Candidate for Shadyside Mayor Mike Meintel speaks to residents during the Visions of Shadyside meet the candidates event about what he plans to achieve if elected in November.

Candidate for Shadyside Mayor Nick Ferrelli speaks to residents at the Visions of Shadyside meet the candidates event about how he believes the village’s progress halted when he stepped down from council in 2023.

Editor’s note: Additional details of the Shadyside meet the candidate event held Tuesday will be reported later this week.

SHADYSIDE — Two men who hope to be the next mayor of Shadyside had the chance to introduce themselves to community members on Tuesday.

Visions of Shadyside held a meet the candidates event on Tuesday evening. That event also featured candidates for village council, Shadyside Local Board of Education and Mead Township trustee.

Former council member Nick Ferrelli and current council member Mike Meintel will both be on the ballot Nov. 4, hoping to be elected the next mayor. Current Mayor Robert Newhart is not seeking re-election.

Current council members — Democrats Samuel Carpino, Robert “Bushwacker” Gorrell and Lisa Duvall, Republican Melanie Haswell and Independent Brandon Parr — are seeking re-election.

Those challenging for village offices include Republican Dustin Heath and Independents John Longwell, Richard Loew Jr. and write-in candidate Robert Dorris Jr. are all seeking seats on village council.

Loew was not in attendance during the event.

Visions of Shadyside group President Jayson Johnson said he organized the event as an opportunity for residents to hear from those who will be on their ballots come November.

Johnson posted a call to action on the Visions of Shadyside Facebook page asking residents what they would like the candidates to be asked. From that feedback, mediator Jay Morgan selected the questions to ask all of the candidates.

Ferrelli and Meintel both were asked if they would be present in the community and be more involved than previous mayors if they are elected.

Meintel said that since he is retired, he would be able to make serving as mayor his top priority.

He said that he has years of experience of being warden at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections’ Correctional Reception Center. Meintel added that just like his time working as a warden, he would be on call 24/7 and would answer not only for village employees, but for residents as well.

Ferrelli said he doesn’t have the luxury of being retired but would also make serving as mayor his top priority.

“First, let me say Bob Newhart is my friend. We get along, but have very different leadership styles,” Ferrelli said. “When I was on council, I was in the office pretty much every day, and I completely intended to do that again.”

Ferrelli said that when he served on council, he believes council was making a lot of positive strides in terms of infrastructure. He also believes that once he left council, the progress stopped. He said that if elected, he will continue where he and council left off.

He said his main goal is to end the turmoil that has been going on since he stepped down from council in 2023.

Meintel said that his goal if elected is similar.

“I want to restore professionalism back into our village government,” Meintel said. “Right now, we are a house of cards built. In order to move this village forward, we need to get back to basics and professionalism. I promise you it will start with me from the way we hold council meetings. Everything will be done professionally, and people will be held accountable, and these council meetings.”

Council candidates were all asked if they would be in favor of forming an advisory board made up of village residents to provide the residents more of a voice in community affairs. All candidates said they were in favor of the potential new board.