logo
Allegheny County Council appoints Mike Embresica to replace Sam DeMarco

Allegheny County Council appoints Mike Embresica to replace Sam DeMarco

Yahoo12-02-2025
Allegheny County has announced who will replace Sam DeMarco.
DeMarco resigned from the council in January after 10 years to take a job with U.S. Senator Dave McCormick. He will run the senator's Western Pennsylvania office.
On Wednesday, the council announced Mike Embrescia will fill the vacant position.
Embresica, of Mt. Lebanon, first came to the Pittsburgh area in 2007 to work in technology and commercial real estate. He has served as Chief Developmental Officer at Carnegie Robotics and, Executive Director at the Buildings Owners and Managers Association.
'I am honored to be appointed to Allegheny County Council and am committed to serving the residents of Allegheny County. I look forward to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to Council, and working collaboratively to make our community stronger,' said Embrescia.
He and his wife Jessica, an AHN Physician, are raising two daughters in the community.
'Mike's passion and dedication to improving our community are evident, and I look forward to working with him to achieve our shared goals. His diverse experience and collaborative approach will be invaluable to the council,' said Council President Patrick Catena.
He was the Republican candidate for Allegheny County Council's District 5 seat in 2023 but lost that election. That district represents Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. Despite the defeat, he has emphasized commitment to the community.
'I would bring many strengths to the post, including my knowledge of real estate development, business creation, and company management. I understand the value of engaging stakeholders and collaborating with private businesses, foundations, funders, universities, politicians, and most importantly, the citizens. My energy and enthusiasm will help inspire our team and stakeholders to be bold and endeavor to always do the right thing,' Embresica said.
The council said his appointment is 'seen as a step forward in the ongoing effort to create a more inclusive and represented Allegheny County.'
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Teachers unions lose, parents win under major policy move says red state schools chief
Teachers unions lose, parents win under major policy move says red state schools chief

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Teachers unions lose, parents win under major policy move says red state schools chief

FIRST ON FOX: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is eliminating statewide standardized end-of-year testing for several subjects as part of an effort to give "local control back to school districts." OSDE stated that the changes will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year and will impact math and English courses in grades three through eight. In place of the standardized tests, Oklahoma will allow districts to use approved benchmark assessments that are already in use to report on students' academic achievement and growth. It said the change will reduce the overall testing burden on students and teachers as well as allow teachers to focus on classroom instruction rather than test preparation. OSDE noted that the benchmark assessments will continue to comply with federal and state protections for students with disabilities. OSDE is also "exploring" future options to eliminate standardized testing for science and history in the same grades. This follows President Donald Trump dramatically reducing the scope of the federal Department of Education as part of an effort to eventually eliminate it entirely. After railing against the Department of Education during the 2024 campaign for being filled with "radicals, zealots and Marxists," Trump signed an executive order in March directing that the department be dismantled and its functions "returned to the States." Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said during a gathering of Republican and Democratic governors that returning education to the states "is really a nonpartisan issue" and "just means giving them back the part that is now provided by the federal government, and they're anxious for it." In a statement to Fox News Digital, OSDE explained its decision to eliminate standardized testing, calling it "a move to take power over performance from liberal teacher unions and undo a burden that has been placed on students and teachers." The department said it surveyed Oklahoma parents on the issue and found that 86% of the 15,349 respondents expressed that standardized testing was not necessary for evaluating student learning. "For far too long, the teachers unions have used standardized testing to keep states in line with their woke standards," the department said. Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a Republican, told Fox News Digital, "President Trump is returning power back to the states so we can return power back to hard-working Oklahoma families." "The teachers-union-approach is failing our kids," said Walters. "By moving away from outdated state tests and empowering local districts, we're reducing the burden on students, parents, and teachers while ensuring high-quality education that is no longer driven by bureaucrats or outside groups." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Oklahoma Education Association, Professional Oklahoma Educators and the American Federation of Teachers - Oklahoma for comment.

Why Nebraska U.S. Rep. Mike Flood holds town halls when GOP colleagues don't
Why Nebraska U.S. Rep. Mike Flood holds town halls when GOP colleagues don't

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Why Nebraska U.S. Rep. Mike Flood holds town halls when GOP colleagues don't

