The two candidates vying for Clarks Summit mayor agree on at least one issue: a creative spark is needed to generate revenue for the cash-strapped borough.
Councilman Herman Johnson, retired chief of security with the Tobyhanna Army Depot, will square off against Councilwoman Patty Lawler, owner of Lawler's Affordable Elegance, in the May 21 primary.
Mayor Harry Kelly isn't seeking a third four-year term.
Mr. Johnson stressed the borough's millage rate of 29.5 needs to be lowered, as it's difficult for Clarks Summit's "elderly population" to afford the rate.
Over his four years on council, Mr. Johnson said he has pitched "creative ideas," such as selling advertisements on police vehicles, to generate additional revenue.
But he says he also wouldn't be opposed to slashing funding for existing programs to ensure lower rates.
"There a lot of municipalities that make their residents bag their leaves, but we have our DPW (Department of Public Works) handle that," Mr. Johnson said. "If you don't have the finances, you can't continue to offer it."
An elementary school teacher for more than 30 years, Ms. Lawler said something needs to be done to offset the dramatic dip in earned-income tax revenue created by the borough's growing elderly population.
But she isn't one to cut programs. Instead, Ms. Lawler believes the borough should focus on grant applications and introduce more "ahead of the curve" ideas, such as single-stream recycling, which Clarks Summit implemented in August 2012.
"That alone made us an additional $17,000," said Ms. Lawler, who spearheaded the initiative. "We don't need to cut programs, when - if we work hard - we can get this grant money."
In turn, with the additional grant money, Ms. Lawler said she hopes to revitalize parts of downtown Clarks Summit and fill the empty "apartments or buildings."
"I want the heart and soul of Clarks Summit to be filled with life," Ms. Lawler said.
A retired Covington Twp. police chief who logged more than 30 years in law enforcement, Mr. Johnson said his leadership and communication skills would be "extremely valuable" as mayor.
The first thing on his checklist: a five-year plan outlining the borough's finances.
"I want to know how a decision would affect us five years down the road," Mr. Johnson said. "That's the mayor's job. Focusing on present and also the future."
Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter
Candidate Info Box:
Herman R. Johnson
Democrat
Age: 65
Family: Wife, Christine; daughters, Jessamyn and Gabrielle; sons, Alexei, Jonathan and Gregory.
Education: GED at U.S. Marine Corps
Employment: Retired Tobyhanna Army Depot chief of security.
Address: Clarks Summit
Experience: Trustee of Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, Clarks Summit, member of the Marine Corps League Northeast Detachment and member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Top issue: Lower taxes
Patty Lawler
Democrat
Age: 63
Family:
Education: Bachelor of Science in communication at Marywood College, master's in theatre and performance at Catholic University of America
Employment: Owner of Lawler's Affordable Elegance, retired elementary school teacher in the Lakeland School District
Address: Clarks Summit
Experience: Former president of the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women, former board member for Lackawanna County Humane Society and St. Joseph's Center and a delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Top issue: Revitalizing downtown businesses