For the first time in eight years, State College will have a new mayor. On Tuesday, borough voters will decide who it will be.
Mayor Elizabeth Goreham announced in February she would not seek a third term in office, and from May’s primary of only Democratic candidates, both a Democratic and a Republican nominee emerged.
Don M. Hahn, a Centre County native and State College attorney who previously served for 12 years on Borough Council and two as council president, took the Democratic nomination with 949 votes (43.81 percent), ahead of runner-up Michael Black, who garnered 779 votes (35.96 percent).
Black, a 27-year borough resident and owner of Black Sun Studio in State College, was the top vote-getter for Republican write-ins, and so the lifelong Democrat will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot as a Republican.
Ron Madrid, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and a current director in Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory, announced in July that he would run as an independent. Madrid, a 23-year State College resident, previously ran as a Republican in 2013 against Goreham and has served on various borough commissions.
The mayor of State College is elected to a four-year term and is the presiding officer of State College Borough Council. He or she does not have the right to vote on any matter before council, but approves or vetoes any ordinance of council. The mayor is the ceremonial head and official representative of the borough.
Each of the three candidates responded to five questions posed by StateCollege.com. The candidates, in the order they appear on the ballot, and their answers are presented below.
Democratic
Occupation: Attorney
Education: State College Area High School graduate; B.A. Pennsylvania State University; J.D. Villanova University School of Law
Why are you uniquely qualified to serve as mayor of State College?
As a Centre County native, a Penn State graduate, and a borough home owner, I know that State College is a great place to grow up, to get an education, and to settle down. As mayor, I would work to keep it that way. I have fought to protect neighborhoods, to maintain fiscal balance, and to preserve the environment during my twelve years on State College Borough Council and the Centre Region Council of Governments.
As a mayoral candidate, I have been meeting with State College residents in various ways, discussing growth issues, inclusivity, the environment, entrepreneurship, and maintaining our quality of life. Having served through times of regional borough-township conflicts and NCAA sanctions, I recognize that the key to answering challenges is to trust in the basic goodness within ourselves, to communicate frankly and respectfully, and to look for opportunities to improve.
What do you believe is the best way to address the borough’s slow revenue growth, and what role can the mayor play in addressing the issue?
Strong neighborhoods and stable taxes help maintain property values and attract income-earning families. Our residents receive excellent municipal services at a reasonable cost in part because we partner with our suburban townships in the Centre Region Council of Governments. Regional cooperation helps support Schlow Library, Welch Pool, and Alpha Fire programs.
We face challenges in holding the line on taxes because 40 percent of our property is tax exempt and because the primary occupation of 70 percent of our residents is studying, which generates little earned income revenue. The answer is to continue open communications and creative solutions while working with other urban communities in the Pennsylvania Municipal League (PML). The PML helped pass the Local Services Tax and is lobbying Harrisburg for more taxing options, such as the drink tax. As mayor, I will help influence the legislative process, facilitate participation, and advocate for our community in Harrisburg.
What, if any, steps do you believe the borough needs to take to sustain neighborhoods and why?
State College is a great place to grow up and to settle down because of strong neighborhoods. Good neighborhoods make life enjoyable because they are peaceful, safer, hold property values and attract income-earning families. The mayor must work to protect our neighborhoods because, if we don’t, unchecked development and commercial exploitation could quickly tip us over into financial insolvency.
We have a combination of programs in place to protect neighborhoods and encourage owner occupied housing. Maintaining our R1 and R2 low-density residential zoning districts is essential, aided by ordinance enforcement tools like the Student Housing Ordinance and the three-unrelated occupancy limit. The Permit Suspension Ordinance brings landlords into the dialogue. Owner-occupied housing programs like the First-Time Homebuyer Program, the Community Land Trust, and the Neighborhood Sustainability Program help reverse the growth in rental properties.
While ordinance enforcement is necessary, good neighbor practices can be even more effective.
How can the mayor encourage and foster small, locally-owned business development?
I will continue to advocate in favor of borough support of business incubators, such as the New Leaf Initiative, which began when I was council president. I will also advocate for the removal of business-hostile zoning restrictions currently in the Urban Village. Certainly, West College Avenue is an area where AccuWeather had flourished in the past and where entrepreneurship can flourish in the future in a mixed-use, live-work environment.
Advocating for parking incentives and an increase in parking requirements for downtown residential developments will help accommodate small business employees downtown by helping reduce the demand pressures on public parking. The mayor’s appointment powers over the Redevelopment Authority are another important way to facilitate business development directly and to help advocate for sensible business growth.
