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Chester County Press

All the Oxford Borough Council candidates can play a part in moving Oxford forward

10/29/2019 12:11PM ● By Steven Hoffman

Kudos to the Oxford Borough Council candidates who took the time to participate in a meet-the-candidates forum last week.

It would have been great for more residents to attend the forum, but for those people who were there, it was an opportunity to learn more about the candidates who want to serve as council members, and the ideas that they have to improve the lives of residents in the borough.

As Philip Harris, one of the candidates, noted, a lot of good ideas were discussed during the forum.

Harris, for example, was right when he said that Oxford needs to be a town of inclusion.

Michele Rich-Ianieri was right when she said that the borough needs to focus on public safety issues, and to do what is necessary to ensure that Oxford is a safe place for children to grow up.

Randy Grace was right when he said that the next Oxford Borough Council needs to work together to ensure that the parking garage project produces the desired result of boosting economic development.

Richard Winchester was right when he talked about the need to take a regional approach to address regional issues like water, sewer, and policing. Cooperation between Oxford Borough and its neighboring municipalities will be very important in the coming years.

Mary Higgins was right when she said that it’s important for borough residents to know that the borough codes will be enforced fairly and equally.

Kathryn Goodley Cloyd was right when she talked about the need to get more people involved with the local government. Oxford is stronger if more people are involved.

Mary Lou Baily was right when she talked about the need to continue to revitalize the business district to ease the tax burden on borough residents and decrease the developmental pressures on neighboring townships.

Peggy Ann Russell was right when she said that a priority should be bringing more “unity” to the “community.”

The election will take place next Tuesday. There will be “winners” and there will be “losers.” But the better result would be for there to be no losers at all. The eight people who took part in the forum, the people who have spent their time and energy campaigning, all care about Oxford, and they have something to give to the community. There is a place for all eight people to serve the borough in some capacity.

Four of the eight candidates will become council members in January. But there are positions on a variety of committees that need to be filled. Volunteers are needed in numerous areas throughout the borough. There are problems to be solved, and all eight of these people can help move Oxford Borough forward.