Three candidates seeking two council seats
One incumbent, two newcomers will be on borough ballot for Ward 2
Democrat incumbent Jim Sando and newcomer Ronald S. Little Jr. are facing off against Republican David Arnold for a total of two seats from Ward 2 on North Wales Borough Council; those seats are currently held by Sando and longtime councilman Mark Tarlecki, who declined to run again.
All three candidates were asked the same questions, and below are their answers:
JIM SANDO
Describe your background, and why you are running for North Wales borough council:
Mr. Sando currently serves on the North Wales Borough Council and served on the North Wales Borough Zoning Board.
He is past-president of the National Council on Teacher Retirement, and served as the vice-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System, the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Bucks & Montgomery Labor Management Health Care Consortium.
Mr. Sando is a Founding Trustee for the Trustee Leadership Forum at the Initiative for Responsible Investment at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Jim was a public school teacher for 38 years. He worked for Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and most recently for the Wissahickon School District. He holds a master’s degree in education.
Jim had been a frequent guest on the University of Pennsylvania’s public radio program, Kids Corner, as its resident “teacher.” For twelve years, Jim had participated in a variety of NASA education programs. Beginning with a stint at the Langley Aerospace Research Center in the summer of 2000. He and his students have worked with NASA astronauts, scientists and engineers on several projects, most recently with Dr. Scott Smith, head of the Johnson Space Center’s Biochemical Nutrition Lab. Through his work with Kids Corner and NASA, Jim has interviewed astronauts including former Astronaut/Senator John Glenn, Astronaut Sally Ride and many others.
Jim Retired from public education in 2016 and currently works as a Strategic Partnership Manager for Kades-Margolis Corporation, helping public school employees save for retirement.
Married for the 38 years to Neree Aron-Sando, Jim has two children, Sarah and Alexander, and 2 grandchildren, Anthony and Casey.
Explain your thoughts and position on the following subjects: The ongoing “revitalization” question, and how to attract and keep local businesses. The borough’s zoning map and discussion — should any changes be made? If so, what and where?
North Wales is an attractive, historic and welcoming community with great potential. The current North Wales 2040 initiative, incorporating wide ranging community input, is our effort to find realistic approaches to sustainable housing and business growth.
I believe that this effort will provide the community with a framework for ensuring that the unique character of North Wales Borough will remain, as we find ways to attract and retain business. One way that might be possible is through reasonable changes to current zoning codes. That will only happen with significant community input. Another is to seek grants that will allow the borough to offer incentives to new and existing businesses.
Keeping North Wales historic character, maintaining existing housing and encouraging new development can be supported by updating our current building codes and maintaining an on-going and strong code enforcement practice.
Working together, I look forward to developing a vibrant, thriving and walkable “downtown,” with a cultural hub in our new performing arts center.
Please provide your campaign website, and/ or social media accounts where readers can learn more about you. More info can be found at northwalesdems.org.
RONALD S. LITTLE JR.
Describe your background, and why you are running for North Wales Borough Council:
I grew up in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. I am a graduate of Central Bucks West (class of 1989) and Kutztown University (class of 1999, BA Communications). After residing in northern Virginia for six years (where I worked in the non-profit sector), my wife & I moved to North Wales, where we have lived for the past 11 years. We have two children in the North Penn School District.
I was approached by the North Wales Democratic Committee at an area meeting back in February, and was asked if I had interest in running for Mark Tarlecki’s vacant seat on the North Wales Borough Council. Seeing this as an opportunity where I might get to know more of my neighbors in the borough, I gladly accepted. I hope I will be fortunate enough to represent the interests of North Wales Borough residents in Ward 2.
Explain your thoughts and position on the ongoing “revitalization” question, and how to attract and keep local businesses:
I am encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the North Wales 2040 to ascertain the priorities of borough residents for what improvements they’d like to see, and I look forward to seeing what comes of those recommendations.
The borough’s zoning map and discussion — should any changes be made? If so, what and where?
I would like to see reasonable options for zoning changes, where necessary, to accommodate development of the Walnut Street corridor from the site of the former McKeever’s Tavern to the Wawa. I’d also like the borough to work with SEPTA to get a restaurant or retail space in the vacant portion of the train station building. Finally, I’d like to see progress made in finding additional public parking within the borough to accommodate the shortage of street parking spaces.
What other issue(s) do you feel are important to the borough?
I count myself fortunate that I have such easy, walkable access to great businesses close by, and would like to see the community continue to grow and flourish by adding more businesses to the downtown. In the 11 years I’ve been a resident of the borough, I’d say my biggest concern has been the vacant business properties. I’m happy to see that the borough is slowly emerging from that, and hope to see more businesses come to North Wales in the future.
Note: David Arnold did not respond to the same set of questions sent to all candidates.