(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Gerald “Duke” McCoy, the first-term mayor of Ambridge, spoke those words to Matt Drzik on the March 7 edition of A.M. Beaver County. Though Mayor McCoy has only been in office since January, he has been in Beaver County his whole life.

“I used to joke with people, but it’s the truth…I’m older than Route 65,” McCoy said. He feels that the creation of Route 65 led to the end of the “glory days” of Ambridge, but he sees an upswing in the future regarding new businesses and leadership with their hearts in the right place.

McCoy feels that the key to Ambridge’s future lies in the work ethic and connection between himself and the city council; a connection he feels has held Ambridge back in the past. He also spoke about the relationship that he has with similarly new department heads in the city, including Borough Manager Mario Leone (formerly of Monaca) and Police Chief John DeLuca (formerly of Beaver Falls).

To see the full interview with Mayor McCoy, click on the Facebook feed below!