The three Republican challengers for the Pottsville Mayor and City Council seats say the current administration bungled the application for a special state revitalization fund and has no vision for the future.
Tom Smith, who is running for Mayor, and Jon Marsh and Scott Price, the GOP’s two City Council candidates will appear uncontested on the May 20 Republican Primary ballot. That means they’re set to face off against the Democrat slate of candidates in the Fall General Election.
The balance of power in Pottsville government is at stake. And it’ll be the first election in recent memory where the voter registration totals between the two parties, in the typical Democrat stronghold of Pottsville, is nearly dead even.
In a statement announcing their candidacy, the GOP challengers say the current administration at City Hall failed to properly apply for the state’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) program. They say it cost Pottsville anywhere between $1.4-1.6 million annually over the next 30 years.
“This unacceptable error is in addition to years of poor financial management,” the statement reads.
The candidates also go after the City’s decision to raise property taxes for 2025 by 3 mills without offering a long-term plan to address what they call major issues in Pottsville: blight, roads with potholes, and a deteriorating water and sewer infrastructure.
They also say taxes on businesses are driving them away rather than attracting them to the city.
“Make no mistake, these policies and a lack of forward thinking will continue to put an unsustainable burden on taxpayers,” the candidates say.
Smith, Marsh, and Price say their education and experience can help improve the city’s financial standing and they plan to introduce a five-year plan to address what they’ve identified as Pottsville’s “major problems.”
About the Candidates
Short bios on each of the GOP candidates in Pottsville:
Tom Smith
Smith currently serves as president of the Schuylkill County YMCA. He says he’s active in the community through his volunteer work with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, and Volunteers in Medicine.
Smith is also a former board member of Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and is the former owner and president of Smith Motor Company.
Jon Marsh
Marsh is a Marine Corps veteran and is currently the co-owner of The Chopping Block as well as an agency manager at a local insurance agency.
He touts his degrees in Security and Risk Analysis from Penn State University and in Organization & Security Management from University of Phoenix.
Scott Price
Price works as a continuous improvement specialist for a global company where he helps build structured systems, improve efficiency, and increase revenue.
He is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in organizational management. Price volunteers at Hillside SPCA and Volunteers in Medicine.
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Tootsie
April 18, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Go for it, fellas! Best of Luck!