Election 2023: Q&A with Beaver County Controller, Prothonotary candidates
Two candidates are seeking one four-year Beaver County Controller seat in the Nov. 7 municipal election.
Republican incumbent Maria Longo, 56, of Industry, has served as controller for four years and hopes to secure a second term. She’s challenged by Democrat Tina Price-Genes, 44, of Aliquippa.
Meanwhile, Beaver County Prothonotary Michael Rossi, 65, of Center Township, is seeking a second term. The Democratic incumbent is challenged by Republican Jodi Janicki Jones.
The Times asked each contender to share their qualifications and plans for office, if elected.
Here’s what they had to say.
(Responses have been lightly edited for space and clarity.)
Beaver County Controller
Q: What are the top challenges facing Beaver County that your office can help solve? What are the top issues facing this office, in particular, and how will you address them?
Longo: There are many issues facing Beaver County, but the Controller’s Office is limited by statute on what it can affect. Two issues facing the county that my office can facilitate are long-term fiscal planning and capital improvement planning. The county has, historically, not been great at long-term planning. In my first term, I have been working with the commissioners and their financial advisor to develop a more realistic budgeting process, implementing cost savings, and developing a capital improvement plan. Another issue facing the county, like so many other entities, is fraud attempts. My office is implementing controls, monitoring, and auditing to minimize the risk to the county. I am continuing to implement new processes to monitor the financials of the county. Some of these are increased audits of both internal offices and outside organizations who receive county funding; improved contract tracking to ensure we are operating under valid and current contracts; and improved financial analysis and reporting to help the commissioners make their financial decisions.
Price-Genes: The top challenges facing Beaver County that the controller’s office can help solve are support and maintenance of essential services and lack of reserve funds that can affect county sustainability.
Prioritization of essential services within budget constraints. Emergencies often occur during off-duty hours of personnel in our sheriff’s and public works departments resulting in unavoidable overtime. Process improvements, technology adoption, and exploring alternative revenue sources such as grants to fund overtime can adequately address this.
Lack of reserve funds. Our economic development entities are rendered ineffective due to poor funding and few personnel; yet, if appropriately scaled, these entities can generate money to build reserves for the county. Hiring an in-house engineer in the planning or public works department is a more efficient way to save money versus contracting three outside engineers. Saved and generated money equals an adequate reserve fund.
Internal controls need to be improved upon. An Office of Budget and Finance working with the commissioners and the controller would better fiscal control over department budgets. This is more efficient than the current practice of contracting with an outside accounting firm in Harrisburg for purchase approval. Decisions should be brought directly back to the county under the controller’s office and the commissioners. Funds that pay the outside firm could be used to help create the office which would include a director and in-house certified public account.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for this office? What sets you apart from your opponent(s)?
Longo: I am the best candidate for this office because I have the experience, education, and financial background that is essential for this position. I am the incumbent and have four years of experience in managing this office. I have an MBA from Baldwin Wallace that has given me the skills to make significant improvements over the past four years. My education and my work experience prepared me for the controller position, and I have proven that with my successes. This isn’t just a job; I love Beaver County and am passionate about helping this county be fiscally sound and secure for generations to come. I take great pride in serving all the residents of Beaver County.
Price-Genes: My professional qualifications and unique problem-solving skills, understanding of the local community and its financial needs, and verifiable track record of community engagement are significant assets that will enable me to make informed decisions that positively impact residents and the county’s financial health. I also possess the ability to manage change, be adaptable, and function within ambiguous circumstances. As county controller, these are 21st-century skills needed to successfully navigate and manage the complex and ever-changing financial landscape of county government. I am coming into the office of county controller with executive and staff management experience, and experience in overseeing millions of dollars. I fully understand that government is about the people and that the purpose of government is to provide services to the people who fund it and to whom it is accountable. Government is not about business; it is about people. I also understand the needs of the residents of Beaver County as I have engaged with them for many years on many levels. Hence, I have the right mindset, tools, and experience to balance commitment to accountability and maintaining the financial stability of the county with meeting the needs of the Beaver County community. A balanced approach to fiscal accountability helps to avoid undue hardship to individuals, families, organizations, county departments, and other entities in Beaver County.
