Illustration by Rich Hauck.
It’s April in Harrisburg, which brings a profusion of vibrant colors to the city’s sidewalks, parks and hillsides.
But along with the daffodils and tulips, something less organic will spring from the ground—campaign signs.
The city’s municipal primary is next month, so expect to see thickets of cardboard placards for candidates running for mayor, city council, school board and other offices.
Now, TheBurg doesn’t endorse candidates—never has. This longstanding policy is based on one person’s belief (mine) that I have no right to tell people how to vote.
That said, I consider myself a high-information voter and take my responsibility seriously. So, I thought I’d share with readers a few of the criteria I’ll use as I sit in the voting booth on May 20, pondering which boxes to check with my little pencil. I hope these offer a unique take on the more traditional evaluation based on promises and personalities.
Pragmatism
When asked about my political lean, I respond that I’m a pragmatist. Yes, I like to consider myself a compassionate pragmatist, understanding that any cost/benefit calculation must include the needs of actual humans. But, in the end, I want solutions to problems, not politics, posturing or personal agendas. I’ll cast my vote for candidates who seem to understand that holding public office means hard work, long hours and a constant quest for the best, most practical responses to the city’s many challenges.
Mayor/Council
In my years in Harrisburg, there’s been one constant—the never-ending war between the administration and City Council, no matter the mayor, no matter the council. I’m not saying that the mayor and council shouldn’t check each other—they should. But the relentless, grinding, deeply personal battle between government officials is a recipe for inaction and dysfunction. If candidates have ideas on how to better work with their fellow officeholders, I’d love to hear them during the campaign.
Representation
As I’ve said before in this space, I’m no fan of Harrisburg’s governmental structure. Among other changes, I believe the city would be better served with ward representation for City Council, as opposed to the current at-large structure. However, as the old saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So, I guess I’m stuck with what we have: one at-large mayor and seven at-large mini-mayors (council members). Therefore, I’ll be voting for candidates who seem to understand that they represent the entire city of Harrisburg, not just a slice of it. Yes, this means representing people from every neighborhood, from Uptown to Midtown, from downtown to Allison Hill. It means representing every class, every race, every age—and, importantly, not setting people against each other. It also means representing other groups, such as Harrisburg’s small businesses, its vibrant arts community, its civic associations and, yes, even its developers. Importantly, it means being present in life throughout the city. Our officials should be in our restaurants, our shops, at shows, along the riverfront, on City Island, etc. We should run into them on the street, at the Broad Street Market, at a concert or play. Officials can only understand the complexity of life here by being deeply engaged in the city they represent.
Vision
Where do you want to take Harrisburg? What’s your vision for the city? As a mayor or legislator, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of the job. However, since I’ve been in Harrisburg, few have articulated a broader vision for the city other than getting past the next meeting or maybe surviving the current fiscal year. I want to know from candidates their longer-term vision—and how they plan to move the city in that direction. Importantly, Harrisburg needs some type of long-range economic development strategy now that the commonwealth has largely abandoned its own capital city. But there are many other pressing issues that require immersive thought, planning and solutions, including housing, crime and homelessness.
So, that’s my checklist. It’s possible that, during the campaign, other issues will spring up that could influence my vote. However, I regard these four measures as vital for a well-functioning city government that soberly assesses its challenges—and then takes positive, proactive measures to do something about them.
Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.
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