Vote for Gerald Smith
Indiana Borough Councilor
My name is Gerald Smith. I've been an Indiana Borough Councilor representing the 2nd ward for two terms. Thank you again for supporting me and my leadership in Indiana, PA. I'm writing today to ask for your support on May 18 to put me on the November ballot for a new term.
I am proud of my service on Borough Council and my role in helping to form the vision of this community. I first became interested in this service eight years ago, when it seemed that this town was ready for a change. The arts and cultural festivals that have established themselves in the last eight years, like the It's a Wonderful Life Festival and the Northern Appalachian Folk Festival are the result of an enormous amount of community effort, and new leadership ready to say yes.
I have maintained a number of priorities for Indiana, and look forward to continuing to expand on these in a new term. These include
- Providing opportunities for our business district to thrive;
- Leading collaborations with local stakeholders such as IUP, the Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Indiana;
- Communicating to residents and beyond about important issues facing our community, and opportunities for community building.
- Demonstrating sustainable, state of the art practices in our storm water and sewer system infrastructure.
In addition, I look forward to maintaining and improving policies to ensure that we are a Welcoming Community. In response to national attention brought to racial inequity and disparities, particularly in policing, the Borough Police force has looked inwards, and begun an ongoing program of diversity training. I have been at the forefront of these changes, and also led the effort to establish a local advisory chapter to the Pennsylvania Human Right Commission, which is in place to guarantee civil rights.
Of course, Indiana faces challenges. The impact of COVID on the health and the economy of our region is significant. Financial relief has softened the blow for some small businesses, but some of our biggest employers are significantly reducing jobs. It is heartbreaking to me to see neighbors who invested in community leaving town.
However, I am confident this community has the strength and perseverance to weather these challenges. I ask for your trust to help lead us through these challenging times. Please vote for me,
Gerald Smith for Indiana Borough Council on May 18.
