Winner will face Republican in November
Two familiar names will be on the May 20 primary ballot for the position of Lansdale mayor.
Current councilwoman Rachael Bollens and two-time former councilman Bill Henning are facing off in the Democrat primary, for the right to face Republican Greg Gilrain in November. Current Democrat mayor Garry Herbert has filed to run for one of two council seats on the ballot for the borough’s Ward 1, according to information provided by Montgomery County. Henning had served on council in 2009 and again from 2018 through 2021, while Bollens was elected in ’21 to her first four-year council term.
Both were asked the same questions, and below are their answers.
Bollens
Rachael Bollens (Submitted photo)Describe your background and qualifications for the position of Lansdale Mayor.
My background is primarily in grassroots organizing, political advocacy, marketing, public affairs and accounting. I was born and raised in Lansdale, and am currently raising my family here, though I spent a few years out of college traveling as a union organizer and campaign manager.
I have seen first-hand successful build outs of other towns, and bring these unique insights and experiences with me. I have worked with and for local governments and know how they operate (or cease to).
Currently I work with a state-wide coalition of both Republicans and Democrats on environmental issues, and this kind of alignment, advocacy, compromise and building across aisles is what is needed in modern politics to get things done.
A modern and revitalized borough will need strong vision and leadership, and experience with marketing, communications and coalition building to propel us into our future. I believe I bring this unique perspective and set of skills to the table.
What would your main goals or priorities be as mayor?
First, we need to continue the revitalization of our town, support our local businesses, connect with non-profits and get more constituents engaged in building the Lansdale of our future. Creating a modern and economically viable infrastructure will take significant grassroots organizing and coalition building to establish the entities and investments needed to affect real change.
I would take charge in assisting to create a Business Improvement District and hiring a Main Street Manager to encourage growth, tackle vacancies and attract private investment.
At the federal level we are seeing significant cuts to environmental policies and protections. One way to combat this is to make investments and protections at the local level. I am in support of a Shade Tree Commission, limiting our Public Works’ use of toxic chemicals in our parks, protecting our open spaces, and finding investment to add more affordable and reliable energy sources to our Electric Department.
What do you see as the biggest issues the mayor and council must address in the next four years?
Unequivocally, the answer is our budget. Many of the policies and initiatives we would like to see enacted are stymied because of lack of funding. Our infrastructure is crumbling, and previous councils did not stock away money for the road and sewer infrastructure from the 1970s that we now have to rebuild, literally from the ground up. Our challenge is to focus on revitalizing, while we are quite literally also rebuilding.
Currently, we tackle our budget one year at a time, and each year we, not surprisingly, come up short. I am a proponent of a five-year budget plan and encouraging ten year or more build out plans for capital investment projects. Capital projects should seek private investment collaboration, when possible, and also utilize to the full extent, federal, state and county grants. We cannot continue to fund this monumental rebuild on the backs of one generation’s taxes.
Residents have discussed revitalization and vacant businesses for much of the 2020s. How would you approach filling in empty storefronts and attract and retain businesses in town?
This is hard to answer in limited words — my downtown action plan is online. The biggest opportunity for our borough is the creation of a Business Improvement District. This is an independent board/legal entity, composed of businesses themselves — able to access revenue streams like public/private grants, donations, loans and local subsidies. A BID can make decisions and access funding, without being shoe-stringed by council. In concert with a Main Street Manager, a BID could improve facades, signage, cleanliness and accessibility, attract investment, and diversify businesses through marketing and promotion of real estate.
If it sounds too good to be true, check out all of our successful neighbors who have this or a similar entity to bolster revitalization. Businesses, nor council, can single-handedly address an entire economic rebuild, but together we can uplift business voices and create a culture of collaboration and problem solving to build the Lansdale of our future.
Council has approved tax, electric, and sewer rate increases in recent years. How would you balance maintaining town infrastructure against increasing costs for residents?
We are in unprecedented economic times. Both parties at the federal level have done little to alleviate the financial burden of working families, stabilize inflation, address our post-covid economy, or follow through on promises of financial investment and development. It feels that we are alone in our towns, trying to keep the lights on. This burden subsequently falls to the borough’s tax base — us. My family is not immune to getting the electric shut-off notice, so this is a personal as well as moral issue for me.
I do believe there is significant private investment available to support the rebuilding of our borough. We need to market Lansdale and create a plan to attract outside investment to alleviate the burden on our tax base. We will not price residents out of this borough at the cost of revitalizing, and finding that balance between new investment and being an affordable community for all is a necessity.
Your campaign website, social media pages, and/or anywhere else our readers can find you.
