Doylestown Musician, Activist Announces Run For Mayor

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A local activist and longtime resident of Doylestown is throwing her hat in the race to be the next mayor of Doylestown Borough.

Larissa "Lolly" Hopwood, 42, knew she wanted to run for political office this year. The children's musician became involved in local activism in the past year, including the local Black Lives Matter protests held following the death of George Floyd last year.

"It's been quite a couple years in the world, and I feel it's important to think big but act on a local level," Hopwood says.

For starters, that means addressing racism in the Doylestown area, which Hopwood believes is alive and well despite what others may think.

"A lot of people think that racism isn't something we have to worry about because demographically this is a primarily white town, but we do have a lot of people who work in town that are people of color," she said.

Despite her passion for her beliefs, Hopwood is anything but a born politician. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness, she didn't vote in her first election until 2016, the outcome of which had a profound effect on her.

"That was a real fire that was lit under me," she recalls.

She believes her late arrival to the political scene gives her a certain advantage.

"Because this is my first time running, I feel I may have a bit more of a bolder voice when it comes to issues that may be controversial to people," Hopwood said. "When you witness imbalance in your own community, it’s important to step up."

In the weeks leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Hopwood organized grassroots rallies where speakers from the Bucks County Anti-Racism Coalition, Youth For Unity and local musicians gathered in a show of support for candidate Joe Biden. On at least one occasion, Democratic State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and former Rep. Wendy Ullman were in attendance.

Her run for mayor also comes as several high-profile development projects await the borough's approval, including 200 luxury apartments in the Doylestown Shopping Center, at least 150 apartments and commercial space at 280 N. Broad St. and a mixed-use commercial and residential development at the former Intelligencer property, across the street.

Hopwood said the new developments present an opportunity for the borough to help shape its future.

"We shouldn't get stuck on nostalgia," she said. "We should look at what the needs of our town are, how these changes are going to help our community and how we can do it in the Doylestown way. I think it's possible. It takes a lot of cooperation, but I think it's very possible for us to do that."

Hopwood moved to the borough in 1999 and worked at Siren Records and Doylestown Bookshop, two popular local hangouts. Lately her career as a children's musician has become more of a full-time gig, and during the pandemic, she's held volunteer Zoom story-time events with local kids. She and her 12-year-old child, Rowan, recently adopted a rat terrier named Daisy.

Hopwood is one of three Democrats running to replace Ron Strouse, a Democrat who was elected mayor in 2013 and has announced he will not seek a third term. Judith Fraivillig, who is a friend of Hopwood, is also running for the seat, along with borough council member Noni West.

The primary election in Pennsylvania will be held May 18. The last day to file for a mail-in ballot is May 11.

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