Braceland likely off mayoral ballot

WEST CHESTER >> Borough Councilman Don Braceland’s run for mayor might have ended before voters have a chance to decide.

Braceland intends to run in the May 18 Democratic Primary for a four year term against funeral director Lillian DeBaptiste, marketer Kyle Hudson and Interim Mayor and businessman Jordan Norley. Busi- nessman Eric Lorgus is running as an Independent in November.

No Republicans registered to run and no Republicans will be listed on the ballot.

Braceland and other Demo

cratic candidates were required to submit petitions with signatures of voters and a state Ethics Commission Statement of Financial Interests to the borough by March 9. Braceland said he did not submit the financial statement until March 10.

A “Petition to Set Aside the Nomination Petition of W. Donald Braceland as Candidate for Mayor of the Borough of West Chester” was submitted by law firm Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads, LLP of Berwyn by petitioner and West Chester resident Joseph E. Samuel Jr.

The Statement of Financial Interests, which Braceland said he submitted late, requires candidates to declare any positions in public office, their occupation, real estate interests, their direct or indirect sources of income, and financial interests in any legal entity in business for profit.

The petition filed by Samuel states that Braceland also did not file the SFI with both the county board of elections, and the borough, which should both be considered “fatal defects.”

“It is well established in the Commonwealth that the provisions of the Pennsylvania Election Code relating to the form of nominating petitions and the accompanying affidavits are not mere technicalities, but are necessary measures to prevent fraud and to preserve the integrity of the election,” reads the petition.

Braceland talked about the filing.

“When I handed in my petitions and financial interest form to Voter Services I was unaware the financial form also had to be at the borough that day,” Braceland said. “In closely rereading the Voter Services instructions (Wednesday) I realize I missed that requirement so it’s my mistake.”

“The irony is that when these forms go to the borough, no one ever looks at them unless questions arise… and they never do,” Braceland said.

Braceland maintains that Norley sparked the legal action and Norley claimed otherwise.

“I am not a party in the case, nor do I know the petitioner, however, serving the people of West Chester requires the highest ethical standard and that includes filing ethics disclosures, on time and complete, as is clearly outlined by law,” Norley said,

“I handed in the form the morning of the 10th. The borough already had a financial interest form that I handed in a month or so ago. This will be going to court and I will abide by the court’s decision whether I’m disqualified or not.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my long life so I’m exceptionally disappointed and hurt quite honestly.”

Jim Salvas is Chair of the West Chester Democratic Committee and talked about the spirited campaign on Wednesday.

“They are competing,” Salvas said. “Politics is a competitive game.”

Hudson is running for mayor for the second time.

“Our campaign strives to fix problems that our borough has faced for decades so that we come out of this pandemic stronger than ever,” Hudson said. “There is no community without unity.

“The last four years have been defined by conflict, and I am running first and foremost to bring West Chester together. We need to set aside our differences and focus on the problems at hand so that we actually solve them.”

Lorgus offered a short comment.

“I support honesty and transparency in government,” he said.

Braceland