As a Lansdale native and borough councilwoman, I have seen both the immense progress and also the struggles and growing pains that our modern borough has faced. It is my goal to build upon this foundation and our proud history to launch our community into the next decade. My vision for mayor includes increasing government accessibility with streamlined and open communication, and fostering a solutions orientated campaign for the borough through deep collaboration, stakeholder building and community organizing. I know, with the right direction and leadership, we can form coalitions, committees, alliances, utilize non profits and convene together to stabilize our budget, improve our local economy, and work together to build the Lansdale of our future.
Hi Neighbor
I'm Running for Mayor of Lansdale
Background
I'm a Lansdale native and proud single mom of a five year old, living in my childhood home in Lansdale's 1st Ward. My college background is in Psychology and case work, with certifications in steward leadership, positive youth development, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care and Botvin Lifeskills drug prevention techniques. For the past ten years I found my true passion in nonprofit program coordination, union and community organizing, field work, campaign management, fundraising and consulting, where I worked directly in the political arena for electeds and candidates across the country, most recently working to elect officials in Lansdale and Montco. Last year, I shifted to open my own private consulting firm, where I now work happily on issues that matter to me, advising clients through issue based advocacy. This work includes heavy coalition building with a diverse state-wide team across the political spectrum to accomplish common goals in the environmental and clean energy field, protecting children's health, advocating for lower energy costs, and the creation of good-paying, clean jobs in Pennsylvania. I also have over four years experience in accounting and tax, managing both small and large businesses and consulting with community improvement districts.
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Skillsets
I am adept at communications and campaign management helping to envision advocacy based solutions and move them forward through collaborative organizing. ​In these arenas, I have helped design and coordinate United Way affiliated non-profit programs, assisted professional design companies, managed 120 person staffed canvass offices, and have personally knocked over 12,000 doors in over 15 states, successfully passing half a dozen pieces of legislation through ballot initiatives, voter education and grass roots organizing.
I would also be the FIRST female mayor ever in Lansdale! Bringing my unique perspective, skillsets, attention to detail and empathy with me- though please don’t vote for me just for that!
Streamlined & Open Communication
Let's face it. The current forums for discussing our issues are not ideal. We've got social media, where temperaments run hot, facts are hard to sort out, and it's easy to dehumanize our neighbors and jump to conclusions. Then we have council meetings, many of which our working neighbors and parents can't make. You've got limited time, strict rituals, microphones, podiums and screens to divide us. It's not the best place to chat and certainly not to brainstorm. There are better ways to connect outside of this political structure! I will have an open online calendar where neighbors can schedule to meet with me to discuss their concerns. I will issue surveys and feedback links to asses the true stance of the town on an issue and so everyone gets the chance to voice their opinion. And we will always have the tavern! If any hot button issues or votes come up, I will host a gathering at a local spot where we can bread bread and learn about ways that we can make legislation better- TOGETHER.
Increasing Government Accessibility and
Promoting Collaboration
One Pager Explainers & Videos
Who wants or has the time to read over a mountain of text, pore over agendas or try to understand an ordinance from a news article or a Facebook comment? I will utilize one page explainers and videos to discuss the ins and outs of borough happenings and potential council votes.
Community
Surveys
Along with explainers and videos, I will include frequent community surveys so feedback can be shared accurately, anonymously and in real time. This will give us a better assessment of community member's thoughts and give everyone an opportunity for input, even if they can't attend the meetings.
An Open Appointment Book
I will use a digital appointment book where you can schedule time to chat with me. This can be done via phone, virtually or in person. There are 19k of us and just one of me, but I will do my best to accommodate everyone who wants to discuss the issues.
Input & Focus Groups
Many of my ideas below involve community building and talking through long-term solutions and campaigns. This will require gathering an array of stakeholders and voices in the borough to find alignment and move forward on an issue. I will host community input nights focused on various topics and plans in the borough.
A Lansdale Podcast
This is a long-term goal of mine - to create a new Lansdale discussion forum after the loss of our radio station. This podcast would host members of the community across all spectrums to voice their opinions on local issues, and also would feature local businesses, news and Lansdale happenings.
Okay, great,
But where are you on
the issues?
I'm so glad that you asked! Below I have created multi-page documents on a number of hot button topics. It's a LOT of text, but I believe our borough and you, the voter, deserve all the information that you can digest, and I think you deserve more than boiler plate talking points. We all care about our main street, but what are we doing about it?
