Latest news with #DariaDevlin
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Daria Devlin stuns two-term incumbent Erie Mayor Joe Schember to win Democratic primary
Daria Devlin's time is now. The 47-year-old Democrat scored a stunning upset in the May 20 municipal primary, defeating two-term incumbent Erie Mayor Joe Schember and retired educator Sheila Woeger for their party's nomination for the top job in city government. According to final unofficial vote totals from the Erie County Courthouse, Devlin, the director of social impact for Hamot Health Foundation, garnered 5,117 votes, or 50%, to 4,694 votes for Schember (46%) and 359 votes, (3.2%) for Woeger. 'I need to say thank you to the most amazing campaign team,' Devlin said. 'We did it, and it's amazing.' It was an improbable win for Devlin, who first confirmed her primary run to the Erie Times-News in October. Devlin defeated a two-term incumbent devoid of major scandal or damaging public missteps, a mayor in Schember who was first elected in 2017 and rolled to re-election in the 2021 primary by defeating two Democratic challengers and walking away with 74% of the vote. But Devlin, who raised a staggering $217,000 for her primary run, campaigned on a platform of change, fiscal responsibility and the aggressive pursuit of solutions to blight, the city's housing crisis, and workforce development. She also pledged to develop better programs to nurture local youth. She said her campaign heavily leaned on reaching people through various social media platforms and face-to-face interaction with voters. She also felt her televised debate with Schember in April exposed a lot of voters to her campaign platform.'I really believe people were ready for something different,' Devlin said in an interview. 'People want to see real change in their city and I don't think they saw that (under Schember). They're hungry for it.' Devlin, who thanked Schember for eight years of service to the city, also described Schember during her campaign as status-quo and out of touch with the needs of Erie's citizens. She hammered Schember about the city's finances, saying Erie was heading for a 'financial crisis' without better leadership. She also secured a rare endorsement from the Erie County Democratic Party's city-based committee members, who typically stay away from backing one candidate over another in primary elections. The party's chairman, Sam Talarico, said that several committee members 'thought it was time for a change.' And Devlin brought that change home in the municipal primary. She celebrated her victory with a raucous crowd of supporters at the 1020 Collective, 1020 Holland St., in downtown Erie. 'You guys delivered this tonight!' Devlin said. Devlin will now face Republican Matthew Thomas in the Nov. 4 municipal election. Thomas, a 37-year-old Erie lawyer, claimed the GOP nomination in the primary; there were no other GOP candidates in the race. However, Devlin will be a huge favorite in the municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge. No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in to Erie County Voter Registration Office data, there are 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie and 13,850 registered Republicans. Erie County municipal primary: Review from May 20 live coverage Devlin made a point of reminding her supporters that 'this is the primary. We have a general election to win. And we're going to fight just as hard… So we can be right back here in November to celebrate.' A disappointed Schember said he 'will accept the voters' result' and will focus on 'serving the city and moving our projects forward' for the remainder of his term. Asked about the loss, Schember said, 'I honestly don't know what happened. My door-to-door was very good, I thought, and I talked to over 1,000 people face to face. I really thought I was going to win by a lot tonight. Turns out, I lost by a little.' The Erie mayor's annual salary will increase from the current $95,000 to $120,000 a year in January 2026. The new salary tops the list of annual pay that mayors receive in Pennsylvania's third-class cities. Devlin said that between now and November, she will focus on 'bringing Democrats together, because I want the support of the people who didn't vote for me.' She also said she's taking nothing for granted in terms of the municipal election. 'What we've seen in national politics is, nothing is a given anymore,' Devlin said. 'Look, we didn't have a huge victory here, a huge margin. I want to unite the party and build trust, and we can be even stronger for November.' Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie mayor's race: Devlin defeats incumbent Schember in Dem primary
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2025 Primary Election Results: City of Erie Mayor
(WJET/WFXP) — The 2025 Pennsylvania primary election took place on May 20. This year's election for the City of Erie Mayor featured Incumbent Joe Schember against Daria Devlin and Sheila Woeger on the Democratic ticket. The winner of this race will go up against Matthew Thomas, the uncontested candidate on the Republican ticket, in the November general election. You can view election results as they update in real-time for the City of Erie mayoral race below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie County voters' guide to the May 2025 primary election
