As voters prepare for the Nov. 4 general election, two options will be available for Slippery Rock borough residents when it comes to the question who will become the next mayor.

Jondavid Longo, the current mayor who has served two terms, is being challenged by the chairman of the borough’s planning commission, Douglas Cook. Longo is running as the Republican candidate, and Cook as the Democratic candidate.

Slippery Rock borough’s mayoral position is a four-year term with an annual compensation of $1,200.

Jondavid Longo

Longo is seeking reelection for a third term as Slippery Rock’s mayor. He started serving as mayor in 2017.

He has also served on the borough’s planning commission, comprehensive plan committee and on the Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation’s board of representatives.

Longo, who has earned three degrees from Slippery Rock University, said he feels he has an obligation to borough families to help them prosper and be safe. He said during his first two terms, he has helped to make Slippery Rock a better place by helping it learn to love itself and its country.

Now that his ideal environment has been created, Longo said his focus on the next term would be to continue steering Slippery Rock in the right direction. He said he will focus on wooing families and attracting more economic development to the area.

He said it is important to have a leader who also serves as the face of the community.

Douglas Cook

Cook, who currently serves as the chairman of the borough’s planning commission, has previously worked across the nation, from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, as a municipal employee before retiring and moving back to Slippery Rock in 2020.

The Slippery Rock University alum said he decided to run because he has never been on the “other side of the table” when it comes to municipal government. He said he also wanted to give borough residents a second choice instead of leaving the mayoral race uncontested.

Cook said his vision of Slippery Rock should match the vision of its residents, and said he would encourage open communication to recognize, and eventually realize, that vision. One idea he suggested was hosting periodic town halls.

He also believes the comprehensive plan, which he helped create, will serve as a guide for the borough moving forward. He said the borough should feel no need to reinvent the wheel.

When asked to identify three top issues affecting the borough, both Long and Cook said they believe the borough is positioned well, but they would dedicate resources to upkeep infrastructure.

Longo said every community, including his, is dealing with the ongoing battle to keep infrastructure and stormwater systems in the best shape possible.

Cook said one specific thing he would ask residents about is expanding sidewalks throughout the borough to create a more walkable community.

Longo went on to highlight public safety and discussed continually looking at code and zoning ordinances throughout the borough.

Longo said he is unsure if anyone would put as much effort into public safety as he feels he has thus far. He said he is proud of the relationship built between the borough and law enforcement.

On zoning, he said an adjustment from a third party to an in-house code enforcement officer gives the borough more room to communicate and find compromise with property owners.

Cook pointed to the parks and noted the importance of finding something that makes the borough unique and attractive to new residents. He said he would gather both residents’ and students’ opinions when it comes to the borough and downtown.

Cook said the area parks and recreation do a good job, but would like to consider further expansions, especially to the facility’s trails.

Longo said that every decision he makes considers both residents and the decision’s impact on the university and its students. He said as an alumnus, he recognizes the boon that the university is on the borough.

He said he will never approve a property tax hike, partially to keep rent low.

He said he would continue to invest in both infrastructure and public safety so families of prospective students recognize Slippery Rock as a safe town.

He also expressed pride in relationships he’s built with the university and its leadership.

Cook said he’d focus on keeping students from the university in the community, saying the university is the biggest draw of people into the borough.

He said he would approach the university and collaborate with its leaders to find new ways to sell the community back to students.

Longo said it is more important now than ever for the borough to discuss code and zoning, as he believes outdated ordinances could hurt residents, established businesses and developers.

He also emphasized the importance of enforcing the zoning ordinances the borough implements.

Longo said the recent sale of the vacant lot on Main Street is one example of the economic development that the borough hopes to stimulate. He said development was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and developers are only beginning to feel comfortable investing again.

As for the residents, Longo said he would continue to commit to infrastructure and public safety, highlighting the importance of a community and police department that feels safe.

For the downtown area, Cook said he would want to involve the businesses in conversations and focus on thinking outside the box. He said a borough that tries to offer the same amenities ends up competing with neighbors, when municipalities should work together to grow the entire region.

He reaffirmed he will never sign his name to a property tax increase and is exploring tax abatement opportunities.

For residents, Cook said he would like to see things go back to how they used to be with neighbors getting along and working things out among themselves.

He said people should be able to respectfully disagree with one another.

Cook said one of the reasons he moved to Slippery Rock was the small college town feel, but as the borough grows, he said he would look into mixed type housing developments that include spaces for families and homeowners as well as renters.

He said he recognizes the borough’s limited space and would aim to maximize it.