Four Republican candidates are facing off in a race for three seats on Zelienople borough council in the May 16 primary election.

Returning to the ballot is council President Mary Hess, a Zelienople native who has been on council since 2009. She is running for reelection, while two other borough council members — Marietta Reeb and Ralph Geis — won’t be seeking another term.

Reeb, who headed the public safety committee, and Geis, who had led the finance committee and electric committee, are retiring, according to Hess.

Three new candidates running for council are Dan Fritch, Stephen Schoppe and Mary Kaye Soriano, who could not be reached for comment.

The three who receive the most votes will proceed to the November ballot. No Democratic candidates are running for the seats.

Hess began her involvement with the borough in 2007, when she and three friends formed Friends of the Park to raise money to replace the aging pool and equipment. She said she also began Geographic Information System mapping, a system that connects data to a map and integrates location data with different types of descriptive information.

Hess has owned several businesses, including her current venture, Blue Baron Construction, and said she is “dedicated to helping small businesses grow and thrive.”

While on council, Hess has helped found Explore Zelie, also known as Zelienople Revitalization, with four other members; and she is a founding member of the Southwest Regional Stormwater Group, which includes 10 municipalities and received a Governor's Award in Harrisburg on April 12.

Hess has worked with the Harmony Fire District to ensure funding for its new location; sits on a state Department of Transportation panel addressing regional traffic concerns and on the Butler County Planning Commission; and works with the Zelienople Business Association to establish Thursday night events.

“I love this town, and I love the people,” Hess said. “I have never known more amazing people that live in one place.”

Hess’s top three issues affecting the municipality are traffic mitigation, outside growth and stormwater issues.

“Because of Zelienople’s elevation, we are at constant risk,” Hess said, addressing stormwater issues.

To combat stormwater issues, Hess advocates changing release rates, improving retainment, enlarging storm drains and improving the movement of water out of the borough during a rain or flooding event.

According to Hess, the council is working with PennDOT to elevate the largest traffic issues and will continue to do so.

Regarding outside growth, Hess would tighten Zelienople ordinances to control zoning and work with outside communities to limit their impact on the borough.

If reelected, Hess plans on “protecting Zelienople’s culture but give growth in supplying a healthy economy for our merchants and people that live in our town.”

Fritch grew up on Fairlawn Boulevard in Zelienople, and he is inspired to do his civic duty by serving his community.

“My background is in commercial contracting, which taught me a great deal about building site development and stormwater retention,” Fritch said.

In addition, Fritch has been a barber on Zelienople’s Main Street for 23 years, which has given him a connection to local leaders and their constituents.

Fritch has been attending borough council meetings for the past seven years on behalf of the local business association.

“I know Zelienople borough’s council members and borough staff and have worked with them through many challenges to our Main Street development,” Fritch said.

He also promotes and aims to improve the weekly Thursday Night Open Air Market, Horse Trading Days, Fall Festival and Miracle on Main events.

“I will bring a Main Street business and property owner’s perspective to the long-term planning and development of Zelienople’s Main Street and the local government needs of borough residents,” Fritch said. “I will continue to be an advocate for community involvement in the design of new projects and maintenance of our parks.”

If elected, Fritch said he will bring the council’s perspective to local merchants and active civic organizations instead of waiting for groups to attend council meetings.

“It is my experience that government at all levels struggles to connect with the people they serve,” Fritch said.

Fritch acknowledges that Zelienople’s council has made many improvements to the Main Street corridor over the past decade and hopes to continue that improvement, if elected.

Two challenges that Fritch hopes to tackle are truck traffic and stormwater, that “comes from the rapid growth of surrounding township development.”

If elected, Fritch vows to be an advocate for flood plain restorations and for stormwater projects that reduce existing “out-of-control” stormwater flows and return more stormwater to the water table.

Schoppe, originally from New Sewickley Township, has lived in Zelienople for the past 12 years.

“As a local businessman and Realtor, I understand the challenges we have already faced here in the area, as well as those yet to come,” Schoppe said.

For the past five years, Schoppe has been a member of Explore Zelie, where he is the president. He is also a board member of the Zelienople Rotary Club and serves on a committee partnered with the borough to revitalize Four Corners Park.

As president of Explore Zelie, he created events such as the Zelie Putt ‘n’ Pour, bringing hundreds of visitors to town in August during the past two years. Additionally, he has helped raise and donate tens of thousands of dollars to revitalize the community.

“As a member of the Zelienople Planning Committee, I work closely with current council members,” Schoppe said. “In my position, I have been fair, but tough, on developers to follow regulations to preserve the essence of the town.”

Schoppe believes that the next five years in Zelienople are “going to be critical to its future.”

“I realized I needed to be on borough council to have the influence needed to affect change,” Schoppe said.

According to Schoppe, he is in this election based on his dedication to “preserving the past and shaping the future.”

“It is the members of the community that have made this town so special, but with all of the growth that is going on around us, I want to make sure we, as a community, have a voice in that,” Schoppe said.