MARS — Gregg Hartung will take his place as the new mayor when the borough council reorganizes Monday.

He grew up on Union Church Road in Adams Township and graduated from Mars High School in 1973.

Hartung recalled the comments of his out-of-state classmates who traveled to Mars in the summer for the 40th class reunion.

“One said ‘If I could have raised my family here, it would have been so much better, but circumstances didn’t permit it,’” Hartung recalled.

“Another said ‘Live anyplace other than Mars for a while, and you will realize how special it is to have grown up here or what it means to live here.’”

It is that atmosphere that Hartung will enjoy as he becomes mayor.

“Like Mayor Dick (Settlemire) always said, it is Mayberry,” Hartung said.

The late Settlemire, who died on Oct. 20, 2012, was a close friend of Hartung. The two last spoke about a month before Settlemire died from a long-term illness.

It was that conversation that tipped the scales for Hartung to run for the office Settlemire served in for more than a decade.

“He said, ‘When are you going to serve your country and community?’” Hartung said.

Hartung then decided to run as a write-in candidate, and he got 162 of the 169 votes cast.

He replaces Terry Onufer, who had been appointed by council to serve the final year remaining in Settlemire’s term.

Of Hartung, Onufer said, “He’s a smart guy. Also, he’s from the area, so I think he has an understanding of the community and its people.”

Onufer said he was unable to run for mayor because of his work commitments, but Hartung can devote his time to the community in addition to working.

“I personally think he will just do a great job,” Onufer said.

Hartung, who has been director of the Presbyterian Media Mission for nearly 30 years, said his experience in management will benefit him as mayor.

“My purpose in becoming mayor is to help in being the chief communication officer on behalf of the citizens, police and borough government of this community,” Hartung said.

He said working with the police chief to ensure safety, upgrading old infrastructure, seeking nontax-based funding sources, working with the council and working with businesses and organizations to create a friendly and caring borough will be his main goals as mayor.

“These are only some of the main areas of interest I have, living in the borough since 1981 and talking to neighbors and friends about concerns they have living here,” Hartung said.

Hartung has been married to his wife, Tina, for 31 years. His oldest son, Matt, recently achieved the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps. His daughter, Michele, is a recent Savannah College of Art and Design graduate, and his youngest daughter, Maria, is a senior at Mars High School.

Hartung’s educational and employment background involve broadcasting. He graduated in 1975 from the Institute of Broadcast Arts in Pittsburgh and received his first class FCC license for radio and television. Hartung worked in radio briefly in Chambersburg before returning to the Pittsburgh area, where he got a job at a radio station in Canonsburg, Washington County.

While recovering from a serious vehicle accident, Hartung took classes at LaRoche College before enrolling full-time at Butler County Community College in 1976.

After receiving an associate degree in liberal arts, Hartung went to Slippery Rock University where he got his bachelor’s degree in communications in 1981.

Hartung is a member of the Crestview Community Presbyterian Church in Callery, where he is an elder.

In 1981, Hartung found himself on the board of the new Presbyterian Media Mission in Pittsburgh. There, he helped formulate the Passages radio show. In 1985, he was hired as Presbyterian Media Mission’s first full-time director.

In 2009, Hartung received his master’s degree in public policy management from Carnegie Mellon University.

As mayor Hartung said, “I’m going to learn as much as I can and rely on the council for input.”

That council will include returning members Mike Fleming, Robert Bost, Christine Clutter and Joann Chonoska, all of whom won re-election in November. Sitting council members are David Farr, Rick Foster and Barb Gray.

The council also will choose its president and vice president on Monday.