Franklin Park Borough Council
Uday Palled
Ward 1
Uday Palled is the Borough Council President and Councilman for
Ward 1. He's an experienced and analytical leader with a background in consulting for the
healthcare, government, and financial services industries.
Uday’s commitment to public service is evident through his recent re- appointment to Governor
Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Affairs.
He has served on the Franklin Park Borough Council since 2022, where his work has focused on
technology and finance to benefit residents. His most recent focus has been on solving the fiscal
issues that have long plagued the borough. He also previously served as the vice chair for a
Pennsylvania State Representative's inaugural election campaign in 2022.
He holds a degree in Business from Seton Hall University and an MBA in Finance from American
University. Uday lives in Franklin Park with
his wife and two kids.
Venu Paruvelli
Ward 2
Venugopal (Venu) Paruvelli is a dedicated Franklin Park resident, proud father, and accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in IT project management, retail entrepreneurship, and real estate investment. Venu has been living in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania, since 2005 with his wife and two sons. Over the years, he has become deeply involved in the community, serving as a board member of his Settlers Walk Homeowners’ Association, volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, and dedicating many hours to Light of Life Rescue Mission in Pittsburgh, where he supports individuals experiencing homelessness and hardship.
Venu Paruvelli is a community-first leader who blends technical expertise with a passion for service. He is committed to listening, leading with integrity, and helping Franklin Park thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking borough.
Curtis Neil
Ward 3
J. Curtis Neil is running for Franklin Park Borough Council because he is committed to protecting
the Borough's future. Curtis wants to preserve and improve our parks (which he, his wife, daughter,
and son use frequently), continue and expand green initiatives which benefit our Borough and its residents, improve traffic safety, ensure any development is done safely and responsibly, and foster a culture of fiscal prudence and responsibility.
Curtis is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a Materials Science Minor. I take great interest in the petroleum industry and the associated kinds of petroleum products. I am now using this knowledge base to expand into renewables, specifically renewable natural gas and renewable hydrogen.
Cristen Fiffik
Mayor
Cristen Fiffik is a 28 yr resident of Franklin Park. She has raised 3 daughters who have attended North Allegheny School District. She loves her neighborhood and living in Franklin Park. Cristen Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She has racticed 30+ years in corporate law. Cristen is committed to philanthropy, law and policy. She would be honored to serve as the Mayor of Franklin Park Borough.
North Allegheny School Board
Emily Theys
Emily Theys is a nonprofit grant writer and fundraising consultant with over 15 years of experience helping arts organizations secure funding and manage resources. She holds a Bachelor’s in English from Allegheny College and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Raised in the North Hills, Emily resides in McCandless with her husband, Jonathan, her children Lincoln and Violet and their dog Ziggy.
Emily’s professional background has honed her skills in financial management, strategic planning, and communication—skills she believes are essential for effectively serving on the school board. A passionate volunteer, she currently serves as Co-President of the Parent Faculty Association at Marshall Elementary and as a board member and coach with the Brad Mar Pine Baseball and Softball organization, and a coach for Pittsburgh Power.
Emily is running for school board to provide thoughtful leadership and help to maintain and strengthen the district’s reputation for excellence in education, arts, and athletics. She would be honored to earn your vote in this election and would consider it a privilege to serve our community on the North Allegheny School Board.
Jackie Leicht
Jackie and her husband have been McCandless residents for 18 years, but their ties to North Allegheny go back even farther. Jackie's uncle started the district’s Advanced PE Program and Mountain Biking Club at NAI and her aunt worked in the Carson Middle School Library for many years. When they were deciding where to live, NA was an easy choice because of the excellence of the schools and it never disappointed.
As the Professional Administrator for Temple Ohav Shalom in McCandless for 15 years, Jackie works to manage their budget, plan facilities enhancements, and manages safety and security--all skills she looks forward to bringing to her service on the North Allegheny Board. She works with a volunteer Board at the Temple whose membership changes by half every year, so she has experience working with many different personalities and approaches.
Jackie knows her son received an exceptional education from North Allegheny and she is running for the Board to ensure every student has that same opportunity. When Jack was in elementary school, Jackie took every opportunity she could to volunteer in the building, enjoying the connections she made with students and staff along the way.
With a deep appreciation for the value of education and such a robust skill set, Jackie will be an excellent addition to the North Allegheny School Board. She would be deeply honored to earn your vote in this election.
Paige Hardy
As the current Board Vice President, Paige is running for re-election on a record of student support and fiscal responsibility. Those library positions the previous Board majority cut? She worked with Administration to ensure library staffing was restored. Working together, they also found a way to double the number of social workers in the district. All of this was done to provide additional student support without raising taxes. Maintaining North Allegheny’s excellence across academics, athletics, and the arts matters, as does ensuring every student feels welcomed and safe every day.
Paige and her husband, Sanjay, selected North Allegheny as their home because of the strength of the schools and she wants to ensure our schools remain strong for every student. A mom of twin ninth graders with a master’s degree in psychology, Paige currently works in Constituent Services with Rep. Arvind Venkat. Before her girls were born, she worked for ten years as a public health analyst. She has an eye for detail, an analytic mind, and a thoughtful approach that she’s excited to continue to use to support each of our 8,500 unique students, our 1,200 staff members, and our communities.
Serving as a member of the North Allegheny School Board has been a great honor for Paige, and she deeply appreciates the opportunity she was given by the North Allegheny community in 2021. She genuinely enjoys the work and hopes to earn your vote again this year.
Jesse Adams
Dr. Jesse Adams is a husband, father, businessman, and educator, who is deeply committed to ensuring our schools maintain and enhance their excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts while remaining welcoming, kind, safe places for all of our students. Jesse and his wife, Rebecca, live in Marshall Township with their daughter, an NA Junior who is a skilled volleyball player playing throughout recent years on various club travel and NA teams. On many weekends you can find Jesse and his family court side enjoying volleyball. His son is currently a cadet at West Point.
Jesse's goal is to bring effective, fair, and balanced governance to our school board, leveraging his diverse experience to make informed decisions that benefit our students, staff, and communities. With a background spanning academia, business, and board leadership, Jesse brings a unique perspective to educational governance. His experience as an Assistant Professor, co-author of an award-winning textbook, and holder of multiple patents demonstrates his commitment to innovation and excellence in education, which he will apply to enhance our school district's performance and prepare our students for future success. He would be honored to earn your vote in the coming election.