Pottsville is at a crossroads. For years, we have watched city government fall short on the basics: accountability, responsiveness, and results. Taxes have skyrocketed, the essential functions that keep our city running have broken down, and public confidence in City Hall is at an all-time low. The people of Pottsville deserve better. I am Tom Smith, and I am running for Mayor along with Jon Marsh and Scott Price for City Council. Together, we represent a Republican team ready to restore trust and bring real solutions to our city.
Too often, real problems are ignored while taxpayers foot the bill. Pottsville has missed major grant opportunities that could have brought millions in investment. Worse, the city’s solicitor represents both the city and two authorities, the Redevelopment Authority and the Sewer Authority, at the same time, a blatant conflict of interest, while billing taxpayers at outrageous rates. Both authorities are in utter disarray, the result of years of poor oversight and failed leadership that have drained city funds without producing results worthy of the price tag. Pottsville’s setbacks are not accidents; they are the product of failed leadership. Our team will restore professionalism and accountability to City Hall, review every contract, cut waste, and make sure every dollar serves the people, not the insiders.
They call it redevelopment, but the only thing being developed in Pottsville right now is frustration. Across our city, too many properties have been left to decay by absentee owners who have no stake in our community. The city’s Blight Task Force hasn’t met in a year and a half, and at its last meeting, there were over 300 properties on the list. Blight is clearly not a priority for the current administration. Meanwhile, taxpayer funds sit unallocated, and neighborhoods continue to deteriorate. We need action, not excuses. Our plan is simple: anyone purchasing a rundown or abandoned property will be required to place funds in an escrow account equal to the cost of demolition and cleanup. This ensures accountability and guarantees progress. We will reestablish the Blight Task Force as an active, transparent body that works with residents and responsible property owners to rebuild our neighborhoods and strengthen the city we call home.
Code enforcement has also become one of the most common frustrations among residents. Calls go unanswered, violations are ignored, and citizens feel dismissed. Over a year ago, Taxpayers paid tens of thousands of dollars for a new answering system, intended to improve communication between residents and city departments. It still has not been set up. The city found the money but not the will to follow through. Our Republican team will change that. Within our first 90 days, we will activate that system, strengthen code enforcement staffing, and ensure that residents receive timely and respectful responses.
While these failures continue, city leadership imposed the largest tax increase in twenty-five years, promising improvements that never came. Higher taxes should mean better results, but instead, our streets, neighborhoods, and the very workings of our city tell a different story: taxes went up while our police force was reduced and public safety weakened. Our team will focus on fiscal discipline, measurable results, and transparency. Every dollar must serve a clear purpose and deliver value back to taxpayers.
We have a plan for our first 90 days, a clear, actionable roadmap to get Pottsville back on track. But look at what the Democrats have done in their last 90 days. They forced the City Administrator to resign with no plan to replace him, ignored every grant opportunity, and let conflicts of interest run City Hall. When even one of their own can no longer stomach the dysfunction, that tells you everything you need to know about how bad things have gotten. This goes beyond party lines; it’s about standing up for what’s right and working together to fix what they’ve failed to do. Pottsville deserves better. Pottsville is ready for a government that listens, acts, and delivers. John Marsh, Scott Price, and I are ready to do just that. Together, we can bring competence, communication, and common sense back to City Hall. On Election Day, vote Tom Smith for Mayor, and Jon Marsh and Scott Price for City Council. Let us move Pottsville forward together.
Tom Smith is a Republican candidate for Mayor of Pottsville in the 2025 Schuylkill County Municipal General Election.
Editor’s Note: Coal Region Canary does not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. All opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the candidate. Any candidate appearing on the ballot in the 2025 Schuylkill County Municipal Election is invited to submit an editorial for publication. Details are available by contacting newscanary@gmail.com or by visiting this link.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...