3 former members seek return to council

In an unprecedented move, three former West Chester Borough Council members are seeking election to Council, four years or more after they last served. Diane LeBold in Ward 2, Sue Bayne in Ward 4 and Jim Jones in Ward 6 are all seeking election for the term beginning in 2016. Bayne and Jones are running against incumbents in the primary election. LeBold is unopposed.

Bayne, who is employed with Cerner Health Services (formerly Siemens Medical Solutions, USA) in Malvern, served on Council from 2004 to 2012 and was President of Council from 2008 to 2010.

Jones, a professor of history at West Chester University and noted local historian, is known

in the borough for his many years of public service on various boards and commissions. He served on Council from 2008 to 2012 and continues to be active in local government as a member of both the West Chester Planning Commission and Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB).

LeBold, currently a freelance marketing/communica- tions consultant, retired from The Vanguard Group in Malvern in 2012. She served on Council from 2000 to 2004, on the West Chester Planning Commission from 2004 to 2007 and was Chair of the West Chester Regional Planning Commission from 2006 to 2007.

Jones, the author of two books about West Chester history, said that in the last half century, only three elected officials have ever reentered borough government after they left office: Councilman Mitch Crane in 1988, Mayor Tom Chambers in 1986 and, most recently, Councilman Bill Scott in 2014. However, this year is the only time multiple former officials have sought to return to office.

Each of the three candidates has specific reasons for their decision to run, but all three have cited encouragement and support from the residents of their respective wards as a major reason for their entry into the race.