Q: If you’re an incumbent, what do you believe are your biggest successes in this role? If not, what personal and/or professional experiences do you believe will make you most effective in this role?
Longo: The biggest achievements of my first term are:
I have helped save the county over $1 million by stopping fraudulent payments and recommending cost-saving changes,
I have increased internal auditing of row offices and departments as well as conducted the first internal audit on the county Treasurer’s Office in almost 25 years.
I have increased transparency of the county financials by updating the controller website with reports and spending dashboards.
I have worked with the treasurer to improve money management processes between our offices.
I have developed new reports to update the commissioners on county finances and worked with their financial advisor to develop long-term fiscal planning to keep Beaver County fiscally stable.
Price-Genes: As a member of the Aliquippa School District’s Board of Education and as its current president, I provide oversight of millions of taxpayer, government, and private foundation dollars and have recently provided oversight to the completion of the district’s new $4.5 million football stadium. I work hands-on with a budget designed to devote resources to the district’s internal infrastructure. Under my leadership, new curricula will move the district to the next tier of education, and new programming will introduce our students to the world of trade /union employment. My work greatly contributes to the district’s fund balance staying in the black.
As deputy director of the Franklin Center of Beaver County – an anchor institution in the county for which I’ve worked for 11 years – I’ve assisted with managing agency and program budgets, financial and strategic planning, payroll, performance evaluations, program management, and staff oversight. I work closely with the Beaver County community including families, parents, and youth. Finally, I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Robert Morris University, I am currently working on my master’s degree in strategic management, and I am a certified life coach.
Q: What else should voters know about you?
Longo: I was born and raised in Industry by my parents, Rocco and Mary Longo. I am the youngest of eight children. I was blessed with amazing parents and a great family. We were raised in a loving and Christian home, which gave me the strong ethical foundation which serves me well every day. They taught me about service, giving back and taking care of your “neighbor." In my first four years as Beaver County Controller, I have served with integrity and honor. I am honored to serve the residents of Beaver County and am thankful they have trusted me to be their fiscal watchdog. I know I am the best person for this office, and I am asking them to vote for me for another four years so I can continue to do great work for them.
Price-Genes: I am a wife, mother of five, and Beaver County resident who lives and understands the day-to-day challenges of the residents of Beaver County. I am acutely aware of how decisions made on the county level affect us all. That knowledge will undergird every decision I make as county controller. I am and will continue to be transparent in my work, open and honest with my staff, courthouse officials, department personnel, and the Beaver County community at large. By electing Tina Price-Genes as county Ccntroller, Beaver County voters can rest assured that they are electing more than a good steward over their money but also a steward of the well-being of Beaver County.
Beaver County Prothonotary
Q: What are the top issues facing this office and what are your plans to address them?
Rossi: Employee shortages and staffing issues due to low wages. Our staffing issues are not unlike many businesses; therefore, we need to increase the starting wages of new employees and maintain a good living wage for tenured employees. It is hard to keep the quality staff we have due to low wages. Our turnover rate is higher than I would like to see. We must be able to keep the valued employees we have due to the significance and importance of their job requirements. Our office is the largest filing office in Beaver County, it houses extremely important documents that have a direct effect on people's lives, so it is imperative that we provide a wage that incentivizes them to stay.
Q: If you’re an incumbent, what do you believe are your biggest successes in this role?
Rossi: We are working on a plan to digitize archived records. We are required by law to maintain certain records for life. These are certain cases filed in our office as well as naturalization documents dating back to the 1700s. Currently, these records are on microfilm and microfiche, which are decaying through time, as well, they are viewed by very old viewing machines. These records must be put into a digital format as to maintain their integrity for the next century and centuries to come.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
Rossi: My experience with the public, my knowledge of the job and the ability to communicate with my team.
Note: Republican Jodi Janicki Jones did not respond to requests to participate in the Times Election Guide.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Election 2023: Q&A with Beaver County Controller, Prothonotary candidates
