The upcoming election for Saxonburg Borough Council is a game of musical chairs — except this time there may be enough room for everyone.

The four-year term of current council President Aaron Piper is expiring at the end of 2025, along with that of Ray Koegler. Both are running for reelection, along with new candidates Bryan Farney and Tate Pacek.

According to the Republican ballot, where all four are running in the May 20 primary election, that’s no problem, as two more seats are open. Council member Dave Johnston is stepping down from his seat to run for mayor, and the seat of council member Mia Mazza-Petruzzi also has unexpectedly opened up, as according to borough secretary Steven May, Mazza-Petruzzi did not file paperwork to be on the ticket this year.

“She’d have to be a write-in,” May said. “Her work at the park over the past four years is greatly appreciated.”

Dave Johnston’s run at the mayoral seat comes after longtime Mayor William Gillespie announced he wouldn’t be seeking reelection.

No Democratic candidates are running for the council or the mayor seats in the primary election. The winners of the May primary will proceed to the November ballot, where if they win again, they’ll fill the four-year terms in January 2025.

Aaron Piper

Piper is in his fourth year serving as president of the Saxonburg Borough Council.

He is a graduate of Knoch High School, Grove City College and the University of Pittsburgh. He works as an IT project lead for a company in Butler County.

“I feel my job as a council member is to help make sure the borough government does everything it can to help, to continue by using common sense and being the best stewards of the community’s resources,” he said. “I was taught to leave things a little better than how they were when getting there. That is my goal.”

He hopes to continue building strong relationships between the borough and the community and to continue promoting the borough as a place people want to visit and support.

Ray Koegler

Koegler was first elected to council in 2021, when he took the second-highest total of votes out of five candidates in a race where four council seats were open.

Bryan Farney

Farney said he is a lifelong resident of Saxonburg, who is invested in the future of the borough.

He is the chairman of the borough’s zoning hearing board and was previously employed by the borough for a summer while attending college.

He graduated from Knoch High School in 2000 and attended Pennsylvania School of Technology in Williamsport, where he earned an associate degree in Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance Technology. He has worked for a site development company out of Cranberry Township for the last 20 years.

He said he hopes to maintain and improve the quality of the borough.

Tate Pacek

Pacek works in sales for the security glass company Isoclima. The primary marks the first time Pacek will be running for any government position.

“I believe my sense of family and community make me an excellent choice for this role,” he said.

He said he would like to see the borough’s “growing sense of community” continue in the years to come. He said the past few years have seen more events that strive to involve everyone in the community, and he would like to see that continue.

Piper: “I wanted to give back to my community. We live in a world of keyboard warriors who like to grumble under screen names. I believe that instead of hiding behind the screens it is important to be involved in the discussions to find solutions that will have the most positive impact on our community.

“If we all work together to lift one another up and find the solutions that benefit the most, our community will only grow stronger together.”

Koegler: “I am running again for the Saxonburg council because I enjoy working with a good group of people on council, the manager and the mayor.

“We all contribute with helping support the community events on Main Street, and also with supporting Roebling Park and the museum.”

Farney: “Having seen my father serve for 42 years on the Saxonburg Sewer Authority, it motivated me to also serve my community.”

Pacek: “I have tried to be an active member in our community since my wife and I bought our house 15 years ago, and this will be a great opportunity to continue to help in the community.”

Piper: “Rising costs, decreasing tax revenue due to aging community and bureaucratic red tape are a few that come to mind.

“We have been addressing them by taking common sense approaches, thinking not just about the short-term but also the long-term effects of decisions and being smart with spending money.”

Koegler: “One issue we are working on is in Roebling Park, we are trying to raise money for the repairs of the Roebling wire rope workshop.”

Farney: “The financial state of the borough, the infrastructure of the borough and the overall growth of the borough.

“At this time, I would need to collaborate with other council members to see how these issues can be resolved for our community.”

Pacek: “I would like to see more businesses find a home in Saxonburg, and would like to help with that process.

“I would like to see current community events continue and possibly expand.

“I would like for residents to attend borough meetings to get a better sense of what is needed from the perspective of our community.”

Piper: “Saxonburg is a very unique and special place full of history. We still have the quaint small town feel and old charm. It is very much a town from a Hallmark movie.

“We are a vibrant and engaged community with multiple community groups, businesses, and charitable organizations that sponsor numerous events that take place throughout the year.

“For being a small town, we have many diverse businesses in town that add to the draw and keep our Main Street constantly busy.

“Bottom line is there are a lot of dedicated people that work hard to keep things that way.”

Koegler: “It is a nice place to live, we have stores to shop at, Roebling Park and the Saxonburg Musuem, all the events on Main Street, Winterfest in February and Mingle on Main every month during the summer, plus the Firemen's Carnival … There's a lot of things to do and see here.

“People from all the surrounding communities come to our events and help support them.”

Farney: “In my opinion, Saxonburg is a great family-oriented community that has lots to offer to businesses and community members.”

Pacek: “Saxonburg has been a wonderful community for my wife and I to raise our two kids.

“It has been exciting to see the growth over the past 15 years.

“Local events draw a lot of people to the town, and I would like to see these continue.”