These pages compile my experience with the borough and these issues, include some roadblocks that we are facing in each arena, along with potential solutions and ways to collaborate. I don’t have all the answers, and I won’t pretend to. Nor will I unilaterally propose ordinances or ideas without consulting the businesses and people who would be affected. Did you know the mayor can't even vote? I'm here to be a springboard for ideas and a translator for the town, not to push biased agendas through.
Creating Clear Visions for Lansdale
Through Community Building & Collaboration
Unifying will be hard work! Our borough is facing economic uncertainty due to years of mismanaged accounting and the inflation that has hit us all. Our underground infrastructure from the 70's is crumbling. We need to start looking at a budget holistically, and not just year to year. We need to continue to explore grants, make the most of our bond and encourage new revenue streams in order to finance our revitalization. It will take time for us to stabilize these issues, and to make our town more attractive for businesses to invest in. BUT, that’s all the more reason to start now!
A Mission for Main Street & Beyond
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​A Business Improvement District
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A Full Time Main Street Manager
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A Borough-Wide Marketing Plan
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Coordindation between the Economic Development Committee, Lansdale Business Alliance and Discover Lansdale
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Advocating for private investment to attract a theatre, music or entertainment venue in town
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Keeping on eye on the future of the Hillcrest shopping center
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Addressing parking issues through free parking and/or the utilization of our current parking fund to purchase a local lot.
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Tackling vacancy through incentivization without fining local businesses
Stay tuned and check back for more
multi-page plans, videos & explainers on:
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​Infrastructure issues and our bond
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A solvent and stable local budget with a 4 year accounting plan
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The future of Lansdale Electric and local energy efficiency and resiliency
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Public safety and helping our neighbors without homes
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Investments into clean, modern parks and pools & affordable local activities
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What's a climate mayor and why does is matter? - A discourse on a Round Up ban and a shade tree commission
About the Donkey & the Elephant
in the Room
While we are lucky at the local level to not have to engage too much in Federal politics, I would be remiss if I did not mention the current political climate. I believe strong local communities can spearhead the future of healing the division that we are all experiencing. We need a local coalition and economy that can weather any political upheaval, as the pendulum swings back and forth at the Federal level, reaching new heights and extremes on both sides, zig zagging haphazardly, dragging us all with it- we never move quite forward, do we? And who gets left behind? We do. Us as neighbors, us as a middle class, working community. Small businesses, teachers, trade workers, the everyday person at the tavern. This is all of us.
We may feel like we can't do much about the bueruocracy at the national level, but what we can do is focus on our own backyard. My R friends would call it bootstraps. My D friends would call it resilience. So how do we get back on the same page, or even just in the same book? We band together as one to become stronger. We form a coalition, unified by what we still do have in common- we are all humans who love our families and our borough and want them to thrive.
Where do we go from here?
I won’t pretend that our “differences” are simply differences anymore. Many on both sides view the opposing ideology as a life or death threat, and in some communities, that sentiment is right, on both sides. That our freedoms and ways of life are being threatened. This was by design. They’d rather have us fighting each other. But what I know is, barring the few outliers, we ALL love our families and communities. We love them and we fear for them. We all want an economy where we don’t have to STRUGGLE, enslaved to an economic system that’s outside of our control. Fighting for an American dream that’s out of reach. When it comes down to it, we all vote for two reasons: love and fear. And the powers that be know this. So flip the script on them. Where can we find common fears, common loves?
Where can we band our love and fear together to propel us forward? Can we stop politicizing our own values and wasting energy drawing lines in the sand?
Can we get out of our own way?
I don’t have all the answers. I’m not a real estate expert. I’m just one girl, who would be tackling a multitude of issues, amidst a country embroiled in unprecedented political and social unrest and economic distress. But these factors only make me more determined. And I know, with the right direction and leadership, we can form coalitions, committees, alliances, business improvement districts, utilize non profits and convene together to get this job done.
What I can offer you is my willingness to use what I know about the system that we are working within. And I know a lot. About its limitations, and also where we can push the envelope. I will be transparent about what we can work on, and communicate this in a way that’s easy for the tired parent or the “working 80 hours a week” small business owner to digest. I know how to talk to others who think differently, how to build coalitions, and community organize. I know how to find creative solutions and keep pushing the envelope. I have marketing and campaign experience, and could use my skillsets and unique perspective to help us build a viable and realistic plan for our borough.
I felt a calling to step into this role,
with this vision of both action and unity
It’s #TeamWorkingClass
It’s #TeamSmallBusiness
It’s #TeamCommunity
It's #TeamLansdale
Will you join me?