Savannah Casey will fill the Warren City Council seat vacated by John Barbara in late September. Casey’s appointment to fill Barbara’s unfinished term was approved this week by the council. The seat will be up for election in 2027, with the term officially expiring on Jan. 3, 2028.

“We are an avid outdoors family, and so the riverfront especially is a calling to me,” Casey said. “I’ve actually volunteered for the river cleanup numerous times and I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have when I was younger and so I see the potential down there for the riverfront. That’s definitely a huge passion for me.”

Casey serves as director of operations for the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, where her duties include assisting local businesses and nonprofits, helping start-ups, and promoting Warren County’s tourism resources. She is a graduate of Warren Area High School and holds a degree in business administration from the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. She was the student speaker for NPRC’s 2023 commencement ceremony.

She is married to Ryan Casey, with whom she is raising three daughters: Kendra (16), Beth (14), and Guenivere (13). Casey also volunteers for several local organizations, including the Warren Area Student Union, and serves as a board member of the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center and the Woman’s Club of Warren.

Submitted file photo Newly appointed City Councilwoman Savannah Casey is pictured with her husband Ryan.

She’s also an active member of the Zonta Club of Warren and part of the Warren Area High School Marching Band Boosters.

Councilwoman Danielle Flasher asked Casey if she feels able to add being a City Council member to her already busy slate of community work and private life.

“I appreciate that and I do, definitely,” Casey said. “I wouldn’t have applied had I not thought that I can handle it. I checked my schedule and obviously I have three kids that keep me very busy and work keeps me busy as well, but if I’m going to serve and put my name into the hat I want to make sure I serve in full capacity. So I do, yes.”

Flasher also asked about a potential conflict of interest between Casey’s potential work on the council and her position at WCCBI. Warren Worx, which operates under the umbrella of WCCBI, is asking the City Council for $100,000 in funding through the 2026 city budget, though council members suggested starting with $75,000 and then potentially increasing that amount as the budget discussions continue. Councilwoman Wendy McCain also raised Casey’s work with WCCBI.

“If I needed to abstain based on financial discussions or if it came down to the funding and I had to,” Casey said. “I understand that this capacity is different and I need to separate myself from Warren Worx and WCCBI. I’m willing to make tough decisions. I talked to my cohorts at the office and they understand too that it’s separate, I have my own thoughts and ideas and my own opinions.”

Jared Villella asked why she wanted to run for the council.

“I wasn’t always one of the people that believed in the community,” Casey said. “I was one of the kids that thought that there was nothing to do here like we hear a lot at the chamber and I’m sure all of us have heard it and so I’m coming to realize that later in life and that I should have been given back all along and I want to instill that behavior in my children too to be able to come back and be proud of Foreign County and Warren and all of the great attributes that it has to offer. I feel like I’m a day late and a dollar short doing it and I should have been doing it all along but I’m glad to be here now in the city because I live in it.”

Other candidates included Joshua Archer, William Bussoletti, Savannah Casey, Jeffrey Eschborn, and former junior council member Bianca Villella. Voting for Casey were Councilman Phil Gilbert, Councilwoman Wendy McCain, Councilman Jared Villella and Mayor David Wortman. Councilwoman Danielle Flasher and Councilman Maurice Cashman voted for Bussoletti.

“I want to skip, I guess all the way back to the very beginning,” said Mayor David Wortman. “We as a council are thrilled that there are five people that are willing and have applied for this position. We heard it tonight again in a different context but volunteerism on behalf of the city, whether it’s on a committee or volunteering to run for a public office and volunteering to put your name in the hat to join this process, to try to earn that seat is highly encouraged. I want to thank everybody for taking the time and the opportunity to spend that with us.”