A Slippery Rock University student has entered the race for Slippery Rock Borough Council.
Sean Logue, 31, is a junior who is dual majoring in Political Science and Philosophy, with a minor in Gender Studies. She is a readmitted student who has lived in the borough for roughly seven years and works as a cook at Ginger Hill Tavern on Main Street.
Logue says that her background in political science and time on campus as a student give her experience to serve on the council.
“[Council] has not always been super responsive or super knowledgeable about the student issues and concerns of the student body,” Logue addressed. “I really kind of want to be able to bridge that and take those concerns to the council.
When asked what her two biggest priorities would be if elected to council, she noted walking safety and housing were her two priorities.
Walking Safety
On the issue of walking safety, Logue suggested that the borough should increase the accessibility of all types of travelers, especially students who live in the borough.
“I know a lot of our students walk around town, so that’s things like, we need street light bulbs replaced. I know the council has been working on getting some grants to fix that; I would love to be involved and help with that,” Logue said.
Recently, Slippery Rock Borough has had trouble receiving proper funds to replace street lights throughout town, causing frustration among council members while other nearby municipalities continue to receive funding for beautification projects.
“I think being able to coordinate our voices so that we speak on that issue together would have the extra weight that probably might help us with securing those grants,” Logue said when asked how she would be an advocate for the borough in securing funding for streetlights.
Logue would also like to see more advocacy and potential development for more bike-friendly infrastructure in the borough, citing roads in the borough that have the potential to have a bike lane, and addressed the need to level sidewalks so that they are even, and update the shoveling ordinances in the winter, which Logue says are oddly enforced.
Housing
According to a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the United States is experiencing a housing crisis. The crisis is only made worse for college students as, according to the report, there are only six counties in the nation (not including Puerto Rico) where an individual making minimum wage can afford a one-bedroom rental at a fair market rate. None of those counties are in Pennsylvania.
Logue would like to see more apartments, complexes, and houses for students to rent, but understands its a difficult task.
“There’s a few vacant lots sitting around town. If the borough doesn’t openly control them, we could do more to get people to come in and build, say, another apartment block or two,” she said.
Logue acknowledges that in order to meet these goals, the local zoning laws and ordinances need to be addressed and would work to examine the building codes that are potentially hindering any future development.
Zoning also plays an effect in the overall upkeep of properties, as in past council meetings, citizens have addressed the appearance of some of the business facades on Main Street.
“I think that could be addressed with coding, maybe try to get a forum to get this thing discussed,” Logue said.
Community
Logue expressed appreciation for festivities that the borough holds such as the 4th of July celebration, VillageFest, and the Christmas tree lighting, but suggested the need for additional events.
“Right around April, May, June, there doesn’t really seem to be much going on in the town, and I would like to see perhaps, maybe like a Slippery Rock Pride or something setup. Similar to our VillageFest, but just have it there at the beginning of June, end of May,” she said.
As the final question for our interview, Logue was asked the ultimate question that all politicians have heard: Why should voters choose you?
“I’m a younger voice in the town. I’ve been here some years now, so I am familiar with the community. And as a student as well, there’s my pitch to the students; that it’s our town as much as it is anyone else’s,” Logue said. “If you live here two semesters and you go here two semesters a year, you live in Slippery Rock more times of the year than anywhere else. You deserve a voice, someone who will be your voice on the council”.
Logue urges students to attend borough council meetings to understand what is going on in their community and that if any student is interested in helping her campaign, they can contact her by email at sml1010@sru.edu.
