Sheila Ellyn Woeger: Erie needs a paradigm shift - a government for the people

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13-05-2025

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Proverbs 29:2, King James Version
I was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, during the era of segregation, where faith in God, the creator of heaven and earth, family and community were the crux of human existence. I attended segregated public schools until my freshman year in high school. The state of Oklahoma, adhering to Brown v. Board of Education, closed all Negro schools, while introducing busing. A new high school was erected to combine both the Negro and Caucasian schools, creating what is now known as Muskogee High School.
I remember vividly the first time I was called a racial slur, and wondered where did the hate come from? When I told my grandmother about the incident, she said, "forgive them because they know not what they do. You just do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I took what she said to heart and patterned my life after those words.
My first marriage ended in divorce. My second marriage ended in divorce, I believe as a result of racial slurs being hurled to my husband, and the impact it had on my young children. It was then that I came to realize, it's not about the color of one's skin but rather the evilness of one's heart.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12.
The good things that came out of California were the birth of my youngest son, and my associate of arts degree in paralegal studies.
I moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1996, which is where my first husband had settled. He was born and reared here.
Erie reminded me of the segregated era of my childhood. I soon discovered in my search for employment that the evilness of men's heart does not discriminate. I was denied employment by as many African Americans as I was Caucasians. It is without doubt that it was my faith in God through Christ Jesus my Lord that kept me rooted and grounded, for which I will be forever grateful.
After two-and-one-half years working for the Erie School District as a substitute custodian, teacher assistant and secretary, applying for over 25 positions, I was informed by an employee that a conversation was overheard. "Why should we hire her when she's the best substitute we've ever had." I didn't become bitter but better as I was comforted by words of God that were written on my heart.
While waiting to meet with the late Monsignor Vincent Enright at the Erie County Courthouse in the personnel office area, I scanned the job announcements with two piquing my interest. I submitted an application for librarian assistant as well as library clerk. I was offered the librarian assistant position, where I managed the Inner-City Outreach Program. I was also a union steward AFSCME Council 13, where I fought to have a coworker's job classification upgraded and won. I left that position to work in the Erie County Voter Registration Office.
It was the late Monsignor Enright who encouraged me to return to college to get my bachelor's degree. I graduated from Gannon University in 2007 with the bachelor's degree in legal studies. I was also certified as a Magisterial District Judge the same year. It was during my certification process that I discovered that the laws of the land in Pennsylvania only applies if you are a person of color.
I have also earned credits towards a master's degree in public administration, with a concentration in business administration.
I lost my employment with Erie County because being a county employee and running for public office was against Pennsylvania law.
As a candidate for mayor, I do not bring leadership skills as warranted by the world system. I've been denied equal opportunity. What I do possess is the wisdom of God who gives to all men liberally. The love of God which makes me to even love my enemy, and gives me empathy — because I've experienced homelessness, lived in housing that should have been condemned, and as a new homeowner, went seven days without water, here in Erie. There are people in this city currently living in those conditions; I want to change that.
Scripture tells us the poor you will have with you always. Scripture also tells us that when you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord. Leadership without empathy is dictatorship. Erie is in need of a paradigm shift — because we need a government for the people. Erie has the potential to be a beautiful city, every neighborhood vibrant regardless of a person's race, gender, religion, ethnicity, origin or sexual identity. "For God so loved the world…" John 3:16. Diversity, equity and inclusion all wrapped up in one.
More: Who are the candidates for city of Erie, county races in the May primary?
We all came to America on different ships. As an African-American, my ancestors' voyage was involuntary, but we're all in the same boat now, and the sooner we learn to row together, the better we will be as a city, a state, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all (cited from the Pledge of Allegiance).
I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote. I sincerely believe that because I put God first that day of the casting by lots in determining my spot on the ballot, by facilitating my Bible study instead as I do every Wednesday at 10 a.m., remembering that the clothes torn from Jesus' body were cast by lots, the first name to appear on the ballot for Mayor of the City of Erie, Pennsylvania, is Sheila Ellyn Woeger.
Sheila Ellyn Woeger is seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 20th Erie mayoral primary.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Sheila Woeger: The education and experience to be Erie mayor | Opinion