Ross Attorney Running for Board of Commissioners

Attorney Steve Korbel, 36, announced Thursday that he is running for the Ross Township Board of Commissioners, representing Ward 2.

“With the surprising announcement that Commissioner Chris Eyster would not seek re-election, many friends, colleagues and residents of Ward 2 and the Township reached out to me to encourage me to seek this office," Korbel said. 

Korbel, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, is a Shareholder at the Pittsburgh law firm of Babst Calland where he practices labor, employment and municipal law. Korbel is also the Chairperson of the firm’s Public Sector Services Group. During his legal career, Korbel has served as solicitor and special labor counsel to several townships, boroughs and counties in Western Pennsylvania. 

"Steve is a very qualified municipal attorney," said Eyster. "I think he is a very good choice for the board of commissioners."

Eyster, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board to spend more time with his eight-year-old son, plans to help with Korbel's campaign.

Korbel said his top priority is maintaining a balance between the township's business corridors, and residential neighborhoods.

"In my mind, the most important priorities for Ross Township are to promote smart, sustainable and measured commercial growth and redevelopment in order to keep current residents and attract new residents to the Township and to expand the Township's tax base so that property taxes for Township residents can be reduced or remain at current levels for an extended period of time," he said. "Any efforts to promote commercial growth must protect the Township's residential areas by accounting for and addressing the impact of such growth on the health, safety and welfare of any surrounding neighborhoods and residential areas."

Korbel served as a member of the Board of Directors and eventually as President of the White Oak Heights Civic Association from 2008-2012. Korbel is also a Township-appointed member of the joint committee of appointed representatives from Ross Township, West View Borough and the North Hills School District to address community and economic development issues facing the North Hills.

"I think that my experience as a municipal attorney brings a different skill set to the Board that compliments the skills and strengths of the current Commissioners," he said. "Through my municipal law practice, I have a gained a great understanding of the legal, practical and political issues that face municipalities.  This experience has also given me the insight necessary to offer practical solutions to complex and convoluted problems."

Korbel lives in the Berkeley Hills neighborhood of Ward 2 with his wife Sabrina and his daughters Addison (5) and Madeleine (4). 

Ross Township Ward 2 is located in the Northeast corner of the Township and is essentially the area bound by McKnight Road North, Seibert Road, Thompson Run Road (including the area between Thompson Run Road and the municipal boundary with Shaler Township) and Johanna Drive and Parkview Road. 

A Township Ward map can be found here: http://www.ross.pa.us/townshipEngineer/forms/WardMap2000.pdf 

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