Upper St. Clair Woman Running for Commissioner

Dorothy Davis, a resident of Upper St. Clair for nearly 23 years, has decided to run for the at-large position on the Board of Commissioners on the Democratic ticket. 

Davis announced her candidacy on Monday night and therefore voters will not see her name on the ballot Tuesday. Voters who are interested in voting for Davis must write her in. According to the Allegheny County Elections Division, a commissioner candidate must have 10 signers, be at least 18 years old and be a resident of the township for at least one year.

Davis said she is a Democrat and first decided for run for candidacy at the . The meeting was held at the because hundreds of residents were interested in an item on the agenda: the proposed text amendment that would allow rezoning at the former Consol Energy site.

"I really feel like it's important for Upper St. Clair families to have a voice in the development and in the quality of their community," Davis said.

At the meeting, Davis said she was appalled when nearly 40 residents went up to voice their concerns at the podium and a short time later, the planning commission considered taking a vote on the amendment without addressing or taking notes on any of the residents' ideas.

The planning commission ended up tabling the decision until their meeting on June 16, however Davis became concerned that residents' voices weren't being heard.

"It became clear to me that someone has to speak up for their voices," Davis said. "I want to make sure families have an active and a consistent advocate for their needs."

Davis is strongly opposed to the proposed text amendment that would allow mixed use development at the former Consol Energy site. She lives on Fieldgate Drive and has said she can see the area from her backyard. The proposed development served as a catalyst for her appreciating development in Upper St. Clair. Davis said she is not against development, but she is for responsible development.

"We need to look at the impact on the schools, the students' safety and the traffic," Davis said. "Residents said the holiday traffic on Fort Couch and Washington Roads makes them a prisoner of their homes. Those voices need to be heard. Some parents say there is over-development near Eisenhower Elementary School and class sizes are getting too large. Those voices need to be heard."

Davis also said there needs to be an appropriate reaction on how tax dollars are spent and where they are coming from. 

"It's clear the residents who were at the planning commission meeting are compassionate, thoughtful and care for their community," Davis said. "I believe votes for me will be votes for them."