August, 2009

Dear Borough Residents of the 5th Ward,

My name is Dave LaLeike, and I am running as a write-in candidate for the 5th ward council seat for the borough of West Chester. This is a brief introductory letter to let voters know who I am and what issues I'd like to address as a candidate for the upcoming November 3rd election.

Who am I?

Having lived on West Nields Street since first moving to West Chester, my wife Beth and I are entering our seventeenth year as borough residents. Beth hails from York, PA, and I am a native of Chicago, IL.

I am an artist by profession and Beth works in the field of federal law enforcement. I believe my various life experiences can bring a positive perspective in helping govern our town. My family, Beth and I and our daughter, look forward to many more years in the borough, we have come to embrace West Chester as our distinctive hometown. [More information about Dave.]

Why am I running?

Over the past few years I have come to question, as many have, political party labels. I suppose pursuing elective office via a write-in candidacy reflects a reluctance to adhere to a prescribed set of categories, or definitions. Towards questioning the status quo, I will not be taking any campaign contributions.

If I am elected, one of my primary obligations will be accountability to the residents of the 5th ward and the borough as a whole. Listening to, and respecting other people's opinions will be an important responsibility as a your representative. Another concern I have is that the four Democratic candidates slated for council, for the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th wards, face no opposition candidates. I think it can be agreed democracy is best served by productive debate. Public dialogue is needed to address issues about borough expansion and the subject of long term fiscal integrity.

Efforts to date

Over the past two years I have made the acquaintance of many borough residents by helping to start a grass roots organization named West Chester Residents for Responsible Planning (WCRRP). Our group was formed in response to a land development project that involved West Chester University, and the borough, as business partners. Many neighbors were disturbed by the seemingly superficial means used to procedurally approve a parking garage located in a residential-zoned neighborhood. A legal appeal regarding the construction of the parking garage is still pending in state court.

As the spokesperson for WCRRP, I have attended, along with many neighbors, innumerable public meetings involving borough council and other governing bodies that help manage and guide our town. WCRRP has affected local legislative change regarding the residential notification process related to future land development deals. I enter this campaign with a sense of modest confidence. I feel comfortable engaging others in dialogue that can hopefully promote transparent government policy.

Though my scope of knowledge in the academic and professional world of political science is somewhat narrow, I do have traits that could serve residents of the 5th ward well, inquisitiveness, diligence and common sense. My continuing participation in municipal affairs has afforded me a foothold in the political process as far as learning by doing. Various past and present local government officials have complimented WCRRP for productive and persistent efforts.

How would it work?

My name will not appear on the 5th ward ballot. Voters who wish to support me must print my name, Dave LaLeike, on the provided write-in line on the ballot. You must also fill in the oval next to my printed name. It must be stressed, you have to carefully fill in the oval next to my printed name in order for your vote to count. Below is part of a sample ballot to show what the write-in portion of the 5th ward ballot may look like on November 3rd. Please note the filled in oval next to my printed name.

Write-In Ballot

Moving forward

I look forward to meeting more 5th ward residents as my campaign progresses. If you have any questions or comments please contact me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or check out my developing campaign website at: http://write-in.laleike.org/

Thank you for your consideration,

Dave LaLeike

New! Borough Resident Endorsements

Neighborhood endorsements for Write-In candidate Dave LaLeike.

Dave LaLeike truly cares about his neighbors and his neighborhood. He is committed to the idea that the neighbors and neighborhood needs to be treated equitably and with respect. Dave worked tirelessly representing the neighbors with their fight against the Nields St. garage because he strongly believed residents were not being treated fairly. Regardless of the issue, Dave will bring that same passion to do what is right.
Marc Tobias
3rd Ward Resident

Voting for Dave LaLeike is voting for an individual that would truly serve the needs of the 5th ward residents. Dave is not politically motivated. He will do the right thing for this community even if it is unpopular between other ward representatives. The accelerated growth of business and the University in West Chester is very evident by all homeowners and residents. We need someone like Dave LaLeike that will make sure future projects make sense and benefit the entire community.
Robert Abou Jaoude
5th Ward Resident