Website: www.votebollens.com
Socials: Bollens Link Tree
Henning
Bill Henning (Submitted photo)Describe your background and qualifications for the position of Lansdale Mayor.
As a proud fourth-generation Lansdale resident, my love for our borough runs deep. I’ve been honored to actively serve through organizations that make our community special, including the Scouts BSA, Lansdale Lions Club, Lansdale Historical Society, Lansdale Business Alliance, and Discover Lansdale, where I’ve proudly led initiatives topreserve our heritage, promote local growth, and strengthen the core of our borough for all who call it home.
As store manager of our 85-plus-year old Lansdale family business, I have a strong understanding of the needs for our local businesses.
As Scoutmaster for the past decade, I have practiced honesty and integrity while sharing these values with the youth in our community.
As past president for the Lansdale Historical Society and current communication administrator, I am committed to recognizing and preserving our town’s past.
As a two-time borough councilman, I understand how our local government works, and I learned how to use its resources for the good of our residents.
As president of Discover Lansdale, I have shown time and time again my commitment to helping make our community a better place.
What would your main goals or priorities be as mayor?
One of my biggest priorities is supporting our existing businesses here in the borough. Their success is key. It’s not rocket science. Outside investors are smart, they will not invest in new businesses or consider bringing future opportunities into town if our current businesses are not doing well.
With this in mind, supporting our local businesses has been, and will remain, a top priority of mine. This isn’t just a campaign promise; it’s a commitment I’ve already acted on as president of Discover Lansdale, where I’ve worked diligently to strengthen our business community.
In 2018, I created the Lansdale Business Alliance, and with the addition of smart, fresh new minds helping, things are happening, and we have some great programs we are working on now. Together, working with the businesses, great things are upon us.
What do you see as the biggest issues the mayor and council must address in the next four years?
Unfortunately, the unhoused are a huge issue. This is the most frequent comment I receive. Times are tough for a lot of people, and there seems to be a growing space between the haves and the have-nots. Many of these people who seem to have nowhere to go, nowhere to turn to, will go to various public spaces, often in our parks in particular. This can be tricky because these people seem to have nowhere to go, but our parks are designed for our residents and families to enjoy.
Fortunately, there is some help coming with a new year-round shelter for people experiencing homelessness. But more needs to be done. The dedicated Code Blue volunteers provide vital support, Trinity Lutheran Church offers “Feast,” a weekly community meal and food pantry, and Manna on Main Street continues to lead by example in delivering compassion and care to those in need.
But as I said, more needs to be done. More opportunities need to be created, and more collaborations need to be developed. We have so many great churches and civic organizations that could be working together to give proper help to more in need.
Residents have discussed revitalization and vacant businesses for much of the 2020s. How would you approach filling in empty storefronts and attract and retain businesses in town?
The biggest answer to that question is in an above question, making sure our existing businesses are doing well, proving that Lansdale is a viable avenue for future business opportunities. Also, good communication with the landlords and building owners is needed. Their dreams and desires for their buildings have to match ours. We need quality businesses, and they need quality tenants.
But, to help attract potential quality businesses, it helps tremendously if the building looks attractive and upkept instead of run down and ignored. A perfect example, a section of the 300 block of West Main Street. The building owners of that large vacant section gave it a great exterior makeover (in part helped by the borough’s Facade Improvement Grant program), cleaned out the inside, ready for anything.
Now, Escapopolis, Scent and Sip, and More Than Fish Aquarium and Pets are in that space. A strip of businesses that are a huge asset to our community. Also, a Main Street Manager who can work with the existing businesses and put the time into helping find potential ones is a big priority for me.
Plus, there are various programs for us to work with, like the county’s Main Street Matters program, a great program that has huge potential for Lansdale businesses and future businesses. I am so excited about these last two items and the direction we are already headed with them.
Council has approved tax, electric, and sewer rate increases in recent years. How would you balance maintaining town infrastructure against increasing costs for residents?
That balance can be tough when you are dealing with an old town trying to improve a lot of outdated infrastructure and utilities. We have nine people on our borough council, and they all have the tedious job of regularly meeting and discussing these issues with the various department heads. That is what they are elected to do.
Though, as mayor, I know it is crucial to prioritize expenditures, and I will constantly question these decisions. I can tell you I’ll lower taxes and give you a variety of promises for your vote, but this is reality. I will, though, promise to question council for you, share your concerns, and do everything in my power to prevent any further increases, even if I have to exercise my veto power on the budget until it works.
Your campaign website, social media pages, and/or anywhere else our readers can find you.
Website: billhenningforlansdale.com
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit https://www.thereporteronline.com
