Malvern Mayor Candidate Raymond Is Attorney, 12 Years On Council

Pennsylvania's Primary Election is May 18. Catherine O. Raymond is a candidate for Mayor in Malvern Borough seeking to fill the role of Mayor David Burton whose term expires at the end of this year. She has served in the past on the borough council for a total of 12 years.

Raymond explained why she is running for election.

Catherine O. Raymond

Age: 62

Position Sought: Malvern Borough Mayor

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: My spouse, Eric S. Raymond, is a computer programmer. We have no children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Bachelor of Science in Economics from Villanova University; Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law.

Occupation: I have been practicing law since 1985 and have been practicing on my own since 2012.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: I am currently a member of the Malvern Historical Commission, an appointed office.

Why are you seeking elective office?: I am seeking the office of Mayor because it is unique. Being Mayor primarily involves oversight of our Police Department, which is critically important to life in the Borough. In addition, the Mayor also has the power to resolves tie votes on Borough Council, which can help shape policy on controversial issues.

The single most pressing issue facing our borough is: Development. How development happens can, and has, result in conflict between Malvernites--because builders often are not interested in fitting new construction into old spaces in a harmonious way. Development also brings new residents into the Borough, and more residents can lead to greater challenges for our small police force. I can't stop people being interested in Malvern, and I wouldn't want to. But I can and will continually keep track of new development in town, the better to advocate for solutions to problems it may create.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: I'm the only lawyer running for Mayor. As a lawyer, I have significant experience with contracts, as well as with discussing people's positions on issues. That experience will be important in negotiating the employment contract with our police force, which is one of the Mayor's key jobs

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: Diligence and communication. Diligence in developing and maintaining contacts with the police force, and with residents to be alert for potential problems. Communication, with residents, the police force, and other people in Borough government, to facilitate solving problems that do develop.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: In 2013, in my capacity of the time as Vice President of Borough Council, I chaired a meeting with the public to address concerns that Borough Council was considering disbanding our police force and preparing to outsource our protection services to another agency.
Even though Council's actions had not gone beyond information gathering, we felt that the public had a right to have its concerns heard and responded to, so we made sure to schedule and conduct a special meeting that ran nearly three hours, to so just that.
I have served a total of 12 years as a member of Borough Council. I served on the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, an ad hoc committee that works with consultants to craft a long-term policy document for Malvern, in 2012, and am serving on the Task Force that was appointed in 2020 to draft an updated Comprehensive Plan.
The experience I gained in these positions has made me very familiar with the problems that Malvern faces, and with the process of working with council members, members of the public, and others to address those problems.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Make sure you talk to everybody you are trying to persuade, even if you are certain that they disagree with you. The fact that you tried to discuss the issue with them in person may lead them to reconsider their stance.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: I've lived in Malvern for over 40 years, and I'm very aware that the choices I would make as Mayor, as in any other public office I've had, will affect my life, as well as everyone else's, in town.

Catherine O. Raymond's campaign page can be viewed here.