Democrats Announce Council Slate in 'Historic' Yardley Election

YARDLEY, PA —With all seven Borough Council seats up for election in November, Yardley Council President Caroline Thompson has announced the slate of Democratic candidates.

"2023 will be a historic year in Yardley Borough as all seven council seats are up for election, a first in the history of the town," Thompson said.

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Yardley residents will vote on three, four-year full terms and four half-terms of two years. The half-terms are on the ballot due to vacancies on the council over the past two years.

When a vacancy occurs, the council appoints a replacement until the next municipal election when there's an election for the seat.

Thompson, who has served as the board’s president since last May, will seek re-election.

She will be joined by a full slate of candidates on the Democratic ticket which is composed of five council incumbents and two political newcomers for the council seats and an incumbent candidate for tax collector.

“It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the Yardley Borough community as a council member since 2018,” Thompson said in a statement. “But the executive leadership of the board is only as good as the individuals that comprise our council. That is why I am beyond thrilled to announce a 2023 ticket of candidates that are community-minded, hardworking, honorable, and firmly planted fixtures in this town.”

Thompson said that despite a "global pandemic, tumultuous economy, and turnover on the board," this council has been successful in securing millions in grant funding for capital projects and flood elevations.

She said the council has overseen those projects, overhauled the flood plain ordinance to allow residents to improve their homes, secured 10 percent discounts for FEMA flood insurance holders, and grown the borough's savings accounts, which Thompson said didn't exist in 2017.”

Thompson is joined in her re-election bid by Council Vice President Kim Segal Morris and councilmen Uri Feiner, Don Carlson, and David Appelbaum.

Michelle Sharer and Jared Stump will join the candidates for office, Thompson said.

Tax Collector Christine Ventresca rounds out the ticket.

The eight candidates will run on the Democratic ticket in the May 16 primary election and Nov. 7 general election.

The candidates said their top priorities for the upcoming term include: walkability and traffic calming, environmental issues related to Lake Afton and the local watersheds, retention of Yardley’s police force, modernizing fiscal management tools, and continued transparency with the public.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Caroline Thompson (Council – 2 years) —Along with her husband and young child, Thompson is a nine-year resident and a lifelong Bucks County resident. During her tenure, she has chaired the Community Outreach Committee and the General Government (Budget) Committee and has served as both council vice president and president. Professionally, Thompson serves as director of intellectual property at a large local non-profit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government and law and an MBA in management and strategy.

Kim Segal-Morris (Council - 4 years) is a 15-year homeowner and has lived in Bucks County for most of her life. She was elected to the council in 2019 and is honored to serve as its vice president. She also serves as chair of the public safety committee and as a member of the community outreach committee. If elected to a second term, Segal-Morris plans to focus on pedestrian safety throughout the borough. She would like to work with the public safety committee, council, and residents to improve the visibility of the crosswalks and would also like to focus on adding a crosswalk on South Main Street that would provide residents in the Yardley Commons with a safe way to access the sidewalk into town.

Uri Feiner (Council – 2 years) is a health and wellness entrepreneur who has served previously on the council where he worked to increase transparency, tighten financial management, and preserve open space. He is an independent thinker who is passionate about listening to his fellow residents and improving the quality of life in the borough through walkability, traffic calming, and protecting natural areas.

Don Carlson (Council – 2 years) is a seven-year resident and has lived in Bucks County for the past 27 years. He has served on the council since September and currently sits on the general government and public works committees. Prior to joining the council, he served as chairman of the planning commission and as vice president and treasurer of the Yardley Walk HOA. Carlson is focusing his next year on implementing processes that will help with the borough’s longer-range financial forecasting.

David Appelbaum (Council – 4 years) and his family have lived in the borough for 15 years. He joined the council last year and heads the community outreach committee. He enjoys working on community projects that show off Yardley's charm, natural assets, and downtown. Currently, he is working closely with Shirley Corsey, the executive director of the Gather Place, the former AME Church being used as a living history museum telling the story of Yardley’s Africa American residents. Appelbaum is the director of strategic partnerships at a technology business solutions company. He is also an adjunct professor teaching Human-Centered Design in the Computing and Informatics Department at Drexel University. He and his wife have three children, six cats, and a dog.

Michelle Sharer (Council – 4 years) moved to Yardley in 2008 along with her husband and is a lifelong Bucks County resident. She has served as president of Friends of Lake Afton (FOLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages care for Lake Afton since 2015. She is also a member of the Yardley Business Association and a children’s book author. Michelle is a PHS Alumni and a retired psychiatric and mental health nurse.

Jared Stump (Council – 2 years) is an author, speaker, and founder of Battle Ground Creative, a boutique marketing agency that serves clients in 13 states. He and his wife have lived in Yardley Borough for almost six years and have an 8-month-old daughter. Stump is involved in various projects to connect residents and runs the Instagram account @yardley_borough. He is running for council to give back to the town he loves and help facilitate stronger connections between the borough and residents.

Tax Collector Christine Ventresca is also on the ballot for a two-year term.

Christine Ventresca (Tax Collector – 2 years) is pleased to have been appointed Yardley’s tax collector and seeks re-election in November. She is a third-generation Yardley resident and has lived in the borough with her husband of 20 years and their two teenage children. In the last few months, she has enjoyed getting to know many residents and business owners. She welcomes the opportunity to answer taxpayers' questions and serve the borough. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and cycling. She loves to travel and cook.