Democratic Elections the only game in town
February 19th, 2009GOP lacks candidates for West Chester
Mayor Dick Yoder, the borough’s only current elected Republican, is leaving office this year
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:08 AM EST
By DAN KRISTIE, Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER - Democrats have a nearly full slate of candidates for borough government this year while Republicans have yet to field a single candidate.
Running for mayor are Democrats Carolyn Comitta and Bill Scott. Scott is a former councilman. Comitta, a councilwoman in the 5th Ward seat, will not run for re-election in order to concentrate on her mayoral bid.
The Democrats have not yet found a candidate to run in Comitta’s place, but they have found a candidate to run for the 7th Ward seat that first-term Democratic Councilman Scott Smith intends to vacate. That candidate is John Manion, a 10-year borough resident who works in health care sales and has three young children.
Manion said he decided to run because he wants to “accentuate the greatness and potentials West Chester holds.”
An environmental consultant, Smith said he is leaving council partly because his life has changed since he took the oath of office in 2006. He noted three years ago he started his own environmental consulting company and a year and a half ago, his first child, Hazel Rose, was born.
“So I’m valuing my time at night more,” Smith said. “I want to be there to have dinner together as a family, tuck my daughter into bed and all that stuff.”
Borough Council meets about four weeknights a month, and meetings tend to run three to four hours, ending between 9 and 10 p.m.
Scott Brion, chairman of the West Chester Area Republicans, attributes the GOP’s lack of candidates to a falling economy and the time commitment expected of council members.
“It’s harder for people to wrap their arms around giving time to a cause when they are not sure of their own future,” Brion said.
The borough’s Republican base has been eroding in recent years, and Democrats are all but guaranteed victory in borough races. All seven sitting council members are Democrats, and Mayor Dick Yoder, who will be termed out at the end of the year, is the borough government’s only elected Republican.
Incumbents Holly Brown, of the 1st Ward, and Chuck Christy, of the 3rd Ward, are running for re-election.
Nathaniel Smith, chairman of the West Chester Democrats, said he is talking to people who have expressed interest in seeking Comitta’s 7th Ward seat but won’t release their names until he’s sure they’re committed to running.
To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to dkristie@dailylocal.com.
