A mix of incumbents and newcomers will compete for four four-year seats on Slippery Rock Borough council during the general election.

Bob Bowser, Lauren A. Christmann, Jonathan Foust, John K. Hicks, Ian Oman, Jennifer Ravert and Ron Steele are set to be on the ballot in November in a near-even split between Democratic and Republican candidates.

Hicks and Oman are also throwing their names in the ring for a 2-year seat.

Bowser, a 23-year resident of Slippery Rock, previously served on council from 2005 through 2017, when he chose not to run for a fourth term.

Bowser said neighbors from both political parties suggested he should run again for office.

“There appears to be a part of the public that feel council meetings have become increasingly uncivil because national identity politics have no place in local decision making,” he said.

Until 2010, the Democratic candidate worked as a press operator in the specialty printing industry. Since then, Bowser said he has been fortunate to be a stay-at-home father.

Due to flooding after stronger storms in the spring and summer, Bowser said a priority for the borough is to insure the storm drain system is in good repair “beyond cosmetic parts.”

Bowser also cited a “lack of financial transparency on the borough's website” as a concern he would address by posting budgets and financial statements.

“The only goals I have are the same goals any person running for local office should have to make our community better and more efficient in spending,” he said. “Keeping the bills paid, the lights on, streets paved and the drains clear are primary responsibilities.”

“The community requires leadership that is mature, responsible and inclusive for all individuals who live in Slippery Rock Borough,” Bowser said. “The present political climate promotes division to the detriment of a focus on attracting new businesses and projects.”

Christmann, a Republican candidate and incumbent, has served on council for the past four years, and has lived in the borough for nearly 30 years.

“Having lived here for most of my life, having graduated from Slippery Rock Area School District, as well as having worked various jobs within the community since the age of sixteen, I know the community of Slippery Rock very well,” Christmann said.

Christmann has served council through the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, she said she has tried to remain sensitive to the needs of the community, and her focus has been on safety and fiscal responsibility.

She said the top issues in the borough are safety, maintaining a reasonable cost of living for residents and attracting more businesses, jobs and opportunities.

“The way to resolve these issues is with proactive leadership,” Christmann said. “Decisions need to be made based on the best interests of the community.”

“My goals are to keep this community safe and offer those who live here in Slippery Rock a place that they are happy to call home,” she said.

Foust, a Democratic candidate and lifelong Slippery Rock resident, has served on the Slippery Rock Planning Commission for a year. During July 2022, the newcomer served on the Zoning Hearing Board.

Foust graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in physics and pursued a 3D modeling hobby as a career. To support himself as an independent contractor, Foust said he picked up part-time work at several public facing businesses within the borough.

“I was slowly enchanted by Slippery Rock as I spent more time with its people,” he said. “Slippery Rock residents have so many interesting stories and insights that have genuinely enriched my life, and I decided I wanted to give back in a way I thought I could excel at.”

With some technical writing experience under his belt, Foust said he has helped draft the new comprehensive plan for the borough, during which he realized the skills and connections could be transferable to a position in local government.

“I attended almost every council meeting for two years and took plentiful notes so that I can hit the ground running,” Foust said.

If elected, Foust said he would encourage more public participation and see the borough meetings livestreamed. His other goals include a stronger borough social media presence, more robust meeting minutes and “more deliberation on issues brought before the council to accompany this increase in public input.”

In addition, Foust said he’d like to see a strong communication line between the borough and the entities around it to facilitate cooperation between institutions such as the township, emergency services and Slippery Rock Business Association.

Foust said the top issues in the borough include replacing streetlights, stormwater management and road repairs.

“You can't budget for everything you want, so strategic paving decisions that impact the borough in the long run are essential,” he said.

Hicks, a Republican candidate and incumbent, was appointed to council in February 2022. He is simultaneously running for a four-year seat and a two-year seat on council.

During his time on council, Hicks has worked on the planning committee, served on the hiring committee and supported the hiring of police and the development of downtown Slippery Rock.

Hicks said that over the past 50 years, he spent 40 living or working in the borough.

“I credit this town in my formation,” Hicks said. “I think it high time I give back to the town who helped make me successful in life.”

Hicks taught high school English for several years and is an associate professor at Slippery Rock University, where he has taught courses in secondary education and foundations of education since 2005.

“I think the analytical skills and written and verbal expression I was trained in during my studies for my Ph.D. give me a great framework from which to view the borough and interact with the other council members and townspeople,” he said.

If elected, Hicks said he would continue to strengthen the connection between SRU, its student body and the borough and support the police force.

Finding innovative ways to fund infrastructure repairs and police, and working toward economic development are top issues in the borough, he said.

“In order to build on all the great ways the borough has grown in the past 20 years, we need to pair current borough residents with experts in development from the outside,” he said.

Hicks said he would also “keep working on ways that the borough can do what it does best — celebrate together in festivities held downtown as brought back to the borough by our mayor.”

Oman, a Democratic candidate, was born and raised in Slippery Rock.

The newcomer works as an attorney, having attended Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law.

Previously, the husband and father worked as a pizza delivery driver in the borough.

“I’m raising my wonderful family in the borough and I want them to have the experience I had growing up in Slippery Rock: neighbors working together to serve the town responsibly and respectfully,” he said.

If elected, Oman said his goal is to work hard, make responsible decisions and take care of his neighbors, like the residents of Slippery Rock.

The issues facing the borough include infrastructure, business development and property value, he said.

“The most important issue to me is the approach,” Oman said. “Borough Council should solve problems effectively and make decisions with a neighborly attitude.”

He is simultaneously running for a four-year seat and a two-year seat on council.

Ravert, a Slippery Rock resident, bought a house in Slippery Rock 20 years ago, and raised her children in the borough.

The newcomer has cross-filed as Democratic and Republican.

While this is Ravert’s first time running for office, she is a member of the Slippery Rock Planning Commission and said she has regularly attended borough council meetings since 2021.

“I have spent many years participating in parent organizations for the activities of my kids, and have spent several years on executive boards for some of those organizations,” she said. “As a long time resident, and having the experience from these organizations, I feel I would be a valuable contributor to conversations and decisions regarding our community.”

If elected, Ravert said her goal is to see continued support of community members, public servants and volunteer organizations.

The community’s top issues include stormwater control, streetlight repair and road repair, she said.

“I would like to contribute to my community, in finding solutions for issues and helping to manage the growth and development of the borough,” Ravert said.

Steele, a Republican incumbent, has served council on and off for 30 years, he said in an interview during the primary election.

According to previous reporting, Steele retired as a police officer and safety manager for the borough and Slippery Rock University in 2001. He has been a Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company fireman since 1957.

In May, Steele named the top issues in the municipality as economic growth, maintaining the infrastructure and keeping taxes low.

He was not able to be reached for comments for the general election.