VOTE411 Voter Guide

Boroughs have unique issues since they have denser population areas and an older infrastructure. Public safety is always a priority. Supporting our police department, Perkasie Fire Company No. 1, and our first responders requires fiscal responsibility and teamwork from all elected officials. Advocating with PennDOT is critical, since it owns and maintains our major roads.

As financial chair, I keep a watchful eye on spending along with borough management. Perkasie is in a strong fiscal position thanks to our low taxes, low debt, and our well-managed Electric department. Perkasie, like other municipalities, will face potential electric price hikes due to national trends, which will require budget discipline to avoid hurting residents.

Economic development is another key issue. As Historic Committee chair, I am leading the effort to get Perkasie on the National Register of Historic Places, which will help local businesses get tax credits, façade grants and improve property values.

In my career as a journalist, I have been in public service positions for nearly 40 years, but I did not have a chance to run for office until 2017 after I was appointed to council in September 2016.

Before then, I saw a lot of examples of how government works, good and bad. I feel a strong obligation to represent our residents and taxpayers fairly, and to ask the uncomfortable questions to need to be asked to make sure Perkasie is a well-managed borough.

As an elected official, I have seen the best of Perkasie, as Public Safety committee chair during Covid-19, and I have helped guide the borough through some difficult times. In my eight years on council, I have learned to become a leader from more experienced people and about how to understand our residents and taxpayers, and put their needs first.

I have the most experience in elected office of any Perkasie borough council candidate this year, and I feel the need to help newer candidates become successful if elected as a mentor.

My experience is extensive professionally and as an elected official. In journalism, my career has included management at The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, and CNBC, and locally at NBC10 and Fox29. I have earned five Edward R. Murrow awards for my work in television.

Since 2012, I have been at the National Constitution Center as its editor, where we work with scholars of all opinions to provide non-partisan content. That experience gives me a unique perspective on local issues, and serves as a filter to make sure politics does not influence decisions made by borough council.

Also, in the past year, I earned a Certified Borough Official certificate from the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, after completing 78 hours of course work and seminars. I have met many borough officials across the state and understand their problems (and some creative solutions). I also have working relationships with our representatives at the county, state and federal levels of government.

There will be challenges in the coming years with balancing revenues and expenses. Residents and the borough are feeling the inflation ranging from eggs to buying a home. The electric costs have had challenges as the "grid" has had large price increases due to higher demand and lower supply. This effects our costs to the borough and to residents. We have reached out to the governor's office to help with the electric increases. At all levels, we need to fight cost increases and limit unneeded purchases.

We have an excellent park system - with trails, streams, sports fields and the best community pool in the area. We have a great maintenance team to keep them up and running.

The borough has done an excellent job of finding grants to help pay for various projects ranging from the skate park, covered bridge repairs and baseball field upgrades. We want to continue pursuing grants to help with the many upcoming projects.

I'm an eleven year resident of Perkasie, my kids are "out of the house". This allows more time to "give back" to the community I love. I am fortunate that as a financial advisor, my hours are flexible. Council members have many other meetings besides the two Monday nights a month. It takes a lot of time during the day and evenings. I have the "spare and flexible" schedule to serve on council. I enjoy the teamwork of the council and staff as we all seek to continuously improve Perkasie.

I have been on Council for eight years and have been committee chair or member of the finance committee for all of those years. I have an accounting and finance background, a BS in accounting and a Masters degree . These past skills and experience have served me well in reviewing and questioning issues and problems. i have participated in contract negotiations with the police department and electric and maintenance staff. I have worked with staff for multiple years on budget reviews. This is a lengthy process as we want to fulfil needs while keeping costs down.