Mayor Ken LaSota Named PA Mayor of the Year for 2020

The Pennsylvania State Boroughs Association (PSBA) at its 49th annual conference in Valley Forge, PA, on July 18, 2020, named Kenneth A. LaSota, Ph.D.., Mayor of the Borough of Heidelberg, as the “Pennsylvania Mayor of the Year” for 2020. The PSBA is the signature professional society for mayors from the 958 boroughs and 56 cities within Pennsylvania. Each year the Association selects a mayor who has had significant impact upon his/her community, is a leader in his/her community, and has had extraordinary accomplishments during his/her tenure, to be named the Mayor of the Year. The Association found that:Ken LaSota served his Borough exceptionally well in a number of capacities over his twenty-two (22) years as the Mayor of Heidelberg.He has served as the Borough’s representative and voting delegate to a number of multi-municipal organizations and non-profit organizations at the local, county and state level; presided over the expansion of the Borough’s police department from two full time officers when he came to office to the current staffing of five full time officers; in 2008 was instrumental in obtaining a 1.2 million dollar congressional earmark to upgrade the Borough’s business district; signed into law scores of ordinances and resolutions, vetoing three; presented dozens of Mayoral Proclamations honoring and recognizing residents, organizations, and activities within the Borough for exemplary achievement; published articles in several regional and statewide journals outlining the Borough’s history and economic vitality; officiated at 74 marriage ceremonies; attended over the 90% of the Borough’s scheduled regular and special council meetings; marched as Grand Marshall in 19 Halloween parades; performed numerous ribbon cuttings for several new business and economic activities in the town; was recognized by a statewide boroughs’ association for both his distinguished service and for his length of service; advanced his mayoral and administrative training by graduating from two statewide governmental training institutes; and has volunteered for the last 14 years as a Disaster Services Specialist for the American Red Cross. While performing all this exceptional service to the Borough of Heidelberg, Mayor LaSota has continued to work full time in his career as an Associate Professor of Geology and Earth Sciences at Robert Morris University.“Being recognized as Mayor of the Year is certainly a surprise and truly something that I will always be proud of. But more than recognition for myself, I am delighted that this award may act to spread the word that the Borough of Heidelberg is indeed a wonderful place to live, work, and play. I would also say that if I have had any success at all as a mayor it is because of the love, support and guidance afforded me by the First Lady of Heidelberg, Rebecca Stan-hope”.