Election 2025: Kris Bauman for Newtown Borough Council

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate who submits a profile.

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — In the town's first ward, three candidates are running for two open, four-year seats on the Newtown Borough Council.

Incumbent Democrats Emily Heinz and Kris Bauman are running for re-election to the borough's six-member governing council. They are being challenged by Republican Courtney Lang in the General Election.

Name: Kris F. Bauman
Age: 70
Town of Residence: Newtown Borough
Position Sought: Borough Council
What Towns Does Your Position Cover: Newtown Borough
Party Affiliation: Democratic
Family: Kris and his wife are the parents of two adult daughters.
Education: B.A. in Urban Studies and Environmental Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Occupation: Real Estate Development Executive, Amazon Web Services

Questions

1. Why are you running for Borough Council? If elected, what will you bring to the table?

I am enormously proud to live in Newtown Borough. My wife and I have raised our children here, built lasting friendships, and consider ourselves fortunate to have found this special community 36 years ago.

Newtown Borough has much to preserve — and much to continue improving. We can only do so if we all work together and participate as fully as we can. As the incumbent Borough Council Vice President, I’ve seen firsthand both the challenges and opportunities that come with maintaining our vibrant, historic town.

I bring energy, experience, and a deep commitment to service. My background in business, real estate, and planning allows me to approach issues strategically and thoughtfully.

Although I work ful-time and travel regionally on business, I’m able to work remotely when not traveling. This ensures I can devote time to focus on Borough priorities. I’m dedicated to helping Newtown thrive.

2. What are your top priorities and how do you plan to address them?

My top priorities are fiscal management, walkability, sound zoning and development, a thriving business district, walkability, and historic preservation. As a former 10-year member and chair of the borough planning commission, I helped establish our first comprehensive plan and led broad reforms to our zoning ordinance. In my current role as council vice president, I serve as liaison to both the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and the Joint Historic Commission. With decades of professional experience in real estate development, I bring practical expertise to Borough projects — most notably the proposed Steeple View redevelopment, which will be the largest and most significant in decades. I worked with the previous applicant to ensure that adequate parking was retained to support our State Street businesses, which remain at the heart of our borough’s vitality. As this project advances under new ownership, I’ll continue work to foster thoughtful design and balanced growth that benefits the entire community.

A strong and welcoming business district is essential to our community’s character and economy. I am committed to supporting our State Street merchants by maintaining an attractive, walkable streetscape, encouraging collaboration between business owners and Borough officials, and ensuring that zoning and parking decisions help — rather than hinder — local commerce. I will continue to build on this foundation with thoughtful planning and active engagement.

Working with our borough manager, the council has strengthened budget coordination and clarity. With essential services — fire, emergency, and police — impacting our future budgets, I’ll continue applying my business background to ensure these remain properly funded and sustainable.

Finally, historic preservation defines who we are. Our HARB and Joint Historic Commission are composed of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers who care deeply about maintaining our character. Each project before them deserves careful consideration. As liaison, I convey their counsel. I am committed to applying ordinances fairly, and to being consistent while adapting thoughtfully to individual circumstances.

3. Do you have answers to the budgetary pressures facing the town, including the escalating cost of the emergency services?

Managing the budget has been and will always be a critical function of the council. Budgetary pressures are constant. Newtown Borough is financially healthy. We are now debt-free and maintain an adequate capital reserve. Costs go up every year for the Borough, just as they do for all of us. Expenditures have increased on average 2.8 percent per year since the beginning of 2022, significantly lower than the average core inflation rate of 3.6 percent during the same period.

We do face significant budgetary pressures managing police, fire and emergency services. We will never overlook the safety and security of our residents. The Borough recently hired an additional full-time police officer, which helps reduce reliance on part-time officers and overtime. Full-time officers know our town far better; and we are better prepared for succession planning, i.e. continuity into the future of the very effective police services that we know and expect. We are now negotiating a new police building lease, as well as new fire services and emergency services agreements. These are challenging efforts, requiring input from all of us on Council and our Borough Manager. Controlling costs ultimately requires that we arrive at what is equitable and in the overall best interests of the borough. I will continue to apply my decades of experience in budget management and business to these crucial ongoing efforts.