Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Candidates run to fill borough council seats
With no challengers listed on the May 18 primary ballot, four Democratic candidates for borough council from different wards are running unopposed and will likely lend a new perspective to the future of the borough.
Republicans passed on running any candidates for a four-year term. All seven seats on borough council and the mayor’s position are presently held by Democrats.
The only incumbent on the ballot is Lisa Dorsey in Ward 7. First-time candidates Patrick McCoy seeks the Ward 1 seat, Brian McGinnis is running in Ward 3 and Sheila Vaccaro will likely get the nod from voters in Ward 5. All the candidates were recently interviewed by phone.
Dorsey is a management director and said an elected official has to be a good listener.
“The key to being a good listener is to listen to the concerns of constituents and look for solutions,” she said. “Listening can even help solve the problems and make sure everyone is involved in the solutions,” she said.
Dorsey grew up in the area and said she watched the transformation of West Chester with her own eyes.
She said that diversity in the police department needs to improve.
“The police department should represent the community it’s serving,” she said. “I brought the issue to council’s attention and lobbied council to start a diversity task force with the mayor.”
The task force was recently established and is partly financially funded by the borough.
“We are looking at ways to update hiring practices when we bring candidates to the table,” she said.
Dorsey is a management director who loves travel — especially to the Cayman Islands. She is in a long-term relationship and raised three children. The Henderson High School and Temple University Journalism and Public Relations graduate is 56 years old. She served as president of the Board of Directors at the Melton Center for 12 years and recently resigned.
Patrick McCoy is attracted to the borough partly because of its walkability, shopping and restaurants. He would push to help businesses better survive during the ongoing pandemic.
“I’m one person to represent one ward,” he said. “I like to hear from other people, “It’s all important.” With a business background, McCoy would like to work with the Business Improvement District on comprehensive and strategic planning.
McCoy has an engineering background and has been a family business owner with his brotherin-law for 25 years. He said this experience suits him well to work with Parks and Recreation and the Public Works departments.
McCoy, 55, likes to paint, is a photographer and enjoys carpentry. He is married with no kids and graduated from Drexel University, with Civil and Architectural Engineering degrees.
McGinnis, 40, works at Vanguard as a relationship manager.
“I will use my financial background to restore longterm financial growth,” he said.
He was head of the Chester County Democratic Committee from 2014-2018.
Democrats now occupy many political offices in the county once held by Republicans.
“I advocate for local issues,” he said. “I helped turn this county around from red to blue in four years.”
McGinnis said he has experience balancing budgets, supporting small businesses and growing the local economy. He favors sustainable energy use by 2035, restoration of rail service to the borough, building small growth strategies and holding contractors accountable, which he said would lead to more responsible construction.
The candidate is a St. Agnes grade school, Bishop Shanahan High School and West Chester University History grad.
McGinnis enjoys working out, reading and golf. He is a single bachelor and has no children.
Vaccaro said that families and businesses depend on decisions made by local government every day — including hers.
“It shocks me how much energy people put toward federal politics when their day to day lives are so deeply affected by local government,” she said. “I have always seen myself as part of a whole.
“Businesses and families both thrive when community is strong. Community is what matter most.”
She currently serves, and will continue to serve, the borough’s neighborhoods. Vaccaro encourages growth of local business, inclusivity and healthy environmental issues.
She is the married mother of two boys, attended West Chester Area School District schools and earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design degree at the University of the Arts.
Vaccaro, 43, like to garden, hike, spend time outside and practice yoga.
She owns a business and works with her husband manufacturing products for big box stores.