Dave Laleike has already proved his commitment to serving on behalf of the local community and has demonstrated his skills and competency in advocating over issues affecting the neighborhood. Dave has worked tirelessly and intelligently in relation to the proposed garage project in the south west ward, proving that he has the rare ability to understand, distill and convey the details of complex issues. He has endeavored to work with fairness and balance, appreciating the need for concession and compromise while at the same time recognizing that the decisions made by Council sometimes can have unintended but significant negative ramifications for many of the Borough residents.
We give our unqualified support for Dave's decision to run for West Chester Borough Council.
Ray and Claire Boston
5th Ward Residents

Daily Local, August 20

West Chester election heats up with write-in candidacy

Published: Thursday, August 20, 2009

By DAN KRISTIE, Staff Writer

WEST CHESTER — It appeared on the day after the primary that the borough was in for a rather boring general election season.

Bill Scott, who lost the Democratic mayoral primary, said he would not run in the general election.

That left six Democrats running uncontested in each of the six major municipal races. The Republicans have fielded no candidates for borough seats this year.

At the start of August, however, something happened that promises to make West Chester's upcoming political season a little more interesting.

David LaLeike, a Democrat turned independent who has been a major fighter in the battle against the borough's plan to build a parking garage at South New and West Nields streets, announced that he would run in the Fifth Ward as a write-in candidate.

The Fifth Ward seat will be vacated at year's end by Councilwoman Carolyn Comitta, who is running uncontested for mayor. Tom Paxon, a salesman for a pipe company, was endorsed by the Democrats to run in her place.

LaLeike said that he would like to go from being an opponent of Borough Council to one of its members.

"At this juncture, I think I can accomplish more by being a council member — an insider, so to speak," he said. "It's more worthwhile being a constructive member of local government than having a long-term adversarial role, or to be perceived as having that."

He added that he is not against future real estate development. Rather, he said, he wants to take a comprehensive and informed look at how various projects will affect the whole borough.

LaLeike is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the borough. Borough Council approved a proposal in May 2008 that would allow the borough to build a parking garage at South New and West Nields streets, at the edge of the West Chester University campus. The lot would serve borough residents and the university, borough officials said.

LaLeike and other neighbors in the area have argued that the borough is actually building a garage for the university, and that, as such, it is not really a public garage. Therefore, the neighbors argue, the borough does not have the right to build the garage.

LaLeike and Brendan Dolan, neighbors who are members of West Chester Residents for Responsible Planning, appealed the board's May decision to the Court of Common Pleas in September 2008.

Common Pleas Judge David Bortner denied their appeal in January 2009, and they have taken their appeal to the Commonwealth Court.

Nathaniel Smith, the chairman of the West Chester Democratic Committee, said that he welcomes LaLeike to the race.

Smith, who has been dedicating much energy to the West Chester Area School Board race, in which both the Republican and the Democratic parties have fielded full slates of candidates, said he is pleased that the Fifth Ward race may prompt more borough residents to show up to the polls, where they would presumably also vote in the school board election.

"Anything that will bring voters to the polls in West Chester in November is a good thing," Smith said.

He added that LaLeike's candidacy will help educate residents about the Nields and New streets parking garage issue. But, he said, it will be hard in a heavily Democratic ward to beat an endorsed Democrat.

Paxon, the endorsed Democrat, did not immediately return a voicemail message requesting comment.

To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

COMMENTS

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of dailylocal.com.

JMitchell wrote on Aug 20, 2009 10:08 AM:

" Mr. LaLeike's write-in candidacy is welcome news!

His community involvement these past three years regarding the parking garage and complimenting issues has been impressive and given the 5th ward residents a true voice in the process. Too often those in charge say they want the residents' opinions about issues that effect our lives and tax dollars, but in reality they don't. It is mere lip service. I think Mr. LaLeike will reach out to his constituents and work with them.

In regards to Mr. Smith's assessment that "it will be hard in a heavily Democratic ward to beat an endorsed Democrat," we will have to wait and see if the Dems are sheep or thoughtful about the process. Writing as a long-time registered Dem, what has Mr. Paxon done to date to earn my vote at the polls?

Mr. LaLeike has a record, visibility and name recognition which counts for more in my book. I for one will be voting via write-in vote for Mr. LaLeike. "