Voters in Erie County will hit the polls May 20. Poll hours across the state are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no-excuse mail-in voting allowed in the state, but the deadline to register to vote was May 5. Follow throughout primary day for local and state news and updates. Return once the polls close at 8 p.m. for more frequent reports throughout the night. Looking for your polling place? Polling place locations are found here. Confirm your voting rights in Pennsylvania at Brush up on how to use Erie County's voting machines: Learn how to use Erie County's new voting machines Learn how to fill out your mail-in ballot properly here. Some Erie County polling sites have changed for primary. See which voters are affected. Do you need a REALID to vote in the primary? Find out here. Incumbent Erie Mayor Joe Schember is seeking his third term, and is running against Democratic challengers Daria Devlin and Sheila Woeger. The winner will face unopposed Republican mayoral candidate Matthew Thomas. In the race for Erie County Executive, incumbent Republican Brenton Davis is unopposed. Christina Vogel and Perry Wood are seeking the Democratic nomination. Six Erie County districts have races for school board nominations. Here's a look at who's on the ballot. Girard and Wattsburg boroughs have contested races in the May 20 municipal primary Erie County will elect a judge on May 20. Jeremy Lightner, Emily Mosco Merski and Leigh Ann Orton are all running for one seat on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Current Erie City Council members, Ed Brzezinski and Chuck Nelson, along with Erie resident Brooke Sanfilippo are all seeking the Democratic nomination for city controller. Erie City Council primary includes six Democrats, including two incumbents. Meet the candidates here. Meet the four Republican candidates in the Erie City Council race. Erie elections: Four controller candidates state why you should vote for them The race for Erie mayor: 3 questions for Democrats Schember, Devlin, Woeger Wood outraises Vogel in Erie County executive race Schember, Devlin raise big money in Erie mayor's race. Here's the breakdown Who leads fundraising in Erie County judge's race? Big in-kind contribution tips totals Find out where the candidates stand on the issues. Read what they have to say in our Erie Times-News opinion section: City of Erie Mayor candidates Matthew Thomas: City of Erie is a 'dead man walking,' but solutions are not hard Joe Schember: A record of financial stability, safety, growth and renewal Daria Devlin: Erie, it's time for change and real solutions to serious problems Sheila Ellyn Woeger: Erie needs a paradigm shift - a government for the people This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County voters' guide: May 2025 primary election
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The race for Erie Mayor: 3 questions for Republican Matthew Thomas
Republican Matthew Thomas, an attorney, has called the city a 'dead man walking,' attributing the city's decline to crime, lack of economic opportunity and failing schools. Thomas, a 37-year-old Erie lawyer, believes that he is the best candidate to lead Erie forward, not current two-term incumbent Democrat Joe Schember. Four candidates are on the May 20 municipal primary ballot. Either Schember or one of two Democratic challengers —Daria Devlin or Sheila Woeger — will win the Democratic nomination for mayor and will almost certainly face Thomas in the Nov. 4 municipal election since there is no other GOP candidate in the race. The Democratic primary winner will be a huge favorite in the November municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge. No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in 1961. According to the Erie County Voter Registration Office, there are 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie, compared to 13,850 registered Republicans. The Erie mayor's annual salary will increase from the current $95,000 to $120,000 a year in January 2026. The new salary tops the list of annual pay that mayors receive in Pennsylvania's third-class cities. The Erie Times-News asked each of the mayoral candidates the same three questions regarding city government and the mayor's race. The newspaper reserved the right to edit responses for length and clarity. Question: As you see it, what unique leadership qualities separate you from the other candidates in this race? Answer: Currently I'm an attorney who handles (hundreds of) cases a year for the Erie County Public Defender's Office. What that environment has taught me as far as leadership is concerned is that having to have my nose to the grindstone 24-7, you can accomplish anything. There is no limit or very few limits to my ability to work and work hard; to solve problems; and to find creative solutions to problems. I think the city of Erie needs a course correction and at the end of the day, if you have to correct your course, you just keep going because things are going to work out in the end. The city of Erie is facing significant structural budget deficits over the next several years without raising property taxes. Given that roughly 90% of the city's budget goes to employee-related costs such as salaries, pensions and health care, and much of that spending is mandated by union contracts, what specific steps would you take to stabilize finances? We cannot obviously renege on a contract that's been signed, although I would ask the city solicitor to go through those contracts and to see if there are things that are wasteful, or if we can back out of an unneeded contract. Those things can be litigated in court and as an attorney I understand that. Direct primaries didn't always exist: The first was held in Crawford County in 1842. I don't want to fire any good employees in the city, but I would approach this — and I realize this isn't going to make some people very happy — the way that the Department Of Government Efficiency is being approached on a federal level. I may even ask for volunteers to assist with this. The city of Erie has received massive grants in the past for various projects. I want to go through the city budget line by line, with accountants, and see what we can find. The biggest way you address a budget deficit is by bringing businesses in the city and (expanding) the tax base. What moves would you immediately make as mayor to improve the quality of life for the city's residents? The biggest and most important things are the basics. We didn't have great plowing on streets last winter. We need to have better plowing. We have to repave the streets with the potholes and everything. Along those lines, one thing I want to look into is how we're paving streets. We've all seen situations where we pave streets and two years later they're all torn up again. And another thing is, I want to see trash picked up off the street not just in rich neighborhoods, but in poor neighborhoods too. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: How Republican Matthew Thomas would approach the job of Erie mayor
