Election 2023: Republican Sean Barry For Newtown Borough Council

Candidates running in the Nov. 7 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.

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Republican Sean Barry is seeking a four-year term on the
Newtown Borough Council representing the town's first ward. He will face Democrat Gail Foley in the Nov. 7 general election.

Biographical Information

Name: Sean Barry

Age: 30

Town of residence: Newtown Boro

Position sought: Newtown Boro Council Ward 1

Are you an incumbent? No

Party affiliation: He's running as a Republican in the General Election, but he's a registered Independent.

Family: My wife, Devyn, and I have been proud residents of the Boro for the past three years. Newtown holds a special place in my heart as it is where I was born and raised. My entire family continues to reside in both Newtown Township and Newtown Borough, strengthening my connection to this wonderful community.

Education: B.S. in accounting from Elon University

Occupation: Owner/COO of Kel Tren WaterCare, a 4th generation family-owned Water Treatment Company.

Questions

1. Why are you running?

My new wife and I have chosen Newtown Borough as our home and look forward to raising our family here. My primary goal is to ensure the well-being of Newtown and its residents. To achieve this, we require fresh perspectives and resolute leadership. Our aim is to sustain growth and prosperity while preserving the cherished traditions and strong sense of community that we all hold dear.

2. What are the top issues facing the borough and how do you plan to address them?

Most importantly, we require strong leaders on the council who are unafraid to make informed decisions, rather than being swayed by their personal interests. I believe the top priorities are walkability, safety, and necessary infrastructure improvements.

Fortunately, there are grants available to us that can be used to install sidewalks and enhance walking paths. One promising option is the WalkWorks program offered by the Department of Health, which I intend to investigate to determine if it suits our town's needs.

In our pursuit of progress, we should also explore new revenue-generation ideas to support these improvements. We must be diligent in using our resources wisely and avoid investing in projects that do not deliver lasting value.

3. What are your ideas for improving the town?

We must prioritize the improvement of our crosswalks, ensuring pedestrians' safety when crossing our main streets such as Washington and State St. Additionally, enhancing overall lighting across the borough is essential to increase visibility throughout the area. Lastly, it's imperative that we push for the completion of the Steeple View project, so we can finally transform that unsightly, vacant parking lot and put an end to a decade of staring at its emptiness.