This is the first in our series highlighting the key mayoral races in the Commonwealth.
The race for mayor of Erie pits Democrat Daria Devlin versus Republican Matthew Thomas. It is worth noting that no Republican has been elected mayor since 1961.
Daria Devlin (D)
Primary: defeated two-term incumbent Joe Schember, 50.1% – 46.1%
Experience: Director of Social Impact for the Hamot Health Foundation. Founded the Partnership for Erie’s Public Schools, and established the Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT). Former member Erie School Board.
Priorities.
Housing. We must balance housing supply and demand while stabilizing our neighborhoods with access to housing opportunities for all.
Economic and Workforce Development. We need to create pathways for upward economic mobility by retaining and growing our local businesses, incentivizing new, innovative industry growth in our region, and investing in job training that will prepare our workforce for the high impact industries of the future.
Youth Engagement. We must create opportunities for civic engagement, career exploration, and innovation to support youth across the city and ensure Erie is a city where the next generation can thrive.
Budgeting For the Future. For too long the City of Erie’s budget has been inefficient and unbalanced. It’s past time to balance the budget, improve services provided, and prioritize efficiency across city government while increasing transparency so you can see your tax dollars put to work.
Education: B.A, Colgate University ’99. M.Ed., PennWest Edinboro ’16.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Matthew Thomas (R)
Primary: ran unopposed
Experience: Attorney, Leverage Law
Priorities.
Wants to see tough-on-crime policies, completely safe streets and lower city taxes on residents.
Schools. recognizes the need for trade schools that give kids the opportunity to obtain skills that will parlay them into good paying jobs
Partnerships. With the many commitments being made by companies to return to the USA, he will aggressively seek them out through a partnership with our State and Federal representatives and other community leaders of similar size.
Education: B.A, Gannon University ’09; J.D., Ohio Northern University
Debates
In The News
By The Numbers
Prior to the May primary, according to the Erie County Voter Registration Office, there were 31,093 registered Democrats in the city of Erie, compared to 13,850 registered Republicans.