Dave Johnston

SAXONBURG — The former Butler County planning director is running for borough mayor.

Democrat Dave Johnston, 61, of East Main Street, said he has the professional background to do the job.

“I have the experience in municipal government,” he said.

Before his 21-year tenure as county planning director, when he worked with county municipalities, he worked for Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township in Venango County and McCandless.

Johnston said he wants to work with borough merchants and downtown revitalization advocates as former Mayor Pam Bauman did.

After Bauman died early last year, council appointed board member Bill Gillespie to fill the post.

“I just want to continue the efforts Pam Bauman started,” Johnston said.

If elected, he would showcase the borough to attract even more events and activities.

“It’s a gem,” he said. “It’s a walkable community everyone enjoys. I think it can be enhanced even more.”

Johnston, who previously worked with the borough to secure funding for the first phase of Main Street revitalization work that was finished in 2013, would pursue completion of the second phase.

“It’s an important time for the borough,” he said.

As mayor, who oversees the police department, Johnston would develop mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities lacking departments that now rely on state police coverage.

He said those municipalities could pay for coverage while helping defray borough police costs.

Johnston said he would utilize Bauman’s approach to the mayor’s post in other ways, too.

“I want to restart the practice of marrying people,” he said.

“I really do like the borough,” Johnston said. “It’s a nice place to live.”

He is a 1974 graduate of Butler High School and has a bachelor’s degree in geography with a concentration in rural/urban planning from Slippery Rock University.

Johnston lives in the borough with his wife, Nancy.