How do you view the role of mayor in both borough government and in the community?
I helped to guide the borough through numerous controversies involving neighborhood traffic, zoning, and enforcement, and crises in regional relations during my 12 years on borough council and two years as council president.
Under the Home-Rule Charter, the mayor’s duties include presiding over borough council meetings, signing and vetoing ordinances, and acting as the official representative of State College. As mayor, I will help influence the legislative process, facilitate participation, and advocate for our community in Harrisburg.
This includes encouraging citizen participation in local government on issues such as neighborhood sustainability and fiscal balance; fostering partnerships with Old Main, the student community, downtown businesses, entrepreneurs, and suburban townships through respectful and constructive communications; and advocating for State College in Harrisburg, not only on local tax reform and increased police funding, but also on the environment, education, and diversity. My experience is marked by a desire to be of service.
Republican
Occupation: Creative Director, Photographer, Designer and Owner, BLACK SUN Studio
Education: B.S., Exercise and Sport Science, Springfield College, 1986; M.S.Ed., Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University of Pennsylvania, 1988; Ph.D (ABD), Higher Education, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University
Why are you uniquely qualified to serve as mayor of State College?
My goal is to work with all of our residents, neighborhoods, and businesses to make it even better. I want State College to continue as a vibrant and welcoming community – economically, culturally, recreationally, and logistically. A mayor needs the ability to focus on details while supporting a larger vision. It requires real-life experience balanced with actively listening to all people. It requires an even hand, patience, good judgment, efficiency, and kindness. I have spent 27 years engaged in business, education, volunteerism and family in the borough. I am prepared to provide that leadership with passion and positivity.
I am a lifelong Democrat who won the second highest number of votes for the Democratic nomination plus many primary votes to receive the Republican nomination. This unusual situation highlights the bipartisan enthusiasm for my campaign. It speaks directly to my core value of inclusivity and how I can serve all residents fairly.
What do you believe is the best way to address the borough’s slow revenue growth, and what role can the mayor play in addressing the issue?
Growth is the number one issue facing our community. Our resident population has exploded 400 percent in the last 100 years, from 10,000 residents in 1910 to over 42,000 residents today. This growth places tremendous strain on all of our systems: infrastructure, housing, green spaces, employment, neighborhoods, downtown, public services, and schools.
Managing sustainable and desirable growth is a balancing act between preserving our charm and visionary planning for our long-term future. This will require strong leadership, collaborative governing, and mass community engagement. By 2060, we could be a borough of nearly 100,000 residents. This reality is either frightening or exciting. I would bring together more borough residents, local businesses, and community organizations in more vibrant and productive conversations and action. My experience in research-driven decision making will be the model we draw from moving forward. I also will bring decades of experiences and relationships with community in the borough, as well as nationwide and overseas experiences.
What, if any, steps do you believe the borough needs to take to sustain neighborhoods and why?
My hopes for the next 10 years are: we remain rich in our diversity—age, religion, culture, political opinion, neighborhoods, work and personal interests. We ensure that our old housing, both homes and apartment buildings, matures with grace. Empty lots in neighborhoods become collectively owned community gardens; Allen Street becomes a pedestrian mall (between College Avenue and Beaver Avenue), and public spaces regularly host local art and music.
We need a comprehensive master plan of zoning, building and re-gentrification that we as a community have developed. One example is: What short- and long-term impact will enacting a Historical and Architecture Review Board have on changing a neighborhood composition, house purchase prices and school enrollments?
Also, expand community involvement and communication. I’ve heard from too many residents and business owners that they feel unheard, ignored, disrespected, or simply uninformed. A large percentage of community members are starving to know what is going on with local issues, borough action and policies, and overall community happenings.
How can the mayor encourage and foster small, locally-owned business development?
As mayor, I would lead more assertive efforts preserving the quaint appeal of State College and embracing smart growth. If we continue on the path set by the current Borough Council, we can expect to see more fragmented decisions or a ban on all development, which has been suggested by some on council. I strongly urge us to invest our time in defining our collective identity and tapping the vast talented assets of our community to move forward.
New and longtime local businesses tap into our deep talent pool of graduating students. Young graduates and newly arrived residents are inspired to launch their businesses in the borough, near the university. We become a hub of innovation as we seek new solutions to our problems; and our residents have a deep sense of community and pride.
As Penn State grows, what is the return on investment (ROI) on bolstering our infrastructure, hospitality services and business offerings to ensure their success and ours are complementary? How can we design shopping plazas, parks, high-density residential units and residences that are symbiotic to one another?
