Upper Providence Primary Candidates for the May 17 Primary Election

Democrats and Republicans have put forth their candidates for the upcoming primary. Here’s a chart showing the candidates:

Democratic Press Release

The Upper Providence Democratic Committee has endorsed their candidates for the upcoming May 17 Primary Election. Five competent and community minded individuals have placed their hat in the ring for the offices of Magisterial District Judge, Upper Providence Council and Rose Tree Media School Board.

Robert Holber is seeking the office of Magisterial District Judge. Rob’s background as a lawyer, a pharmacist, and as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee will make him an excellent judge. Rob loves working with people and he is empathetic but firm and decisive. Through his representation of clients who are on the brink of bankruptcy, families in crisis over high health care costs, or impending divorce Rob is well aware of the stressors that could land a person in court! He will deal with people fairly and with compassion. His 23 years of courtroom experience and representation of clients in various areas of the law will serve him well. His years of coaching youth sports and involvement in social activities has allowed him to connect with our community.

William A. (Bill) Thomas is seeking a seat on the Upper Providence Council representing district 4. Thomas has lived in the township for almost two decades. In that time he has been an unrelenting advocate for the people of Upper Providence and the Rose Tree Media school district. As a parent of two boys in the district, he volunteered for school activities, from chaperoning school trips to helping in the Physics Olympics.

He has been a leader in efforts to open our Township Council and its appointed committees to greater community awareness and involvement.

It is his view that Council, regardless of whether it has been under the leadership of Nick Lippincott, Rob Powell or Ed Bierling, has been a closed shop not only to the public, but to forward-thinking ideas and open discussion.

Jim Coyne of Middletown, and Janet Lis and John Nee of Upper Providence are the Democratic candidates for Rose Tree Media School Board Director.

Jim Coyne is an active member of the RTM Superintendent Advisory Board (2009-2011) and an involved father of two Indian Lane Elementary School students. Coyne is an experienced corporate leader in communications, community relations, and program strategy & evaluation, currently employed at Astrazenica.

According to Coyne, “it is imperative that board members embrace a vision of excellence and engage in open and responsible governance. “ His service commitment is inspired by the firm belief that we can make our good school district even better by asking tough, perhaps inconvenient, questions and pursuing answers together!

Janet Lis is an attorney, a parent of two Penncrest students and a 16 year resident of Upper Providence. According to Lis, “good schools go hand in hand with desirable communities, which is one reason that I continue to actively support the school district and its strong student programs and activities.” Key to her service will be to foster respectful working relationships between administration, teachers and school board members. She will be committed to helping make an excellent Rose Tree Media School District even better while also working to keep it affordable for taxpayers .

John Nee is a grandfather of two RTM elementary students. He has spent his entire career in labor relations, an area that is central to the future success of our school district. As Vice President of Labor Relations at Scott Paper Company, he led the transformation of labor-management relations there in the early 90’s. Nee believes that the traditional approach to labor relations in our school district creates adversaries at the expense of results. We need a new approach based on collaborative decision-making. Nee will work for better communication between the school board and taxpayers to make the board more accountable to the values of the community and encourage innovation. “The 70% of local taxpayers who do not have children in our school system need to be better informed and heard more,” according to Nee.

The Democratic team for School Board is committed to working for improved and open communication, fiscal transparency and collaborative efforts in balancing educational excellence with diverse community interests.

The Democratic Committee urges all eligible residents to vote in the Primary Election on May 17. For more information visit our website at www.updem.com or contact Bill Clinton UP Democratic Chair at bill@billclintonconsulting.com.

Republican Press Release

The Upper Providence Republican Party has endorsed five civic-minded professionals from the township to serve in elected positions including Magisterial District Judge, Upper Providence Township Council and Rose Tree Media School Board.

Upper Providence Republican Chairman Rob Powell said all five candidates have demonstrated their commitment to the community through their professions and years of community service.

Magisterial District Judge Nicholas S. Lippincott is endorsed for reelection to another term on the bench where he has served with integrity, fairness and a commitment to the rule of law for 11 years. Judge Lippincott works with members of the Upper Providence Township and State Police to promote public safety, prevent crime and provide a fair judicial setting at the District Court Level.

He was especially assigned by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas to hear countywide drug cases and multi-county grand jury cases. He also serves as District Judge for Rose Valley Borough.

A member of the Mallon and Blatcher law firm, he has 35 years of courtroom experience. He has also served the community as past chairman of the Upper Providence Township Council and past chair of the Upper Providence Zoning Board. He is the fourth generation of Lippincotts to live in Upper Providence.

Lisa Mundy, a registered nurse, is running for the fourth district seat on township council and Fred Reid is seeking his second term for the second district township council seat.

Mundy is a critical care nurse for Main Line Health Systems at Riddle Hospital, where she also serves on the bioethics committee. A graduate of Villanova University, she has served her community as a CCD teacher at Nativity BVM Church and as a fourth district committeewoman.

Reid is currently serving as vice-chairman of township council. He also chairs the township Parks and Recreation Board and the Public Works Committee. He is a member of Local Union 98 IBEW and is a member of the Monsignor Bonner Father and Sons Association.

Bill O’Donnell and Elizabeth Schneider are the endorsed candidates for Rose Tree Media School Board. O’Donnell is currently serving on the school board and is running for his second term. He has a long record of community leadership having served as vice-chair and chairman of the Upper Providence Township Council.

Schneider is both an accomplished engineer and attorney who worked in the Delaware County District Attorney’s office, United States District Court and Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas before opening her own general practice in Media in 1995.

She is a member of the Delaware County Bar Association and also has extensive corporate experience as an industrial engineer. She serves the community as a member of the Upper Providence Environmental Committee and an assistant Junior Girl Scout troop leader.

For more information about the Upper Providence candidates visit www.upgop.org.