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The race for Erie mayor: 3 questions for Democrats Schember, Devlin, Woeger
Seeking what would be his third and final four-year term in office, Democratic Erie Mayor Joe Schember is urging voters to consider his administration's accomplishments Schember, 74, says that since 2018 his administration has various successes, including bringing new jobs and businesses to the city; helped develop quality affordable housing; expanded citywide tax breaks for new construction; worked to reduce city debt and cut structural budget deficits; reduced crime; and has embraced immigrants, new Americans, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. However, two Democratic challengers seeking to deny Schember's re-election bid say city government badly needs new leadership, ideas and energy. Daria Devlin, a 47-year-old current member of the Erie School Board, contends that Schember's administration has failed to rein in the city's budget, warning that Erie could be headed for a financial crisis as multimillion-dollar budget deficits loom in the future. Another Democratic challenger, retired teacher Sheila Woeger, 70, has said that Erie has been held back by racial, socioeconomic and cultural divides that deny opportunity for many citizens and keep the city from growing. Direct primaries didn't always exist: The first was held in Crawford County in 1842. Four candidates are on the May 20 municipal primary ballot. Either Schember, Devlin or Woeger will win the Democratic nomination for mayor and will almost certainly face Republican Matthew Thomas in the Nov. 4 municipal election since there is no other GOP candidate in the race. The Democratic primary winner will be a huge favorite in the November municipal election because of the city's more than 2-1 Democratic voter registration edge. No Republican has been elected mayor of Erie since Charles Williamson in 1961. According to Erie County Voter Registration Office data, there are 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie and 13,850 registered Republicans. The Erie mayor's annual salary will increase from the current $95,000 to $120,000 a year in January 2026. The new salary tops the list of annual pay that mayors receive in Pennsylvania's third-class cities. The Erie Times-News asked each of the Democratic mayoral candidates the same three questions regarding city government and the mayor's race. The newspaper reserved the right to edit responses for length and clarity. Here is what the candidates had to say. Question: As you see it, what unique leadership qualities separate you from the other candidates in this race? Schember: I believe that what separates me is that I am caring, compassionate, see the best in everyone, and don't pretend to have all of the answers. My leadership style is different than many others who seek public office. I act as a steward of our public resources, value the insights and perspectives of those on the front lines delivering services day-in and day-out, and I implement both short-term and long-term solutions in the best interest of residents. I like to listen in meetings rather than dictate because one of the things I learned from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is that, as mayor, it's important to listen first. I value everyone for the unique perspectives, skills, and talents that each of us possesses. Once everyone shares their ideas, we arrive at a decision together, and everyone does their part to make it happen. I do not micromanage. I have built an incredible team, and I place a lot of trust in them. It's because of my leadership style that we are able to accomplish so much. I am driven to serve the public because I want to take what I have learned and leave a legacy for the future. Devlin: In every way, my personal and professional life has prepared me for this moment to lead this city that I love. As I think has been evident during this campaign, I'm not afraid of having hard, honest conversations or making difficult decisions with honesty and care. I lead with a people-centered approach that is focused on those I serve. I build strong teams, listen deeply, and bring people together to solve problems. And, most importantly, I know how to take action and get things done. Woeger: I possess the unique skill of open communication, which is vital in any leadership capacity. I always enter every conversation objectively with an ear to hear what the other person has to say. Empathy is another attribute I possess which is much needed in a leadership position; without it leadership can easily become dictatorship. My educational background includes working as a paralegal, holding both an Associate and Bachelor's degree. I have also completed courses toward a masters degree in public administration, which included courses in business administration. My legal studies degree endowed me the knowledge to discover information that may otherwise be overlooked and the knowledge of legal terminology which will be an asset during contract negotiations. The city of Erie is facing significant structural budget deficits without raising property taxes. Given that roughly 90% of the city's budget goes to employee-related costs such as salaries, pensions and health care and much of that spending is mandated by union contracts, what specific steps would you take to stabilize