3 Seek Dem Nod For Chester Mayor
By Bob Small
There’s a three way race for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Chester. Incumbent Thaddeus Kirkland is trying to hold off the challengers; City Councilman Stefan Roots and Realtor Pat Worrell.
The primary election is May 16.
Kirkland’s tenure has seen numerous scandals.
The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ordered him to pay back $2,000 to the state. He also received $15,000 in campaign finance contributions from individuals and entities connected to PFS V11 which has a parking contract connected with the City of Chester. There’s more but space is limited.
Kirkland, who was previously a state representative, is pastor of Community Baptist Church. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Cheyney University. He and his wife have five daughters.
Pat Worrell is owner and operator of the Worrell Real Estate firm. She is a member of the Chester Zoning Hearing Board and had served as chairwoman.
She has run for magisterial district judge (2011), state senate (2012) and County Council (2013). She has been endorsed by PMBR (Philadelphia Metropolitan Board of Realty), Frank Daly, Estate Attorney, and NAREB (National Association of Real Estate Brokers.)
Stefan Roots is familiar to many of us from his occasional columns in both the Delco Times and The Swarthmorean. In 2006, he launched the Chester Spotlight and currently edits the Chester Matters Blog
In January 2022 he was elected to Chester City Council. He has a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Villanova. He notes his campaign was championed by Todd Strine, co-owner of the Swarthmorean, and part of the wealthy Strine family.
He is crusading to shut down the Covanta trash-to-steam plant, which brings the city $8 million per year of 15 percent of its budget. It also generates electricity for 48,000 homes
He is not impressed with Kirkland.
“I work with the man every day and I haven’t seen or heard any vision coming from him,” he said.
There will be a virtual candidate forum on Wednesday, April 26.
Then again, none of this may matter.
