Whether they are running as Republicans or Democrats, there's one thing all the mayoral candidates in Taylor have in common - the urge to bring back the spirit of a united community to the borough.
Roxanne Pauline and Tom Bracey will square off in the primary for the one Democratic slot in the general election, while Lynda Messoline DePalma and Ted Praschak will battle for the one Republican ticket in November.
Ms. Pauline said as mayor she would try to encourage people to take part in their community and local government by asking what they want for the borough and how they want their money spent.
"When motivated people come together for the betterment of the community it has remarkable effects," Ms. Pauline said.
The borough needs to move forward through a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, Mr. Bracey said, something he hopes to bring if elected as mayor.
"I'll work with the council to get a positive change," he said.
Ms. DePalma said she would bring her experience as a grant and budget writer to the mayoral position to help the borough financially, as well as repair a somewhat fractured sense of community in Taylor.
"I would like to see the community come back together. I'd like to strengthen the community, and the only way to do it is by working together," Ms. DePalma said.
Her fellow Republican, Ted Praschak, said public safety would be his focus, working with police and firefighters to make sure the people in the community are as safe and well off as possible, and reintroducing crime prevention programs in the borough
"People need to communicate with one another; they need to be safe," Mr. Praschak said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on TwitterThomas Bracey
Party: Democrat
Age: 54
Family: Wife, Michelle; children, Sirena, Rachel, Thomas Anthony, William, Marissa, Francesca
Education: Riverside High School, 1977
Employment: Department of Public Works employee for Taylor borough, waste management driver, Abington Manor, now retired
Experience: Various volunteer experiences; served in the Army for four years
Top issue: Working cooperatively with council
Lynda Messoline DePalma
Party: Republican
Age: 58
Family: Husband, Louis DePalma
Education: Dunmore High School, 1973; Penn State University, bachelor's degree in accounting, 1976
Employment: St. Ann's Basilica business manager for more than 20 years
Experience: Lions club, various volunteer activities
Top issue: Community unity
Roxanne Pauline
Party: Democrat
Age: 53
Family: Husband, John Ilowiecki
Education: Riverside High School, 1978
Employment: Northeast Pennsylvania coordinator at Northeast Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO
Experience: Worked on various political campaigns including Geraldine Ferraro in 1983
Top issue: Involving people in the community process
Ted Praschak
Party: Republican
Age: 64
Family: Wife, Diane; children, Trina, Paula, Ted
Education: Riverside High School, 1968
Employment: Retired borough police officer of 31 years
Experience: Vice president of Fraternal Order of Police Northeast Lodge 63 for more than 30 years, member of Taylor Fire and Rescue Company No. 2 for 32 years, Navy for six years.
Top issue: Public safety