Building a stronger Ridgway, together.

Abbi Peters Announces Candidacy After Winning Write-In Nomination
During Primary Election

May 31, 2023 - Ridgway, Pa - Local resident Abbi Peters announced today that she will be running for re-election in the upcoming election for Ridgway Borough Council after receiving a write-in nomination for the Democratic Party during the primary election.

Peters, a committed community advocate, expressed excitement upon receiving a nomination and views it as a chance to continue serving the people. Peters said, "It's an honor to be nominated and I am thrilled to officially announce my candidacy for office. I've always been devoted to serving the Ridgway community, and I am confident that I can make a positive difference by addressing the issues that matter most to the people."

Peters's platform includes a focus on improving public infrastructure, including roads, sewers, broadband access, recreational and community assets, and supporting local businesses. She also plans to continue working closely with Ridgway community leaders and organizations to ensure that the voices of all residents are heard. Peters's campaign has already gained momentum, with many residents showing their support through social media and word-of-mouth. She plans to continue reaching out to voters in the coming months. "I believe that by working together, we can create a stronger and more vibrant Ridgway," said Peters. "I am committed to listening to the concerns of all residents and working tirelessly to make a positive difference."

I am currently the Chair of both the Finance and Grants, Planning, and Recreation Committees. I also sit on the Personnel Committee. 

I supported and participated in the Borough's  Strategic Management Planning Program (STMPP) process and continue to work toward implementing the major recommendations identified in the plan. You can learn more about the plan and the final recommendations here. 

I'd like to encourage you to learn more about how I have voted on agenda items and the Borough's 2023 budget here.

I was born and raised in a small town in New Jersey. After attending Kutztown University, I moved to Los Angeles, where I lived for seven years, gaining administrative and small business experience working in creative industries. I thought I was done with small-town life and embraced the culture and opportunities of living in a city. After a while, I realized something was missing and that something was a true sense of community. I missed knowing my neighbors and waving to others with a smile on the street. In 2006, when my husband and I were visiting friends in Ridgway for the Annual Firemen’s Parade and Carnival, we saw an old school for sale and fell in love with the building. Then we noticed the neighbors with no fences and children playing in each other’s yards and fell in love with the community. Without hesitation, we packed up and relocated to Ridgway after buying the old school building on Walnut Street in 2007. Soon after moving to town, I became immersed in community activities, with the understanding that we had found a place to truly call home.

Over the past 16 years, I have served as a board member of the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA), Ridgway Heritage Council, Ridgway-Elk County Chamber of Commerce, PA Wilds Artisan Trail, Leadership Elk and Cameron County, and Dickinson Center, PA Humanities and North Central Regional Planning Commission. I was one of 40 fellows to graduate from the 2020-2021 Appalachian Leadership Institute cohort. Professionally, I have worked in the community within the non-profit sector since 2008, formerly as the Executive Director at ECCOTA and currently as the Chief Operating Officer at the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship. I have focused on economic development through arts, culture, and nature and heritage tourism. I’ve had the good fortune to work with and learn from others in these areas on the local, regional, state, and national levels.

Do you have questions, comments, or concerns about our community? Please share them with me by submitting a contact form here.