Municipal News: New Borough Council

On January 5, 2026, a new West Mayfield Council was sworn into office, marking what may be the most sweeping turnover of elected officials in borough history. 

Six of the seven council seats were up for grabs this past municipal election–and all were write-in opportunities. Only Councilmember Bob Tate remained in office, fulfilling his regular 4-year term (which expires in 2028). 

Currently serving on Council are Kevin Farkas, Bob Kaib, John McAdoo, Bob Tate, Justin Wichryk, and Sue Wood. There is one vacant seat that Council is seeking to fill as soon as possible. 

“This is a new day for our local government,” says Councilmember Kevin Farkas, who was selected to serve as council president. “Our elected officials, including Mayor Licia Cogley and Tax Collector Kathy Brewer, have a proven history of engaging citizens, organizing volunteers around community events and activities, and thinking more positively about the future of our Borough.”

According to Farkas, who started the Concerned Citizens of West Mayfield movement in 2023 and chaired both the Fire Service Review Committee and CCWM’s Concerned Citizens Advisory Committee, Council’s most important role is to provide more effective, professionalized leadership on the many municipal issues facing local government. 

“We have a duty and responsibility to exercise proper oversight and ensure accountability for our citizens and tax payers,” Farkas insists, something he says many previous elected and appointed officials failed to do. “We need to read financial audit reports, understand the contracts we sign, know our municipal operating procedures, and abide by our own ordinances and the Pennsylvania Borough Code.”

Farkas also says that Council must uphold the basic principles of good governance such as greater access and transparency around municipal records, better managed public proceedings, and more opportunities for citizens to work with officials to address our community’s most important issues and concerns.

“We should expect nothing less of ourselves,” Farkas says.