Ben Avon voters will find a full slate of choices for borough office on the Nov. 3 ballot, and are sure to pick at least one new member of council.

The potential exists for voters to replace up to four members of council and the mayor, although incumbent Lloyd Corder has a head start on the pack by appearing on both the Democratic and Repub-lican ballots. Corder was listed on the GOP ballot in the primary, but picked up enough write-in votes to secure a position on the Democratic ticket as well.

Corder, 46, who holds a master's degree and Ph.D from the University of Pittsburgh, is the president and CEO of Cor-Com, Inc., a research and consulting firm. He also is an adjunct professor in the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as at Pitt and Chatham universities.

A member of Ben Avon Council since 1998, Corder is responsible for the borough's Web site, and has been the motivating force in the development of Avon Park on Perrysville Avenue and the walking trail that stretches throughout the borough. He has organized clean-up days at the park, planted more than 300 trees, and worked to obtain more than $100,000 in grants and donations for playground equipment and other improvements.

He has organized the borough's Halloween and Christmas celebrations as well as borough-wide clean-up days, and is a strong proponent of retaining and restoring Ben Avon's historic atmosphere.

Corder also has supported joint efforts with other municipalities that he says have saved Ben Avon taxpayers money while maintaining their quality of life. These efforts include contracting police services from Ohio Township and winter road maintenance from Emsworth, as well as the development of a joint comprehensive plan and zoning code with Avalon and Bellevue.

Continuing joint efforts in the area of the consolidation of fire services and obtaining grants for various projects are on Corder's agenda if he is elected to another term.

He is a board member at Heartwood Institute, and active in Sacred Heart Church.

Joining him on the Republican ballot for council are Brian Tokar, 43, of Prospect Avenue; Robert Galbraith II, 55, of Church Avenue; and Charles Hansen of Church Avenue.

Tokar holds a bachelor of science degree in finance from Duquesne University, and an MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. He works as the director of client service for the Nielsen Company, which assists consumer goods companies to increase sales.

He also teaches spinning at the North Boroughs YMCA. Tokar is a member of the committee to improve Avon Park and has participated in the park clean-up days.

Galbraith is the director of railroad systems business development for Ansaldo STS, formerly Union Switch & Signal, Inc. A graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in ocean engineering, he also has completed work towards a master's degree in business administration at George Washington University. He holds the rank of captain in the Navy Reserves.

A resident of Ben Avon for the past 10 years, Galbraith says that he is running for council because "I am interested in doing my part to serve the interests of the people of Ben Avon and in making a positive impact in the community that I call home."

As a member of council, Galbraith says he would like to get Ben Avon residents involved in community activities and in communicating their ideas to officials. He also is interested in pursuing state and federal grants to improve parks and trails and expand green space, along with other public works projects.

Leading the GOP ticket as a candidate for mayor is Robert B. Jones, 64, of Ohio River Boulevard. A decorated Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, Jones has a colorful past that includes working with the FBI to develop the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) that is now a standard resource for law enforcement, and being the "Phantom Diner" for KDKA's Evening Magazine.

He currently is president and CEO of his own packaging engineering firm, R.B. Jones Corporation, which he started in 1985.

Jones has served on the board of directors for the North Boroughs YMCA, and is a life member of the VFW. He is active with the Masons, serving as master of the Avalon Lodge, president of the Masonic Fund Society of Allegheny County, a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite masons, is a Knight Templar, and received the 33rd degree, the highest honorary degree presented by the Masons.

He also is active with Clean Water Action, and is a strong proponent of eliminating air, water and noise pollution from the community. In fact, as mayor he would work with council to make Ben Avon a "quiet zone," prohibiting truck drivers from using their engines to stop their vehicles, and hopefully eliminating the train whistles that blow at the Emsworth railroad crossing.

Jones says that he does not come with any "political baggage," and will use common sense rather than politics to make decisions in the best interests of Ben Avon.

The mayoral candidate says he believes that "Ben Avon can successfully move with and into the future without losing the charm and historic significance of its past."

He is running against longtime Democratic incumbent Kenneth Opipery Sr., who did not respond to a request for information.

Also failing to submit information are Republican Charles Hansen and two Democratic council incumbents, Kenneth Opipery Jr., who is president of council, and Todd Smith.

Appearing with them on the Democratic ballot on Nov. 3 is newcomer Richard White, of Breading Avenue, who will turn 19 the day after the election.

White is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School and currently is pursuing a degree in economics at the University of Pittsburgh.

He has volunteered with the Community Theatre Players and the community clean-up in Ben Avon, as well as with World Vision, H.E.A.R.T.H. and the Pleasant Valley Homeless Shelter, and assists senior citizens with computer set-up and programming.

"I am a dynamic young person who is committed to the community of Ben Avon," White says. "I was born and raised in our town and am committed to its future, to ensure that it prospers and grows. It is for this reason that I am running."