Why I’m Running
Since 2019 I’ve seen the tremendous impact the members of Delaware County Council have made in our community. I’m so grateful to the current County Council team for their vision to develop and build our first-ever Public Health Department, which launched during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a frontline ER doctor, I saw the value it brought to our efforts to keep people healthy and manage the crisis. Expanding and enhancing our Health Department will allow us to continue to protect county residents and allow them to lead healthy lives.
Yet we still face a steep, uphill climb. When I look at Delco, I see a vibrant mix of people striving to build better lives for themselves and their families – but all too often, they’re held back by a raft of systemic barriers.
Today, I believe we must take the next steps toward overcoming these challenges. I’m running for Delaware County Council in 2025 to bring the perspective of a healthcare champion who understands our system from the inside, an experienced fiscal steward who understands we must focus on development in addition to taxation, and a dedicated conservationist who understands the impact that access to safe, outdoor spaces has on our health and quality of life.
The healthcare champion Delco needs - Our largest healthcare system, Crozer, since its purchase by Prospect Medical Holdings in 2016 has been in freefall as they attempt to wring every last penny out of the enterprise. From selling the land out from under the hospital to pay themselves a dividend to the closure of Delaware County Memorial and Springfield Hospitals and countless service lines we need to rebuild this enterprise with an eye to the future. Our decentralized EMS system doesn’t work for so many due to ballooning costs, slow response times, and staffing challenges. It needs a shot in the arm, and negotiating a regionalization strategy can do that, because we’re stronger together. Our psychiatric and Child and Youth Services infrastructure is overwhelmed and not serving our families who need it most. I’ve personally cared for children in crisis, forced to wait weeks in my emergency department for a facility to have space for them. This is amoral and unacceptable. We must find solutions for families and children that keep them in our communities, where they can best heal and thrive. My time in emergency medicine made the inequities in our system clear, we must work together to meet these challenges.
The fiscal stewardship and economic development that Delco Deserves - Our county has had a sustained run of 9 years without a tax increase until the 2024 budget was passed. The discipline displayed by county council is laudable and recognized the need to balance investment in our people and infrastructure with stewardship over our taxation policy. Like them I know how to balance spending and taxation policy in a way that makes critical investements, while respecting our tax payers pocketbook. As a township commissioner I’ve passed 5 budgets which invest in our communities, roads, parks, and people while keeping spending at or below inflationary levels. I understand the importance of economic development and the need to build consensus around a vision for our future.
The conservationist that Delco can trust - As an Eagle Scout, hiker, and father of 2 young boys I’ve been able to witness the benefit of outdoor space to keep our family healthy and well. During my time serving Nether Providence we’ve been able to invest in an expansion of our parks, sidewalks, and trails as well as exploring connectivity with our neighboring municipalities. We’ve been able to accomplish this through grant writing and careful financial planning. I look forward to continuing this work with County Council so that all our families have great outdoor spaces to live our best lives.
Public health, financial planning, development, and conservation intersects with and impacts every aspect of Delco residents’ lives. My unique background as an ER doctor, Navy Veteran, Township Commissioner, Democratic Committee Chair, and Healthcare actvisits allows me to both understand the scope of the problems we face AND harness political power to find solutions for our better tomorrow.
I’m running for County Council in 2025 and I hope you will join me.