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Robert J. Harhai, 26, of Rostraver Township is announcing his candidacy for re-election to a second 4-year term on the Belle Vernon Area School District Board of Education.

Elected to his first term at age 23 in 2019, Harhai was one of the youngest-ever elected school directors in the Commonwealth. Less than 1% of Pennsylvania’s school directors are under age 30. His youthful and energetic perspective prepared him for a demanding first term, where he represented the Board in leading collective bargaining agreement contract negotiation, helped the school district navigate the coronavirus pandemic, and ensured fiscal responsibility was restored to the district.

“My wife, Rebecca, and I have a lot of leopard pride as proud Belle Vernon Area alumni. We are grateful to give back to the community and school that built our foundation for success,” he said.

The Harhais earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Penn State University and work professionally as lead engineers at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin. The Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy-owned research and development facility that is dedicated solely to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. “I leverage my engineering background to ensure District decisions are data-driven, logical, technically justified, and responsibly use taxpayer dollars,” Harhai said. “Additionally, I advocate for local careers for our students, both in STEM fields and in the trades. Belle Vernon Area graduates can have great careers and futures without having to move far away from home.”

Harhai is a strong supporter of agricultural preservation in Rostraver Township. In 2019, the Harhais purchased a long-dilapidated farm in Rostraver and have spent their free time restoring the farm to its 19th century self. They recently earned certificates in Agribusiness from the local farm credit organization and received approval for their property to be Clean and Green-protected and designated as an Agricultural Security Area. “Preserving the rural character remaining in both Rostraver Township and Washington Township is very important to me, and as a school director, I try to represent rural folks in the District that are often forgotten.”

In addition to his role on the Board, Harhai holds leadership positions in numerous community organizations. He serves as the vice president of the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame committee and the assistant general chairman of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Rostraver Township Historical Society and supports the Sewickley Township Grange Fair.

When asked of his greatest achievements on the Board, Harhai said, “It is two-fold. For students, it was developing and leading a safe and responsible in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. For employees and taxpayers, it has been bringing a consistent, rational, and level-headed perspective to each Board interaction. My voting, conduct, and actions over the past four years speak for themselves. Were there decisions that were unpopular at times? Yes, but I’ve tried to make reasonable decisions that take into consideration the best interests of all stakeholders.”

Harhai, a registered Republican, has cross-filed on the Democrat and Republican ballots for the May 16 primary election.

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