finances? Schember: My team and I are in the eighth year of a 12-year strategy and have made great progress, but there is still more work to do. We are applying for a (state) grant to undertake the City's second five-year financial management plan. We have incorporated both short-term and long-term strategies to stabilize city finances, and we would continue to do the same in the third and final term. When I took office, my team and I did the city's first five-year budget projection and discovered that the City was projected to have shortfalls of $11 million, $5 million, $7 million, $13 million, $17 million, and $23 million from 2019 to 2024. Many people thought we were headed for Act 47 but I was determined not to let that happen. With our sound financial practices, we have turned it around. We have implemented several short-term and long-term strategies to eliminate our deficits and expand our tax base, including expanding the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program citywide; paying down the city's debt; securing grants; investing million of dollars into businesses to create jobs and increase revenue; and investing funding into housing rehab, renovations and new construction. This strategy helped us to turn the 2023 projected deficit of $17 million into a $243,000 surplus and the 2024 projected deficit of $23 million into a $2 million net surplus. And we did this without raising property taxes the last six years and without using the funding from the prepayment of the water lease the last two years. As a result of all these actions, the City of Erie has achieved its strongest financial position in decades. We will continue to do those things. Devlin: It is absolutely critical that we begin to take the necessary steps now to avoid devastating consequences of our structural deficit over the next five years. First, we must acknowledge the crisis – Erie is facing a long-term structural deficit, and we can't solve it with one-time money or short-term fixes. Second, we must look for efficiencies where we can achieve them and stop wasteful spending where it exists. Third, we need to develop a multi-year plan with advice from financial experts and community leaders that will help to right our fiscal ship. Lastly, we must recognize that our budget problem is rooted in our declining population and develop strategies to grow our city's tax base. And, most importantly, we must do all these things with full transparency so that the public remains informed and educated about our city's financial health. Woeger: After an intense review of the current budget, line item by line item, I would search for any excessive and or unnecessary spending. It is imperative that every tax payer dollar is spent wisely, efficiently and accounted for. It is also important that the city doesn't just talk transparency, but to be actively engaged in it. I would also be an active participant in all union negotiations. The taxpayer has every right to know where the money is being spent and every right to know request should be transparent in its administration. When public information is redacted, your transparency becomes questionable. What moves would you immediately make as mayor to improve the quality of life for the city's residents? Schember: My team and I have already embarked on several initiatives that we would seek to complete in the third term. Several plans are currently underway. Our focus will continue to be on revitalizing our neighborhoods, creating jobs, increasing housing opportunities, and stabilizing the City's finances. We will implement the five-year financial management plan; the Safe Streets and Roads for All plan to reduce traffic fatalities and improve our streets; ear Financial Management Plan; a parks and recreation plan based on residents' priorities; a housing strategy to rehabilitate properties and expand homeownership opportunities; and a local climate action plan. We will also expand and grow jobs by providing more grants and loans to businesses; renovate the (former Miller Bros) property at 2111 State St. into an emergency operations center; continue to shore up our infrastructure; expand the Love Your Block program and grow our youth programs; and improve public safety. We already have these and other initiatives underway and look forward to finishing what we started. Devlin: During my first 100 days, I'll work to rebuild trust by making City Hall more accessible and responsive to citizen needs. I'll also focus on the city's core services– street paving, public spaces, safety, trash and snow removal to make sure City Hall is working for every taxpayer. I'll convene partners to develop a data-driven plan for investment in our neighborhoods that improves housing and quality of life for residents of every block, and I'll address city-wide accessibility to parks and green spaces. My administration will be one that listens and acts. I'll show up in our neighborhoods and attend events, but I'll also make decisions that are responsive to the needs of our entire city. Woeger: I would first plan a meet and greet with every city employee, department by department, one on one; to convey to each of them their value as an employee and that their job performance matters. I would engage in a walk through of the city to identify areas of neglect and work immediately to solve them. No resident should live in housing that should be condemned and no person should be without water, the most vital resource for human survival and absolutely, no property owner should have a tarp covering a dilapidated roof. I will remind myself every day that I am a government of the people, by the people and therefore a government for the people. I need not tell anyone that I am a born-again spirit-filled believer in God through Jesus the Christ, they will know by my character. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: How the 3 Democratic candidates for Erie mayor would approach the job
