Erie elections: Four controller candidates state why you should vote for them

Yahoo

14-05-2025

Four candidates, including two current members of Erie City Council, want to become the city's financial watchdog.
Three of those candidates — Erie City Council members Chuck Nelson and Ed Brzezinski, as well as former Erie County government employee Brooke Sanfilippo — are seeking the Democratic nomination for city controller in the May 20 municipal primary.
Republican Matt Strupczewski is the lone Republican in the race. The Democratic primary winner will almost certainly face off against Strupczewski in the Nov. 4 municipal election.
Current City Controller Teresa Stankiewicz, a Democrat, is prohibited from running again because of the city's limit of three consecutive terms.
The city controller currently earns $38,000 annually. However, City Council in September approved a 97% yearly salary boost for the controller's post, increasing that salary to $75,000 a year.
Both Brzezinski and Nelson voted for that increase as council members.
The raise will not take effect until January 2026; the winner of the Nov. 4 municipal election will receive the higher salary.
Here are the candidates and their answers to the same question about the job of city controller. The Erie Times-News reserved the right to edit the candidates' answers for length and clarity.
Age: 78
Occupation: Retired Erie School District educator; current Erie City Council member
Education: Bachelor's degree in English; Master's degree in counseling; administrative certificates; various real estate courses in finance and ethics.
Family: Married with five children; 12 grandchildren.
Question: Why are you running, and what specific qualities would make you an effective controller for the city of Erie?
Answer: The next few years will define us as a city. Experience, transparency and collaboration must be the most essential attributes for the next city controller. As a former real estate company owner and certified appraiser, I have real life experience with finances. Twelve years on the Erie School Board dealing with budgets yearly as well as nearly ten years of city budgets define my experience and reputation for fiscal accountability. I know how city government works and know how to get things done or sometimes stop things from happening. I'm asking for your vote for city controller, so that I can continue to be a rational voice for all of the citizens of our beautiful city.
Age: 40
Occupation: Pastor, Erie City Council member
Education: Bachelor's degree, Lindenwood University; Master's degree, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary; doctoral work at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Personal: Married, two daughters.
Question: Why are you running, and what specific qualities would make you an effective controller for the city of Erie?
Answer: Every year that I've been on council, I have been entrusted by my colleagues to be either the Finance Committee chair or council president. That has put me on the same boards and committees as our current term limited controller. I look forward to being an independent office of the administration and council to offer audits and reviews to better inform City Council's decisions. Through a more active treasury management, and small accounting changes that led to reimbursements, I have saved taxpayers $10 million this term on council. I would like to put all of my focus on saving us taxpayers our money. I have passed ordinances on council that involve contract reviews that the Controller's Office is responsible to enforce, I would like to see that done well. I have accomplished all of the objectives that I had announced as a City Council candidate in my time on council. I have proven effective working with my colleagues to do so, and will bring that effectiveness to the Controller's Office.
Age: 46
Occupation: Pension and 401(k) administration manager
Education: Bachelor's degree in finance and accounting, minor in Spanish
Family: Married with one son
Question: Why are you running, and what specific qualities would make you an effective controller for the city of Erie?
Answer: I feel that, based on my background, the role of city controller is a good fit for me and that's it's an excellent opportunity for me to give back to the city I love. The fire for public service was initially lit in me by my late father-in-law, State Representative Flo Fabrizio. Flo was a great inspiration to me, and I always knew I wanted to run for office to serve the city I love, just as he did. When I considered running for City Controller, I felt my qualifications and my desire to serve the stakeholders of the office meshed well, and that I would be a good candidate who will continue to manage the office with integrity, neutrality, and a collaborative attitude.
City Council voted to increase the salary for the controller in order to appeal to a more qualified candidate. I have degrees in finance and accounting, 13 years pension experience and eight years government experience. I function in a compliance and oversight role where I maintain a staff of five employees. I always strive to work collaboratively with clients and advisors daily. I am a financial professional who will bring a fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and years of financial experience to the table. As controller, I will continue to be the independent voice for the taxpayers. I will continue to maintain the Office of Controller in an unbiased and transparent way. I will ensure that the appropriations made by Council fall in line with the budget, that contracts are negotiated in a fair, equitable manner, and that requisitions are paid timely.
I will perform departmental audits, if necessary, and make my findings available to all appropriate parties. Overall, I will function as an impartial agent for the stakeholders of the office- the taxpayers of the city of Erie. I am a Qualified Pension Analyst credentialed through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. I am the only candidate who has both pension and government experience, as well as experience being in a union position and, based on my background and endorsements, I am the only qualified candidate for office of City Controller.
Age: 23
Occupation: U.S. Army officer
Education: Master's degree with graduate certificate in financial analysis; bachelor's degree in marketing; bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in military studies
Family: Married
Question: Why are you running, and what specific qualities would make you an effective controller for the city of Erie?
Answer: As a candidate for Erie city controller, I am running because I believe in ensuring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility for our city's finances. My commitment to public service began with my military service, where I learned the values of discipline, integrity, and accountability — qualities I will bring to the Controller's Office. Serving in the military taught me how to lead under pressure, manage complex operations, and maintain strict adherence to rules and procedures—skills directly applicable to overseeing Erie's financial operations.
This is truly one of the few apolitical positions in our local government. It doesn't matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat — you can't have an opinion on auditing; you either do your job or you don't. This race is about who you trust to faithfully fulfill the duties of this office. With my experience, education, and background, I can assure you that I can — and will — honorably do this role the justice it deserves to ensure proper fiscal responsibility for our city.
Contact Kevin Flowers at [e-mail]. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie city election guide: Controller candidates field questions