In the Avonworth School Board race, voters will need to choose five candidates on each ticket from among those who are cross-filed, not cross-filed and a couple write-in candidates to boot.

Two slates of candidates have formed. The "Responsible Five" committee promotes five cross-filed candidates who say they are concerned about what have been annual property tax increases until this year, and the impact of another $20 million in debt for a primary center at increasingly difficult economic times. The candidates supported by the group are Keith Egyed, Patricia Monahan, Tracey Madey, James Carrigan and Michael Wrbas.

On the other side are the "Concerned Citizens," who have had a bit of trouble with campaign logistics but are relying heavily on the district's lower than average millage rate and accolades for academic performance. They are backing incumbent board member David Oberdick (crossfiled), incumbent Brenda Barlek (Democratic ticket only after she was forced to withdraw her Republican nominating petition due to errors) and one cross-filed newcomer, Jeffrey Carraway. The slate was filled out with two candidates for write-in nominations, incumbent Peter McKay and former board member Rob Wible.

The following candidate bios and comments were obtained:

Keith Egyed
Keith Egyed, of Ohio Township, is an operating partner with PEC Management, a Burger King franchisee. He attended Robert Morris College.

Egyed served on the Northgate School Board when he lived in Avalon, before moving to the Avonworth School District several years ago.

He is a member of the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Cancer Care Center, and a member of Northmont Presbyterian Church.

"We live in exciting times right now," Egyed said, particularly from an economic perspective. A person who, he said, believes in being involved in the community, he offers his business experience and knowledge to help Avonworth weather these "exciting times."

One of his strengths, he said, is that "I don't come with a lot of emotions. I do things from a logical perspective."

One of the current board's problems, he said, is that too many board members are allowing themsleves to be influenced by the emotions of the administrators, who have a built-in bias.

"They want what's best for their people," he said. "I would, too." A board member, however, must be able to view things from a more overall logical perspective, he said.

Tracey Madey
Tracey Madey, of Emsworth, is an example of how people have to adapt in difficult economic times. She worked for 18 years in occupational therapy at Kane Regional Centers. When cuts started and she was laid off, she went back to school to learn medical coding and now works in emergency medicine for the University of Pittsburgh Physician Services.

Her educational background includes Northgate High School, Bidwell Training Center and Community College of Allegheny County. She currently is enrolled in a cancer registry management program.

Madey is a volunteer with the Northgate Aquatics Club and Boy Scout Troop 572.

The candidate said that she has concerns about "wasteful spending," and would rather see budget cuts in the area of administration rather than student programs.

"I just think it's time for a change," she said.

She is the wife of appointed Emsworth Council member Tom Madey, who also is seeking election this year.

Michael Wrbas
Michael Wrbas, of Ben Avon, has spent the last 41 years in the banking industry, and currently is employed as an assistant vice president/branch manager for First BNiagara Bank's Bellevue Office.

A veteran of the Gulf War, he also served for 30 years, earning the rank of major, in the United States Air Force Reserve/Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He served for nine years with the Allegheny County Sheriff's Uniform Reserve.

Wrbas has been very active with school, community and business-related volunteer programs, acting as treasurer of the Avonworth Cheerleading Boosters, past president of the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the finance committee at Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth, as a Fourth Degree and Color Corps member of the Knights of Columbus, a block captain with the Ben Avon Crime Watch program, and in several positions with the Boy Scouts of America.

Brenda Barlek
Barlek, who currently serves as president of the Avonworth School Board, is a resident of Ohio Township. She is seeking a third term on the board

She holds a bachelor of science degree in management from West Virginia Wesleyan, and is the manager of health and welfare and customer service for ALCOA.

Barlek said that the current board works very well together and has made excellent progress in the district.

"It's become a very difficult time," she said, and her experience will help Avonworth deal with such times.

Barlek said that it is important to her to keep tax increases to a minimum and try to live within the district's means. Her personal strengths, she said, are that she listens to people, comes to every board meeting, and learns everything she can before making some of the very hard decisions the board has faced.

"I'm fair. I'm honest," she said.

David Oberdick
David Oberdick, of Ohio Township, is seeking a second term on the Avonworth board. He has served as board president, and currently is vice president. He has chaired the athletic committee for four years, while also serving as a member of the personnel and curriculum committees.

He holds a bachelor's degree, earned magna cum laude, in physics and astronomy from the University of Pittsburgh, and also graduated magna cum laude from Pitt's School of Law. He works as a lawyer for a Pittsburgh firm.

In community service, he has headed the Avonworth Municipal Authority, been a member of the Ohio Township Planning Commission and the Allegheny County Ethics Commission (which he chaired for two years), and has held offices with the Little 'Lopes basketball program, the Lady 'Lopes basketball boosters and the Avonworth Soccer Boosters.

"I am proud to have been a member of the Avonworth School Board for the last four years. With the help of many, we have accomplished much in the past several years, and I hope to provide balanced leadership and judgment for the benefit of all members of the Avonworth community," he said.

"There's some interesting times that lie ahead," Oberdick said of the economic challenges facing Avonworth and other school districts across the state. "Work still needs to be done. We're not there yet."

James Carrigan
James Carrigan, from Ohio Township, sells real estate and holds an associate's degree in business management.

He has been extremely active with the Boy Scouts, serving as a Seneca District, Pittsburgh Council, commissioner, and an assistant soutmaster for Troop 572 at Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth. He also volunteers as a CCD teacher at St. Margaret Mary Church.

Candidates Patricia Monahan and Jeff Carraway did not respond to The Citizen's requests for information. Information was not requested from the write-in candidates due to the impossibility of fairly covering all last-minute write-in candidates.