3 compete for seats on Seven Fields council
Three Republican candidates are competing for a seat on Seven Fields Borough Council in the May 16 primary election.
In a race for two four-year terms, newcomer Louis Borghi is running against incumbents Morgan Hardesty and Dawn Servello for the seats.
While a two-year seat is also open on the council, no candidates are running this May. The seat will ultimately be appointed by council.
The candidate for the four-year term who receives the most votes during the primary will proceed to the November ballot. No Democratic candidates are running for the seats.
Servello has been a borough resident for 25 years and is a paraprofessional working in the Seneca Valley School District.
She has been a council member since 2015 and currently serves as council’s vice president.
“I am proud to say that as council vice president, we have continued to keep our local property taxes low and have not had a tax increase in 13 years by remaining fiscally responsible,” Servello said.
As part of borough council, Servello said she has helped obtain a $250,000 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant for the Seven Fields Town Park Pool project, as well as a Butler County Parks and Recreation grant for three years in a row.
Servello also helped secure the borough’s stormwater grant, speed plateaus and improvements to the Seven Fields Community Center.
Additionally, she established community events including the annual Wine, Beer and Music Fest, summer Food Truck Nights and fireworks.
Servello said the most important issues facing the borough are traffic calming and “maintaining high property values and a vibrant modern family community.”
She highlighted community involvement as an important part of her role and was happy to see participation in events such as the borough’s Light Up Night, Trunk or Treat and the Easter egg hunt.
“I am proud of the work that I have accomplished and believe that with continued strong leadership from borough council and invaluable input from the community, Seven Fields will continue to be a highly desirable place to live for many, many years,” Servello said.
Hardesty is a steel estimator with a background in construction sales and project management.
“I feel that my strong background in project management and customer relations is a vital asset in providing leadership for the community,” Hardesty said.
He has been a member of borough council since 2022.
“I am honored to run for council,” he said. “I love our community of Seven Fields. As a newer resident but one that plans on residing here for the long term and raising my two sons here, I look forward to bettering our community.”
If elected, Hardesty said that he aims to provide oversight on responsible growth in the community.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of public safety and “an open and honest dialogue” with residents.
Hardesty said the most-pressing concerns for the township that he would like to address are the state of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department, maintaining the tax base and speeding on the borough’s highly traveled roads.
Louis Borghi is originally from Beaver Falls and currently resides in Seven Fields.
He is semiretired after working 38 years in medical sales and marketing.
“I believe what qualifies me for this role as council member of Seven Fields borough the most is my relationship with the community and my marketing background,” Borghi said.
He said his relationship with members of the community would allow for open communication between residents and the council. His marketing background also has provided him with the experience to represent that community in a respected, humble manner, he said.
“As a resident of Seven Fields, I was prompted to run to maintain the livable community that continues to prosper within the competitive housing environment that I know and love,” Borghi said.
If elected, he said his focus would be providing for borough residents.
“My overall goal would be to understand the current council’s objectives and then provide the residents with adequate accommodations to continue to enjoy their way of life while maintaining our aesthetically pleasing community,” Borghi said.
He cited concerns over the regional police department as one of the borough’s chief issues — suggesting the board conduct meetings with local police departments with the borough’s needs in mind before collectively making a decision on a new agreement.
Borghi also addressed transparency and the awarding of outside contracts as key issues in the borough. He said he would look at these concerns with the best interests of residents and their tax dollars in mind.
This story was updated May 11 to reflect that the candidates are all running for the four-year term. A previous version of this story said one was running uncontested.
