All of Highland Heights City Council – three at large seats and four ward seats – will be up for election Nov. 5.
Incumbent Chuck Brunello Jr., incumbent Edwin V. Hargate, Sean Milroy, and incumbent Lisa Marie Stickan (current Ward 4 council woman) are running for council at large, while Rose Burrello-Gype and incumbent Robert J. Mastrangelo are running for Ward 3.
Running unopposed in Ward 1 is incumbent Cathy Murphy, in Ward 2 it’s incumbent Leo R. Lombardo and in Ward 4 it’s Ann M. D’Amico.
Incumbent Frank J. Legan is not running for re-election for council at-large.
Those elected to council at large will serve a four-year term, while elected ward council members will serve two-year terms.
All members of council earn a salary of $8,000 per year, except the council president, who makes $9,000.
In January, one of the elected council members is selected by the council to serve as council president, and typically serves in that capacity for two years, said Tim Paluf, law director for Highland Heights.
There are 6,371 registered voters in Highland Heights, according to Cuyahoga County Board of Election records.
At Large
If re-elected, Brunello would like to continue to focus on the needs of the city.
‘I would continue to address infrastructure needs, (such as) necessary road work, capital needs and drainage issues,’ he said. ‘I would (also) continue to work on park enhancements, (including) more means of recycling and work(ing) to grow our recreation activities, focusing on all age groups.’
Brunello plans to support fiscal responsibility with ‘expense management and debt reduction’ as well.
He has worked to support various legislation and helped make several improvements and enhancements as a member of the parks and recreation commission.
Brunello is committed to his current position on council and believes he had a productive term.
‘I stand committed to putting the community first,’ he said.
Hargate has plans to enhance the city through economic development and promoting ethics.
‘I will continue to be aggressive in assisting businesses to locate or expand in our existing industrial parks,’ he said.
‘I sponsored and introduced a tough new ethics ordinance and will continue to work with council towards adoption of this legislation.’
If re-elected, he also wishes to ‘oppose creeping commercialization’ into the city.
‘I will continue to protect our unique residential nature which has made Highland Heights a desirable place to live and work,’ he said.
Hargate said his past accomplishments, such as working to keep the city’s ‘strong financial condition’ and helping to make the city ‘one of the safest communities in N.E. Ohio,’ make him the right choice for the position.
Milroy is looking to increase communication with residents if he is elected to council.
He said residents should ‘be better informed about current issues,’ referencing the temporary pool closure over the summer and proposing that an improved solution would have been a ‘simple email to the pool pass holders to provide information.’
Also, he plans to focus on possible funding methods to improve and maintain infrastructure, as well as cost containment regarding waste collection.
‘I would have recycle containers installed at our city park near the ball fields and the pool area (to) save money by recycling all the water and sport drink bottles used in the park,’ he said.
Milroy has been a regular attendee of council meetings, and although has not served on council, he said he would ‘bring a fresh but informed view on the issues facing Highland Heights.’
Working on communication with residents is a main goal for Stickan.
‘While our city makes great efforts to keep residents informed, communication is always something that elected officials should be striving to enhance,’ she said, noting that she started quarterly ward meetings with residents to answer questions and provide city updates. ‘Social media is something I wish to see our city fully utilize and maximize our presence (as well).’
Stickan also has other goals in mind for the betterment of the city, if re-elected.
‘Keeping the city on strong fiscal footing, maintaining housing values and maintaining the quality of services provided to residents are important issues facing all council members,’ she said. ‘I will work hard to further these objectives.’
Stickan has experienced and worked through difficult issues that have come before council, learned to be a good listener to residents and wishes to continue her service to the city.
Ward 3
If elected, Burrello-Gype would like to create a close relationship between the city and the school district.
‘I would utilize my relationship with the Mayfield School District to promote additional interaction, support and inclusion between the school and the community by establishing common goals of the city and the school district,’ she said.
She will also work to make sure parks and recreation programs are serving the community and to have open communication with all residents.
‘I would be available through standard forms of communication and social media to listen to and respond to thoughts and concerns of residents,’ she said.
Burrello-Gype said she should be elected because she ‘possesses the ability and the track record of bringing groups together for a common cause,’ is ‘very accessible to the community’ and will ‘ensure that the city continues to be fiscally responsible’.
One area Mastrangelo would like to explore is regionalism with other communities if he is re-elected to council.
‘Cuyahoga County is encouraging communities to consider consolidation of (emergency call/dispatch) centers from the current level of 45 down to 4 regional call centers within the next 10 years,’ he said. ‘Rather than take a wait-and-see position, I would like our city to actively pursue consolidation with surrounding communities so that we will be in a better position to influence the character of the new regional call center.’
He would also like to save on expenses to the city, especially waste collection, with education program and recycling containers for all residents, as well as updating the website to allow residents more access to information.
Mastrangelo said he has seen the city grow throughout the years, and will continue to ‘improve community life, thoughtfully promote economic development and manage our assets wisely particularly given the current environment of reduced county and state funding.’
