Politics & Government

Meet the Lansdale Council Ward 1 Democratic Candidates

Council Vice President Mary Fuller and 18-year Army veteran Jeff Howard are seeking to win two open seats in the election Tuesday.

Lansdale Borough Councilwoman and Democrat Mary Fuller wears many hats in the borough, like vice president of borough council, Economic Development Committee chairwoman and Parks and Recreation Committee Chairwoman, and chairwoman of nonprofit Discover Lansdale.
Fuller's passion is Lansdale, and she's up for re-election for her open seat in Ward One on council Tuesday. Joining her in the bid for the other open seat, currently held by appointed Independent Councilman Jason Van Dame, is Democrat Jeff Howard, an 18-year veteran of the Army.
They are being challenged for the two open seats by Republican contenders Jean Fritz and Michele Coyle. Read about the Republican candidates here.
"I love Lansdale. It's that simple. I have devoted much of my time and effort over the last two decades, and especially the last four years, working to improve the community in which I live," she said. "It's what I do. It's who I am."
Fuller is a WYSIWYG candidate.
"The bottom line is this: What you see is what you get with me. I don't pretend to be something I'm not. I refuse to play party politics and I'm not afraid to share my opinions or state my reasons for why I vote the way I vote," Fuller said. "I always vote for what I believe to be in the best interest of the Borough. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve four more years."
Fuller, 50 and married with two children, is born and raised in Lansdale. She owns and lives in a home that has always been in her family in its 110-year history.  Fuller is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a degree in communications and journalism.
Howard was born and raised in Pennsylvania, graduating from Springfield High School and East Stroudsburg State College. He moved to Lansdale in 1996. He is an 18-year veteran of the Army, leaving at the age of 35. Howard is a former area director of Applebee's, working at The Rose Group for 25 years. He now runs an investment property business and owns three properties in Lansdale.
Fuller believes Lansdale is better off than where it was four years ago.
"After many years of stagnation and promised revitalization, the current council put this town 'in motion' and hasn't looked back. We promised to make changes and we did, more than was thought possible," she said. 
Fuller said revitalization must continue on in Lansdale, which owes much of its success to grants obtained by administration. Since 2010, infrastructure, police and amenities have improved due to a strong financial plan.
"Downtown and the surrounding areas are thriving; there is excitement in Lansdale and it must continue," she said.
Howard said he chose to invest in Lansdale because of its desirability as a place to live and work.
"I know that such a belief takes more than words to bring to fruition, and I have committed my time to attending and participating in as many borough meetings as my schedule allows, and to establishing numerous business relationships within the borough," he said.
Howard also believes in active volunteerism in Lansdale, serving on the police retirement committee for five years.
"These experiences have given me a good feel for both the opportunities and challenges facing our borough, and also provided me good opportunity to establish relationships with many residents," Howard said.
Fuller said she supports the development by Equus Group of the unusable real estate that is Madison Parking Lot into a multi-modal development of condominiums, retail space, open space areas like a skate park and Liberty Bell Trail, and more parking spaces than currently exist at the lot.
"This project is easily the single greatest step forward on the timeline of progress in Lansdale's history. And all this will be accomplished without one taxpayer dime," she said.
Fuller touched upon the 311 Arts project. She agreed it was foolish of Lansdale to to purchase the building decades ago, but it now owns it and has to do something with it. She said no one wants to buy a building riddled with code violations, and no one is even remotely interested in buying the building.
"We have learned through the use of our consultants that a viable multi-use building which includes arts and entertainment as well as catering and cafe amenities, can be successful. We learned what we should have known before the first go round: that the project needs to be done correctly based on valid research with a solid, yet conservative business plan and via a capital campaign. This is what is happening now and must continue," she said.
Fuller said the next council needs to continue on with the current council's successes: ending deficit spending, putting money in the bank, borrowing wisely and spending wisely."
One of the things I would like to change is the misconception that using consultants and professional services is a bad thing.  For instance, the Parking Authority was able to secure $2.5 million in grant dollars only because they were working with Delta Development, who had the resources and connections to bring this money to Lansdale. Often using professional services is what needs to be done in order to be dollar wise, not penny foolish. It just makes smart economic sense, and frankly shows fiscal responsibility," she said.
Howard said the relationships he has established with residents and business owners made it that much easier to run for council.
"Despite rapid growth, busy working families, and large lot subdivisions, our borough has maintained its small town charm and sense of strong community involvement and participation. I have enjoyed and appreciated the numerous amenities of Lansdale Borough for many years, and I feel it is now my time to work to continue to provide a people-friendly government for all of our residents," Howard said.
"I know that my background, work ethic, loyalty, and honesty can help the Council help Lansdale Borough achieve its true mission: accommodating the continued improvement and development of the area, while also encouraging the protection and enhancement of the rich heritage and character that give 
Lansdale Borough its unique identity," he said.
Read about the Lansdale Council Ward One Republican candidates here.


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