Basir Vincent, Elyse Irvis and Andrea Grove announced their candidacies for city council.
Three local professionals have entered this year’s race for Harrisburg City Council.
Elyse Irvis, Andrea Grove and Basir Vincent announced their candidacies together on Thursday evening, sharing that they’d run as a slate under the name United Neighbors for Harrisburg.
The three Democratic candidates, each known locally for their entrepreneurship and community work, will compete for four council seats that are up for re-election and currently held by Shamaine Daniels, Ausha Green, Jocelyn Rawls and Ralph Rodriguez.
Irvis, Grove and Vincent expressed their shared visions of economic growth, affordable housing development and community building at a presentation held at the Kappa Omega fraternity house.
“I have a vision,” Irvis said. “We get to shape the future of Harrisburg as we see it, and with your vote, we can.”
Irvis is the owner of Culture & Commerce Coworking downtown, which focuses on providing business support to entrepreneurs of color. The Harrisburg native previously ran La Cultura, an event venue in Midtown.
Her top priorities, if elected, would be to promote and expand community events and business opportunities in the city, as well as uplifting local creatives.
“We want more small businesses to start and we want them to last longer,” Irvis said. “Whether it’s restaurants, whether it’s theaters, whether it’s where you get your hair done, your nails done, I should be able to walk there. I shouldn’t have to leave the city limits.”
Grove is a small business owner herself, operating Elementary Coffee Co. on North Street. She also previously ran a location in the Broad Street Market, but was forced to close following the devastating market fire. However, Grove announced recently that the stand will return to the market in the spring.
“In Harrisburg, you get to be more than a number; you get to be somebody who matters,” she said. “Somebody who is known at the local coffee shop and somebody who can speak up for your community. So I am Andrea Grove, and I am speaking up for my community.”
Grove shared her concern that Harrisburg currently lacks vision and cohesive leadership, citing the long struggle to rebuild the Broad Street Market and frequently closing city businesses. Her platform will include advocating for accessible and collaborative leadership, affordable housing and resources for businesses.
“By working together, our vision and our future together is bright,” she said.
The third candidate on the slate, Vincent, is the co-founder of the Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg and he previously worked in manufacturing. He is passionate about environmentalism and sustainability and hosted virtual community conversations to discuss Harrisburg’s Comprehensive Plan in 2020.
Vincent said that much of his focus will center on utilizing the comprehensive plan to address issues like land use, housing and economic development.
“I’m seeing this tool that should be used to guide steps where the community should be going and we’re not utilizing it,” he said. “One thing I do recognize is potential, and there is a lot of potential in Harrisburg. I want to be one of the people who helps us achieve that potential.”
The primary election in Harrisburg will take place on May 20.
For more information on the United Neighbors of Harrisburg, visit their Facebook page.
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