Screenshot from the ABC27 mayoral debate. (From left) Dan Miller, Lamont Jones, Tone Cook, Lewis Butts and Wanda Williams
During a televised mayoral debate, Harrisburg mayoral candidates took jabs at each other’s track records and shared their opinions on city issues.
Five candidates vying for mayor of Harrisburg made their cases for why they should be elected, and why their opponents shouldn’t, during a debate hosted by ABC27 on Tuesday night.
The debate came just weeks before the May 20 primary election in the city, in which one of the handful of Democrats will be chosen as the nominee for their party. No Republicans are running for mayor.
Candidates include incumbent Mayor Wanda Williams, City Treasurer Dan Miller, City Council member Lamont Jones, activist Tone Cook and repeat candidate Lewis Butts.
During the debate, several of the current elected officials mounted criticisms of their opponents. Miller claimed that the city “is not well managed” and said that he sees “inefficiency” and “incompetence” in the city under the Williams administration. He cited millions of dollars in unpaid trash bills that the city has not collected as an example.
Williams disputed that they hadn’t collected that money, saying that “since the fact that he [Miller] doesn’t come to work but one time out of the month, he wouldn’t know what’s coming in.”
Williams also took jabs, such as saying that, when it comes to the delayed rebuild of the fire-damaged Broad Street Market, “the biggest obstacle is City Council.” She said that council held up the city from moving toward construction when they voted against hiring the city’s selected construction manager for the project.
Jones voted against hiring Alexander Building Construction Co. for the job, both the first time, when the contract was denied by council, and again when council re-voted and ultimately confirmed the company by a vote of 4-3. But, he said that the action was just council doing its job, as they had concerns about the fairness of the selection process.
“This is a smokescreen to make it look like council was incompetent and we don’t know what we’re doing,” he said. “We did our job. We did our research, and we made sure that it was a fair process.”
According to Cook, the real hold-up on the market rebuild is exactly what was displayed at the debate.
“I believe it’s clear to see, the problem is the lack of communication with council and the mayor,” he said.
Cook pitched himself as a candidate who would seek to work with council instead of feuding with them and would attempt to unify the city.
Butts’ solution to the market construction hang-ups: Amish contractors should’ve been brought in to help.
Crime was another hot topic of conversation during the debate.
Two candidates, Jones and Cook pitched their backgrounds and experience with the criminal justice system as a positive, giving them a unique and personal perspective on public safety.
Cook shared that he lost a brother to gun violence and that he has previously served time in prison. He said that, using his experience, he would work to build better relationships between the police and the community to proactively deter crime.
Jones had previous criminal convictions dating back over 20 years, which he was pardoned for in 2023. Since then, he said that he has gone into prisons and worked with ex-offenders to help others turn their lives around, like he was able to do.
Butts said that he would like to create a police and fire academy to train youth for careers in public safety, as well as better train first responders on cultural competency.
Williams said that her administration has taken steps to stop crime and violence. She cited the city’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) program, which aims to offer residents known to be affiliated with crime a way out of that lifestyle, but said that the program takes years to make an impact.
Miller said that he has witnessed gun violence in his neighborhood and believes that a better city-wide camera system would help the issue.
Additionally, candidates shared how they would work to encourage economic development in the city and bring visitors back to shop and dine in the city.
Miller said that the city needs to work to make a more “vibrant” downtown that is pedestrian-friendly and walkable and suggested working with the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce & CREDC.
Butts suggested more attractions for downtown, such as implementing a Civil War history theme and constructing a “Harrisburg International Aquarium.”
Williams said that she is already working to address the issue as mayor by setting up an economic development board to create a business plan.
Jones said that Harrisburg needs to be better marketed to bring businesses and visitors in.
Candidates also addressed affordable housing needs.
“I think the solution to affordable housing is more housing. I mean, that’s really the answer. And it’s not just low-income housing,” Miller said. “We really need to concentrate on housing in general in all areas.”
Williams took credit for several recently constructed, privately developed affordable housing complexes in the city, while Jones countered that Williams has yet to release federal COVID funds that the city designated for housing.
In closing arguments, Williams said that she was the only candidate with “proven leadership skills, knowledge and experience.”
Butts pitched himself as a solutions-driven candidate, noting his many unique ideas for bolstering the city’s revenue stream.
Cook said that his lack of government experience gives him an outsider advantage and a “boots on the ground” mentality.
Jones asked voters to elect him, saying that he’s the only candidate who has “been entrenched in the community,” and said that he would offer a change from other politicians who have long held office.
Miller simply implied that, above all of the other candidates, he’s the most qualified.
To watch the full mayoral debate, click here.
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