supervisors for Rayne Township for eight years and served for a time as Chair. He has also been President of the Indiana County Association of Township Officials, Chairman of the Indiana County Tax committee, and President of the Indiana Westmoreland Council of Government. Mike reports 48 years of emergency management experience–most of which he accrued as the fire chief of the Clymer Volunteer Fire Company, and as a member of the Indiana County Local Emergency Planning Committee. To round out his emergency management skills, he has also served on the Mahoning Medical Center Board of Directors.

Armstrong County

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County Assessor 

Troy Straitiff

assessment@co.armstrong.pa.us

724-548-3217,  724-548-3340

There isn’t much information on him. Previously worked as field assessor and assessment officer for Indiana County. Resigned in 2018. Oversaw Armstrong county’s tax software upgradation in 2019, He is currently part of a negotiation going-on between ASTM International located in RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park. The board of commissioners, in consultation with Troy, has proposed cutting tax in half rather than granting tax exemption to ASTM. The vote on the final decision is still pending.

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County Clerk

Marianne Hileman

regrec@co.armstrong.pa.us

724-548-3220

Republican, Elected in 2019. Born and raised in Ford city. Attended Ford City junior- Senior High School, Bradford School, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 26 years career as a legal secretary at various law firms before becoming register/recorder of county. Started career with the county in 2008. Prefers ICEs over EVs. Not an enthusiast of gun control laws.

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County Treasurer

Amanda Hiles 

achiles@co.armstrong.pa.us

724-548-3260

Republican, Life-long resident of the county. Graduated from Karns City High School. Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in accounting. Joined the county government in 2001. Appointed First Deputy Controller.  This is her third term in the office (2019 - 2023); first elected to office in 2012. Improved the licensing procedure for hunting, fishing, and dog licenses. Also a member of the retirement board. Honored by the Armstrong County Sportsmen & Conservation League (2016) for her support of the county sportsmen and sportswomen. Named President of the County Treasurers Association of Pennsylvania in 2019. Believes in rising beyond party lines for government duties. Lives in West Kittanning, Member of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kittanning. Married; two sons.

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County Sheriff

Frank Pitzer

sheriff@co.armstrong.pa.us

724-548-3265

Democrat, most recent election in 2021. Born in Jeannette, Pa. Graduated from Jeannette Senior High School, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (law), graduated from West Virginia University (law). Started as a law officer after being inspired by the events of 9/11. Spent 15 years as Captain in Armstrong County Sheriff department. Director of Operations For ARMNET (Armstrong County). Receiver of numerous awards, commendations, and honors. Avoiding armed shooting incidents in schools and other public places is currently a top priority. Lives in Bethel Township. Loves Golf and Baseball

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Indiana County

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County Assessor

Frank E. Sisko Jr.

fsisko@indianacountypa.gov 

724-465-3812

Political affiliation not confirmed. Initiated a contract with EagleView technology company to get updated aerial imagery of the county. “The software will allow the tax assessment staff to work from home in the event of another pandemic”. 

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County Clerk

Maria Jack

mjack@indianacountypa.gov 

724-465-3865, 724-465-3860 

Republican, elected in 2021, former county auditor, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Business), board member of Armstrong/Indiana/Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission, board member of Alice Paul House (Volunteer), lifetime member of the Women’s Auxiliary, Board member of the Healthcare Corporation Board. Two children

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County Treasurer

Kimberly McCullough

kmccullough@indianacountypa.gov 

724-465-3845

Republican, recent election in 2021, M.A (Public Affairs) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, worked as a McDonald’s manager while doing that, previously worked as auditor of the county; won first county treasurer election in 2017. Election record is positive in her favor. Won her rookie election in 2015 as county auditor. Sits on the County's salary board. Heavily involved in Indiana County Girls Scouts, member of the League of Women Voters. Attends Zion Lutheran Church. Lives in Armstrong Township

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County Sheriff

Robert E. Fyock

724-465-3930

Republican, current term since 2019; expires in 2023, life-long resident of the county, Vietnam Veteran. Member of Veteran of Foreign Wars, member of AMVETS, member of American Legion. Arranged a pinning ceremony to commemorate Vietnam Veterans in 2022, in association with Indian County Historical & Genealogical Society. Member of District 5 of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association. Receiver of 2010 Crime Prevention Office of the Sheriff Award. Board member of Indiana County Humane Society.