It is time for change in Parkside. The Borough of Parkside has been led by essentially the same people for at least a decade and they are all seeking reelection or election to different positions. They have raised your taxes year after year while providing an average level of community services, poor communication and an attitude towards the community of “mind your own business” in return.

Members of council hold professional positions in neighboring communities that have potential conflicts of interests and husbands and wives serve together in Borough Government and would do so again if elected to the posts they are seeking. Community activities are infrequent and inadequate and no sense of community is present or developed.
We would like to change that. We believe we can improve Parkside by developing a greater sense of community spirit and engagement by holding better organized and more frequent community events, increased participation in local government, providing better community services and communication, improving our public spaces and business district, and by making our community more sustainable while governing in a manner that is accountable, accessible and transparent.
Thank your for taking the time to review our website. Please take some time to carefully consider our positions and read our biographies. You will find that we are members of your community who are serious about reinventing Parkside’s Government by presenting a bold set of proposals for your consideration. We are available to answer any question that you may have about our platform or our professional credentials. We hope that we can earn your vote on November 3rd, 2009.
Sincerely,

Matthew Saunders, Candidate for Mayor of Parkside
Andrew Forest, Candidate for Parkside Borough Council (4 year term)
Scott Sidlow, Candidate for Parkside Borough Council (4 year term)
Bobby Vickers, Candidate for Parkside Borough Council (4 year term)
Christopher M. Yatsuk, Candidate for Parkside Borough Council (4 year term)

Taxes

The Borough of Parkside which is controlled by an entirely Republican council all of whom are seeking reelection has raised your taxes the last three years in a row. Do not be fooled by the typical Republican attack line that Democrats will raise your taxes. That being said, we are not foolish and will not make a campaign promise that we will not raise taxes. A Republican pledge that taxes will not be raised cannot be trusted either because they do not have a record of accomplishing this. I

Community Relations and Recreation Committee

We believe the borough government should establish a community relations and recreation committee. The committee would be responsible for communicating with the community about the affairs of Borough government and planning community activities. It will be chaired by a council member and will be made up of members of the community.

Develop a Parkside Business Organization

The Borough of Parkside has a small business district along Edgemont Avenue that is a mix between successful businesses, businesses that do not seem to ever open or close and vacant storefronts. Many of the successful business owners complain that the current Borough council is unresponsive to their needs and concerns. Little is being done to fill those empty storefronts or help the existing businesses grow.

We would like to change the way that Parkside Borough is governed. We plan to communicate better with the community, establish committees that meet quarterly to oversee important areas of the government, hire a full time professional borough manager and conduct Borough business in a manner that is accountable, accessible and transparent.