Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Candidates for mayor face off
WEST CHESTER >> While three candidates for mayor talked much of collaboration, they also voiced varied goals and ways to achieve those goals, at Thursday’s Mayoral Candidate Forum.
Moderator and West Chester University Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Ashlie Delshad asked questions during the hour-long virtual forum sponsored by the West Chester Democratic Committee. The public also asked questions.
No Republican has formally launched a campaign in the
May 18 primary. The three Democratic candidates are: Mayor and businessman Jordan Norley; Marketer Kyle Hudson; and Funeral Director Lillian DeBaptiste who was endorsed by the committee. Business owner Eric Lorgus has announced a run for mayor as an Independent in November and was not included in the forum.
DeBaptiste said she grew up in the borough and graduated from West Chester University, which gives her a “more collaborative and broader perspective.”
She wants to unite white, Black and brown residents through the “Power of We.”
Hudson is a former Lyft driver, waiter, census taker and unsuccessfully ran for mayor four years ago. Since that campaign he has attended every monthly borough council voting session. He said he has lived in poverty and is a renter, like two-thirds of residents.
“The town is facing a difficult situation,” he said. “I’m not just asking for your vote, I’m asking for your help.
“We can’t do it alone. Do whatever you can to make sure your voice is heard.”
Norley is serving his second stint as Interim Mayor. He works with finances and was Borough Council President and chair of several committees.
“We should be truly pleased to live in this community,” Norley said. “Volunteers are what make this community so wonderful.”
Norley favors collaboration.
“We can achieve many things together as a community,” he said. “If we work together, the sky is the limit.
“What we do is what matters.”
The candidates were asked how they defined the mayor’s job and how to best fill the role.
Hudson said the position has two sides, what is written in the borough charter – specifically overseeing the police department – and a symbolic role.
“The mayor sets the tone and is someone who gives them hope,” Hudson said. “And the residents really want to know who these police officers are.”
Norley talked about the fatal 2017 Barclay Home fire.
He said a mayor’s job is “to be there when the times are good, and when the times are bad.”
DeBaptiste said she has seen people in many places as a 40-year funeral director.
“I have the ability to listen to people and have the ability of bring families together,” DeBaptiste said.
The mayoral hopefuls were asked about goals.
Norley has been a strong advocate for restoration of rail service to the borough, using only renewable energy by 2035, has plans on how to best allocate COVID Relief Funds and is working to add a mental health professional to the police department.
DeBaptiste also believes in sustainable energy by 2035, balancing finances and education of businesses concerning the use of plastics.
Hudson suggested investing in marketing to attract business, reestablishment of the Opioid Task Force, a more transparent government and better budgeting.
Eighteen thousand students are enrolled at WCU.
DeBaptiste said the town has a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the university, while Norley said the university and borough are attached at the hip and Hudson said the borough and college need to talk and interact on the same level.
When policing was directly discussed, Norley said he is a community mayor who favors community policing. DeBaptiste talked about last year’s George Floyd Rally and said that “tough questions need to be talked about.” Hudson said he considers himself “outside traditional politics.”
In closing, the candidates talked vision.
Hudson said he is not knocking on doors due to the pandemic.
“The thing I believed was the right thing to do,” he said. “I hold to my principles.
“I’ll take a leadership position as mayor and advocate for people who don’t know how to advocate for themselves.”
Norley said that West Chester is home and where residents choose to live their lives.
“West Chester is family first, community first and getting done what we need to get done.”
DeBaptiste said that she is listening and collaborating with many voices at the table.
“The mayor is about we, not me,” she said. “Each and every person counts.”