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Coatesville Republicans on rebound; pick candidates for city council seats
by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, 12 Feb. 2009 10:45 a.m.
The Republican party is making a comeback in the Coatesville area according to its new area chairman, Eric Brown, who says the slate of candidates for city offices demonstrates a new vitality. Last week city Republican committee people endorsed three candidates for four of the council seats up for election this year. Fran Schnering, a real estate professional and IT project manager, and Winifred Mayo, who served on council from 1996 until 2003, were endorsed for the two at large seats. Eric Lacerte, an attorney, won the endorsement for the fourth ward seat. The Fourth Ward seat is now held by Kurt Schenk, a Republican, who hasn't announced whether he is seeking a second term. The two at-large council seats are now held by Kareem Johnson and Robin Scott. Johnson and Scott were elected in 2005. Scott, a Democrat, has announced she is not seeking reelection. Johnson was a Republican until he switched to the Democrat Party last year . "The local Republican Party in the Coatesville area is stronger and more active than ever before. The committee has experienced experienced an increase in the number of active committee members over the course of last year," said Eric Brown, chairman of Area 14 of the Republican party which includes Coatesville, Valley Township and the boroughs of South Coatesville and Modena. "We feel that our endorsed candidates bring the skill set and commitment to change that will be embraced not only by our Republican voters but by voters from both political parties. Brown said the number of GOP candidates seeking the party's endorsement for Area 14 races exceeded expectations. Schnering won the support of Coatesville committee people with his business experience that will help in balancing budgets and jump start the city's stagnant redevelopment. Schnering said: "I am committed to hiring city personnel that are qualified for their jobs and promise to hold them accountable for their work. He also he wants to make the city safer by investing in the police department, strengthening the quality of life in the city, and making the city economically viable through a sound redevelopment philosophy. Mayo, a former council member who opposed the city's use of its eminent domain powers, said she wants to focus on job growth in the city and facilitating retail development. She placed priority on attracting a grocer store to the city. Lacerte, an attorney, wants to focus on redeveloping the city's downtown business district. "Coatesville is facing an unprecedented wave of challenges. In order to overcome these challenges we need a new ear of leaders that are able to offer fresh ideas proactive solutions," he said. "My background is law and finance make me uniquely equipped to overcome these challenges and provide the positive change we all desire." In Valley Township, GOP committee people endorsed Mark Fara and Robert Wilkey for the two supervisor seats up for election. Harden Ervin was endorsed for tax collector and Arlin Yoder for auditor. William Jones in South Coatesville was endorsed for mayor. Robert Knecht and Laurie Knecht, no relationship, won the GOP endorsement for the Coatesville school board. Both are incumbent board members. In two constable races in Coatesville, Mousa Hawa and Harvel Brown won the endorsement from city committee people for the Fourth Ward and Fifth Ward, respectively. Brown took control of Republican Area 14 after defeating Richard Legree for the chairmanship. Legree had first won reelection as chairman, but that vote was disqualified after two of those voting were not elected committee people. Legree later switched parties.
You can e-mail Allen Davis at: allen@chestercountyreporter.com