A Ferguson Township resident this week announced his plans to run for the township’s Board of Supervisors in the 2023 election.
Omari Patterson, who is currently a Democratic precinct person for Ferguson Township, will be seeking an at-large supervisor position.
“My family has made Ferguson Township our forever home, and I care deeply about my friends and neighbors.” Patterson said in a statement. “Local government affects our lives on a daily basis, and public service is crucial now more than ever. As a supervisor, I would continue to be an advocate for fiscally responsible policies and projects that improve our quality of life and our beautiful township. And with my management expertise and experience working in the community, I would be an excellent fit to navigate board dynamics and work with knowledgeable staff and leadership.”
A project manager and consultant, Patterson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and master’s degree in telecommunications system management from Northeastern University, as well as master’s degree in real estate from Johns Hopkins University.
He is a board member at Centre Safe, youth wrestling and baseball coach and an aide to his homeowners association. He and his wife, a Penn State professor, have lived in Ferguson Township for seven years and have two children.
Patterson said he is looking forward to meeting with residents in each of the township’s wards to hear about both their concerns and their positive feedback.
He “plans to coordinate with other township and countywide officials to provide holistic solutions to the problems that impact residents in Ferguson Township and beyond,” according to a news release.
Some of Patterson’s top issues, according to his website, are keeping taxes fair for all, including revisiting the stormwater utility fee; bringing new businesses while maintaining the township’s character; addressing density while preserving agriculture; workforce housing; and mitigating risks to critical services.
Four of the five Board of Supervisors positions are up for election this year: all three ward supervisors and one at-large position. They are currently held by Laura Dininni (Ward I), Jeremie Thompson (Ward II), Patricia Stephens (Ward III) and Corey Gracie-Griffin (at-large).
The at-large position is up for a two-year term. Gracie-Griffin was appointed in 2022 to fill a vacancy and two years will remain in the original elected term.
The Ward I and Ward II supervisor positions are up for full four-year terms. Dininni is term-limited and cannot run this year.
Patterson is the first candidate to announce a campaign for any of the supervisor positions up for election in 2023.