U.S. Rep Mike Flood, R-Neb., speaks during his town hall in Lincoln on Aug 4. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood faced a hostile crowd at a concert hall this week in his district's most Democratic city, Lincoln. Flood's third and final town hall of the year drew national headlines and eyes on social media sites including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the reception he received. Attendees jeered him as he defended voting for President Donald Trump's budget and tax bill the president calls 'big' and 'beautiful.' Flood was asked how much it cost to be a 'fascist' and faced chants of 'vote him out' and 'tax the rich' throughout the 90-minute affair. The national attention — particularly online, where voters increasingly get their news — might have been the point. Flood is a modern rarity among congressional Republicans, one who faces the electorate without pre-screening the crowd. He is the last among Nebraska's all-GOP delegation to host town halls that way. Dona-Gene Barton, a political science professor who studies political behavior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, described the town hall as an opportunity for Flood, an attorney and former speaker of the Legislature from Norfolk, to showcase his debate skills. Flood also owns TV and radio news stations, so he is no stranger to a microphone. 'He may be feeling more comfortable having these conversations with constituents that may disagree with him, because he believes that a larger portion of the district is going to support his actions now,' Barton said of Flood. Lancaster County, home to Lincoln, is the second-most populous area in the state, behind only Omaha. Both are heavily Democratic cities that supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Lincoln has a Democratic mayor and a Democratic city council. But Flood, as Barton pointed out, won his 2024 re-election bid with 60% of the vote against Carol Blood, which may be why he feels more bullish than other Republicans in the federal delegation. He won Lancaster County that year by nearly 5,600 votes. Flood acknowledged the GOP lean of the rest of the district near the end of the town hall, when he talked directly to viewers of a Nebraska Public Media livestream while getting booed, saying, 'For those of you who [are] watching from home, please know that I'm on your side. I never forget who I'm working for.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Earlier this year, national leaders advised House Republicans, including Flood, to avoid in-person town halls after several members hosting them since Trump's reelection faced public protests and angry constituents. Retiring U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who represents the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District, had held town halls for years. He said he switched to telephone town halls because of 'large interest' and because it is more 'civil.' Democrats have argued Bacon feared facing the people he represents. The new format allows his staff to pre-screen callers and cut them off if they go too far. 'Frankly, it's more conversational,' Bacon told reporters in March. 'When you got moms and dads saying we can't bring our kids to a town hall, there's a problem.' Tuesday's event isn't the first of Flood's town halls to go viral this year. Parts of his town hall in Columbus were widely shared online after Flood told attendees that he hadn't read part of the Trump mega bill before passing it. Bacon said in March that Flood likes to do in-person town halls as a way to 'make the far left look bad.' Flood told reporters after his Lincoln town hall that he considers it his 'job to answer their questions,' and it's the 'town square.' 'You have an obligation to stand in the town square, regardless of your comfort level, and answer people's questions,' Flood told the Examiner after the event. 'I believe what I'm doing in Congress is the right thing.' Flood said he understands why other Republicans are holding tele-town halls and other more controlled events, as some communicate better in that format, but in-person events are the 'right thing' for him. 'Thank you for being here, Congressman Flood … I want to ask, why it seems like you make voting decisions based on capital rather than the working class,' an attendee asked during the Q&A part of the town hall. Some national Republican strategists said town halls don't help highlight the positive aspects of Trump's second administration and its signature piece of budget and tax legislation. The reason: News and social media coverage often focuses on the outbursts and congressional reactions to them instead of the cases Republicans are trying to make about the changes. The National Republican Congressional Committee released a memo in late July on how House Republicans can make 'August count' as they try to sell Trump's domestic agenda to constituents. It says they need to sell the strengths of Trump's new law, which much polling indicates is unpopular among Americans. The memo suggests congressional members host more focused events, such as the small business roundtables that GOP U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer often hold, as a way to counter 'Democrats' efforts' with a 'disciplined and compelling communications effort.' Fischer, for example, has an agricultural roundtable planned for Saturday with Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in rural Saunders County. 'This is a critical opportunity to continue to define how this legislation will help every voter and push back on Democrat fearmongering,' the memo reads. 'The playbook is simple: Focus on President Trump and House Republicans' efforts to improve voters' everyday lives and show the contrast with out-of-touch Democrats.' Most of the state's federal delegation recently praised the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' during a question-and-answer session with business leaders in Ashland. Nebraska's congressional delegates spoke optimistically about federal policies helping the state's economic future, despite some warning signs that Nebraska's ag industry is struggling. State and national Republican strategists have acknowledged the poor polling of Trump's domestic agenda, but said focusing on specific provisions, such as new temporary tax breaks for workers earning less, could help improve public perception of the law, as they bank on the idea that long-term messaging about the bill could shape the 2026 midterms. Nebraska Democrats also see potential advantages in Flood holding town halls, where activists and regular people can ask questions and frame his answers for social media sharing, which reaches more voters than a typical news story. Some also argue that much of the anger at the town halls is organic. 'Nebraskans, like Americans all across the country, are sending a loud and clear message to Republicans: You voted against us. Now we'll vote you out,' said Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb in a statement. Flood's Democratic challenger, Eric Moyer, attended the Lincoln town hall and posted on Instagram, 'This isn't going to be a friendly crowd.' Moyer's official campaign kickoff event is next week. National and state Democrats point to the tax and spending bill's unpopularity, but the party has its own problems, as recent polling shows the Democratic Party has a worse approval rating than Trump, whose approval rating remains underwater. Still, Democrats hold a slight lead in the party head-to-head RealClearPolitics polling average for the generic congressional ballot — a poll that basically asks voters which candidate for Congress they would prefer if the choice were between a generic Republican and a generic Democrat. Barton, the UNL political scientist, said only time will tell if the energy from Flood's Lincoln town hall continues and if discontent from the bluest part of Flood's district is widespread. Midterms are over a year away. 'These are unusual political times where you have a Nebraska congressman being called a fascist at his own town hall,' Barton said. Flood responded to the comment during the event, saying, 'Fascists don't hold town halls with open question-and-answer sessions.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store