Plum brings back DelRosso for marketing, public relations consulting

Former state representative and lieutenant governor candidate Carrie Lewis DelRosso says she is “very happy” to be returning to her work in public relations.

Plum Council recently approved a proposal for marketing and public relations consulting with DelRosso, who operates her own firm. She has also accepted a position handling government and public relations with the Pittsburgh-based law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.

Plum will pay DelRosso at least $33,000 under the one-year agreement. It consists of a $3,000 fee to start work and a $2,500 monthly charge.

While the fee includes travel expenses within a 5-mile radius, any additional travel or expenses related to events will be subject to reimbursement, the agreement states.

DelRosso was previously a public relations consultant to Plum, having been hired in March 2019. She phased out of working for the borough after deciding to run for state representative, Borough Manager Michael Thomas said.

DelRosso had also done public relations for Verona and the Riverview and Penn Hills school districts. After being elected to state office, DelRosso said she was not able to hold any government contracts.

Plum is currently the only municipality for which she is working again.

“After completing a statewide initiative as well as representing a diverse legislative district, I feel my experience and knowledge of Pennsylvania has strengthened,” DelRosso said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Plum Borough again and continue to enhance public relations.”

DelRosso was elected to Oakmont Council in 2017, and then staged an upset victory over veteran state Rep. Frank Dermody in 2020.

She ran for lieutenant governor on the 2022 Republican ticket headed by state Sen. Doug Mastriano. They were defeated by the Democratic slate of current Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.

DelRosso then chose not to seek the Republican nomination for the state House 32nd District, where a special election was held Feb. 7 to replace Tony DeLuca. DeLuca won reelection in November despite having died in October.

As part of a Democratic sweep of three special elections for the state House that day, Joe McAndrew won the election over Republican Clayton Walker for the district, which covers most of Plum along with Penn Hills, Oakmont and Verona.

Thomas said there are a number of things DelRosso will assist Plum with.

Among them, he said, DelRosso will help borough staff start a campaign promoting recycling laws and requirements to borough businesses. Thomas said Plum is working on a program to inform businesses of the requirements of state law and to get their recycling amounts for its annual report.

“The goal is to develop an annual program with the business community,” he said.

DelRosso also will help Thomas and Assistant Borough Manager David Soboslay with applying for grants and lobbying efforts in Harrisburg. Thomas said Plum has applied or is planning to apply for grants from several sources.

“Carrie has contacts within Harrisburg and other consultants in Pennsylvania to help with securing funds, several million (dollars) in total,” he said.

Thomas said she will work with Mona Costanzo, director of BOROHaps, on preparing and writing news releases and social media pieces for borough events. She will attend council meetings and prepare news releases for its actions, new regulations, changes in fees and charges, road closures, and capital projects.

She also will provide public relations help as requested and approved by council for other borough entities such as the library, community center and fire companies with specific campaigns, Thomas said.

“Assistance would be for large events, major fundraising campaigns or projects such as a fundraising campaign for capital projects,” he said.

In her proposal, DelRosso said she will assess her strategy after six months with a community survey to determine whether information is being delivered successfully.