Plum Councilman Withdraws From Election

Plum Borough Councilman Keith Nowalk will not be running for re-election in November.

On Tuesday afternoon, Nowalk announced he was withdrawing from the election to take care of some personal and legal matters—the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department is suing Nowalk for failing to pay close to $200,000 in rent/renovations for the property that housed Nowalk's Daily Grind before it closed in May. The department owns the property.

In a statement to the Plum-Oakmont Patch, Nowalk, a Republican who has been on council since 2010, said he needs the time to focus on the issue at hand.

"I want to take this time off to clarify my obligations with the Holiday Park VFD regarding Nowalk Daily Grind," he said. "Due to the economic conditions that many of us face and the fact that our firemen are our local heroes, I regret the situation in so many ways.

"I am obligated to focus on my family and business in [2014] and forward. I want to thank all the residents of Plum for giving me an opportunity to serve and will always be proud that I was part of the most proactive and productive majorities in borough history while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the benefit of all residents. Thank you again, for the opportunity these past 4 years, to serve all the residents of Plum."

There are four seats open on council. Incumbent Republicans Michael Dell, Leonard Szarmach and Mike Doyle are running, as well as Democrats David Vento and Paul Dern—former councilmen—planning commission member Ron Gancas and Michael Guida.