Residents, nonresidents rally in support of Harrisville councilwoman

HARRISVILLE — While business seemed to be as usual during the borough council meeting Monday, May 11, the chant of “we stand with Mary Ann” emanating outside the building gave the impression that it was anything but.

About 20 or so people gathered outside the borough office an hour before Monday’s meeting in support of Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes’ right to speak out against borough council.

The rally was organized by the The Libertarian Party of Butler County and the Butler County Republican Committee after Hughes’ council seat was nearly filled in early 2026 and she was placed in handcuffs and removed from an April council meeting because she refused to stop speaking when asked to by the council’s president during a public comment period.