Letters: Days before the primary election, readers endorse State College candidates

Leous has the right experience for mayor

On May 18, borough voters have the opportunity to vote for a caring, knowledgeable, and proven leader as their candidate for mayor, Jim Leous.

For over 30 years, Jim has made State College home, developing a deep understanding of local issues and concerns. He has built strong connections and relationships and worked successfully with a wide range of people of different backgrounds, ages, perspectives, and priorities, including across party lines. In times of division, he has faith the community can come together and is determined and eager to reach out, engage, and find common ground.

After joining the SCASD school board in 2009, Jim helped forge a unified vision and support for a new high school that now provides a foundation of excellence for our students, teachers, and community. Since the State College Area School District encompasses the borough as well as surrounding townships, serving on the school board has also given Jim a practical understanding of how important the borough is to the economic and social health of the entire area and the critical role it plays for both borough and township residents.

As one of his colleagues, I have appreciated Jim’s level head, genuine interest in people and ideas, willingness to listen, and optimistic commitment to finding inclusive win/win solutions. I strongly encourage you to vote for Jim Leous for mayor on May 18. The school board’s loss will be the borough’s gain — a gain that will benefit the entire State College area.

Votes for good government

In the State College Borough elections, I am voting for Jim Leous, Ron Filippelli, Cathy Dauler and Katherine Yeaple, on Tuesday, May 18. I have worked with them in the past. Some of their characteristics are: experience; dependability; perception; and being able to make decisions. All four are community oriented; willing to listen; and are ready, willing and able to lead.

A vote for Jim Leous, Ron Filippelli, Cathy Dauler and Katherine Yeaple is a vote for good government.

Dauler has extraordinary experience, judgment

We have the opportunity to vote for extraordinary experience and judgment on the Borough Council in the new election. Catherine Dauler, my neighbor of 38 years, has served on an extended variety of borough positions including both the council and the College Heights Association. She is experienced with financial management under many circumstances and provides judgment especially with the current complexity of current virus problems. I have sought her advice on borough developments such as the diverters that saved some neighborhoods from uncontrollable traffic related to university events. Consequently, I strongly recommend voting for her election to serve and perhaps again lead the Borough Council.

Candidates with ability, desire to address problems

I have been a State College resident for 89 years and over that time I have seen many changes. I appreciate the services I have received during this time and the professionalism of the employees with whom I have had contact.

Today the borough faces a new set of both social and economic problems. The State College Police Department is continually reviewing and improving its processes for handling calls that may result in dangerous confrontations. In its 2021 budget the Borough Council provided funding for a Civilian Response Team within the police department, which will hire professionals to respond to mental health related calls. It will also establish a Community Oversight Board which will review and investigate complaints about the State College Police Department.

However, through rallies, demonstrations, and the media, the group calling itself “3/20” is calling for major changes in the borough management and services. They want to “defund” the police department by reducing the number of police officers. Many of them also want to fire the borough manager and the police chief and get rid of the district attorney and the mayor. These things should not happen. That is why I plan to vote for Ron Filippelli, Cathy Dauler, and and Kathy Yeaple for council. They are very experienced with borough government and with the issues that we face. They have the ability and desire to address these problems.

This story was originally published May 16, 2021 at 7:00 AM.