Phoenixville Borough Council Candidate Profile: Neil Herman

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Election Day 2019 is just around the corner, and there are several races being on the ballot in Chester County. In Phoenixville, the only contested municipal race is in the borough's North Ward, where incumbent Democrat Edwin Soto is being challenged by Republican Neil Herman.

The other Phoenixville council races — Democrats Brian Weiss in the East Ward, Jonathan Ewald in the Middle Ward, and Brian C. Moore in the West Ward — include only a single candidate running unopposed.

We asked Herman, 36, about his background and where he stands on a few important local issues.

>>Phoenixville Borough Council Candidate Profile: Edwin Soto

Experience

Herman is a U.S. military veteran, and currently serves as the ISS Coordinator at Phoenixville High School. He's also a local youth sports coach and a volunteer with the Phoenixville Jaycees. His wife is the principal at Renaissance Academy; they have two children.

Education

"My bachelors degree was from Lock Haven University where I played baseball and football. Masters degree is from University of Missouri."

What do you see as the most pressing issue for Phoenixville in the short term?

"Tax increases have been a burden on us all. I will work to find other ways to balance the budget without tax increases and pledge to NEVER VOTE for a tax raise."

Do you think there has been too much development as of late, or is the borough proceeding at a wise pace?

"I am not in support of the Steelpointe development plans. I do not believe that piece of land should have been zoned for residential use in the first place without having proper infrastructure in place beforehand. Traffic is already a concern and this will make it a lot worse. The borough is developing at too fast of a pace and leaving little open space for our citizens to use."

Is increased traffic a concern for you, and what steps should the borough take into the future to address the issue?

"Traffic is definitely a concern in the borough. We need to look into the timing of lights and repair roads that drivers do not use because they are in bad shape. I am a big supporter of the commuter rail. Having the rail will alleviate some of the traffic. Many residents will use the rail to commute to the city for leisure, as well as to and from work in the city."