How do you view the role of mayor in both borough government and in the community?
The mayor of State College presides over council meetings and has veto power over ordinances adopted by Council. I will expand community communications and involvement of residents, students, neighborhoods and businesses. I will bring strong leadership to the borough and work with council, staff, community organizations, individual residents and voters who don’t usually hear what’s going on day to day, but want a voice in shaping the character of our borough.
I will guide identity discussions about what we want our 21st century town to be. How do we get there? How do we fund it? How do we empower residents to contribute? When people hear about skate parks, historic preservation, zoning changes, new development or house teardowns, I will ensure that there is an accessible and inviting community dialogue, using the most current and effective communication strategies. We need to continually ask and measure: Are we doing enough to inform our residents, inspire cooperation and seek innovative solutions?
Independent
Occupation: Penn State contract administrator and adjunct/visiting professor at Department of Defense Military War Colleges
Education: B.S., Analytical Management, U. S. Naval Academy; M.S., Business, Troy University
Why are you uniquely qualified to serve as mayor of State College?
Experience matters. The mayor needs to know the duties of the office, know the issues, have the background to assess the operations of government, be able to run meetings, bring people together and be a leader.
My 12 years as president of the Holmes-Foster Neighborhood Association coupled with my service on the Historic Resources Commission, Planning Commission and Real Estate Advisory Commission have provided me insight into the challenges facing our community. My professional experience as a government program/contract manager provide me the ability to evaluate programs and assess their efficiency and value. My leadership experiences as a Marine and peer-elected chair of every borough commission I have served on speak for themselves.
As mayor I shall be a vociferous borough advocate, pursue an increased quality of life for all residents and be a facilitator to bring our diverse population together and focus their efforts for the common good.
What do you believe is the best way to address the borough’s slow revenue growth, and what role can the mayor play in addressing the issue?
The borough’s slow revenue growth is a function of finite sources of revenue and increasing costs. The borough is restricted to property taxes, earned income taxes, land transfer taxes and a local services tax for most of its revenue. The tax code must be amended to allow other municipalities (besides Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) to have other tax alternatives. These could include a sales tax, a liquor tax and/or a share of the hotel tax.
The mayor must be fluent in all aspects of this issue in order to be able influence/lobby state legislators and other municipalities to join in this effort. I am the lead for the Coalition of State College Neighborhoods Associations to lobby our state representatives and am teaming with the borough to bring together other college towns in the Commonwealth to join us in changing tax enabling legislation.
What, if any, steps do you believe the borough needs to take to sustain neighborhoods and why?
In the borough’s strategic plan, the number one goal is ‘safe, stable, attractive neighborhoods.’ These are all key components of our collective the quality of life. The borough needs to continue the dialogue with neighborhood associations and student organizations to keep abreast of resident issues and concerns, continue affordable housing initiatives and participate on the update to zoning ordinances to accommodate resident priorities. These are critical to stem the migration of working families out of the borough. Loss of working families affects earned income tax generation, and adds to neighborhood instability and the transition of owner occupied dwellings to rental units.
As a neighborhood association president, I am very familiar with these issues and as mayor will be a strong advocate for programs and initiatives to improve our neighborhoods, develop the West End and increase safety by advocating improved lighting and stricter traffic enforcement.
How can the mayor encourage and foster small, locally-owned business development?
As mayor and the official representative of the borough, I shall be principal advocate of the borough as an outstanding place to live, work and play. By doing so, it will provide the motivation for entrepreneurs to appreciate the business potential of the borough.
Starting a local business has many challenges including high rents, a less-than-welcoming set of bureaucratic requirements and a seasonal customer base. I operated a home business for five years and familiar with these challenges. As mayor I will bring together our business owners, the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Improvement District, participants in the New Leaf Program and others to ascertain how we can make the borough more business friendly. The results of which will be presented to council for legislative action.
How do you view the role of mayor in both borough government and in the community?
As presiding officer of council, the mayor must ensure that meetings are run efficiently, follow the protocols of Robert’s Rules of Order and treat everyone equitably and with respect. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly since in the past, individuals who have come before Council have been talked down to and/or been subject to ridicule. As mayor, I will not allow that to happen.
In regards to the mayor’s role in the community, the mayor must function as mediator, distributor of information and chief advocate of the borough. Ours is a diverse community whose residents come from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. The role of mayor is not to take sides, pursue set agendas but to act as facilitator practicing the arts of negotiation and compromise. We are a community of many voices but must still function as one community. I will ensure that happens.
