Marshall Stomel: 'We Must Embrace the Need to Grow as a Community ...'

Qualifications for the position
Working in Purchasing and Operations for the last 22+ years has given me a keen sense of budgeting and experience on how to save money. Strong communication and negotiation skills have also come to me as a result of my job functions -- continual education, seminars, and books have helped me refine my skills over the years. Throughout the past six months, I feel my presence on borough council has made a positive impact on the people I serve, and has been embraced by my co-council members.

Trappe’s important issues
Our streets are like the central nervous system in the body. Without them in good running order, we find ourselves either very disabled or worse. I am happy to see us finally completing a long overdue comprehensive survey of our roads enabling us the ability to make educated decisions on what should be done. I would add the firehouse to our list of priorities. Along with our infrastructure, it is a vital piece of our borough that has fallen into disrepair and is in need of repairs for the safety of the people who use them in the most efficient way possible.

On revitalization 
I agree with the need to revitalize and create a vibrant Main Street that promotes commerce, jobs and helps our tax base. We must embrace the need to grow as a community and accept change without losing our identity. I recognize this as a long-term plan. Only with support from government grants, donations from buisness groups and our residents, to name a few, will we be able to accomplish this. Again, due to the two issues above, (The roads and the firehouse), which are more pressing vital issues, revitalizing Main Street is more of a long-term vision. I would like to see more development in this area, but as I said on the night I was appointed, I do not believe we should raise taxes for this purpose, but I will support other efforts to this end.

 Before you vote
I bring a passion and energy to serving on Council and helping my community as I have with the many charity fundraisers I have started or participated in. My family and I love Trappe and plan to stay here for many years to come, and therefore, I would like to the opportunity to continue serving as your councilman. As I stated when I was appointed in May, I was not coming aboard to simply finish the year and I would always fight for what I felt was in the best interests of the people of Trappe, even if it was an unpopular position with regard to other council members. 

So I ask of you to please support me and WRITE IN, MARSHALL STOMEL for the two-year term for Borough Council.