Harrisburg Mayoral Democratic Primary Debate

ABOUT

Otto Banks has an extensive background in management, politics, education and training, human resources, finance and marketing that has enabled him to serve in a variety of leadership positions both in the public and private sectors of Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Mr. Banks was a dynamic public servant who worked to create economic opportunities and reduce poverty for millions of Americans in his role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. Mr. Banks was appointed by the White House to serve in this capacity in March of 2007.

As Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, Mr. Banks provided leadership to over 800 employees and managed a $14 billion portfolio. Mr. Banks brought together the government and the private sector in a unique partnership to increase the economic wellbeing and quality of life in distressed communities throughout America. Mr. Banks oversaw the Office of Community Renewal (Empowerment Zones and Renewal Communities), the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED), Brownfields, Youthbuild, and the Office for Congressional Grants. These programs, under his coordination, sought to increase investment, spur development, create jobs, reduce poverty and provide residents with job training and placement services. Prior to being appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Banks was the Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. The White House appointed Mr. Banks during September of 2006 to the position of Senior Advisor.

While serving as Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Banks worked as the liaison and advisor to all development programs within the Department of Community Planning and Development, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME, Housing of People With Aids (HOPWA), 108 Loan Guarantee Program, Emergency Shelter Grants, and the Disaster Relief Program.

Prior to joining HUD in August 2006, Mr. Banks was an elected official in Harrisburg, PA, where he served on the City Council for one term. During his four-year term, he played an important role in the economic renaissance of the city and oversaw complex municipal programs and projects. Mr. Banks was the top vote-earner in his maiden run for the council seat in 2002.

Mr. Banks has also served as Executive Director for REACH Foundation, Regional Director for ECG Engineers, Commissioner on the Tri-County Planning Commission, Eastern Region Director of Outreach and Development for Cornell/Abraxas, Executive Director of Healthy Choices & Genesis Learning Center, Member of the National League of Cities Economic Development Policy Committee, Chair of the City of Harrisburg’s Building and Housing Committee, Mayor’s Task Force for Racial Equality in government contracting (City of Harrisburg), legislative fellow for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and was an Intern for Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office.

Recently, Mr. Banks was retained by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an Expert Consultant to create an Economic Opportunity Program that will provide contracting, employment and job training opportunities for low-income Americans throughout the continental U.S., Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Through his past and present experiences, Mr. Banks has become a powerful spokesman for education, economic development and opportunity throughout the country for all Americans regardless of race, creed or color.

PLATFORM

If elected, Otto says he will:

• • Curb urban decay by creating quality and affordable housing/loan programs.
• • Create safe and secure communities by creating economic opportunities; employing a diverse and culturally competent police force.
• • Engage City, Business, Social Service, Unions and Community organizations to work collaboratively to rebuild our neighborhoods and create greater residential employment opportunities.
• • Create Harrisburg Department of Health to address residential healthcare needs and outcomes.
• • Create Harrisburg City Bureau of Film, Arts and Tourism to promote the richness of our city, talent of our residents and ingenuity of our business community.
• • Expand mandatory city services to include: improved street lighting, road repairs, neighborhood clean-up and tree trimming

Click here to visit Otto Banks’ website.

ABOUT

Kevyn was born in Mechanicsburg and has lived in Harrisburg for more than 25 years. He continued his education at HACC and was an English major.

Kevyn is currently the general manager at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. He is also an artist and author.

PLATFORM

• • Focus on the lack of development in underserved communities, including Uptown and Allison Hill. Currently improvements only take place in areas near the State Capital Complex, including Restaurant Row and Midtown.
• • A newcomer to politics and is not beholding to any interest groups or wealthy donors.

ABOUT

Eric Papenfuse is the incumbent Mayor of Harrisburg. He was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017.

Papenfuse is also the founder and CEO of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. He’s a former public-school teacher (taught Latin at Central Dauphin East and Linglestown Junior High Schools) where he served as chair of the Foreign Language department.

Eric was born in Baltimore, Maryland to an elementary-school reading teacher and a state-government archivist.

He is also a graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in American history and government. He’s the only member of his undergraduate class to earn both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in four years, summa cum laude.

Eric is a husband and father to three children.

PLATFORM

• • Continue the fiscal recovery of Harrisburg. Keeping the budget balanced, securing a bond rating to invest in infrastructure and manage the transition as we move out of Act 47.
• • Continue to help our citizens as we navigate through COVID-19
• • Work with Biden Administration to invest the stimulus funds appropriately to benefit all residents of Harrisburg.

Click here to visit Eric Papenfuse’s website.

ABOUT

For over thirty years, Dave Schankweiler and his wife Donna built a publishing business in the City of Harrisburg that grew to provide some 150 employees with family-sustaining jobs. As head of Journal Multimedia—the parent company of the Central Penn Business Journal—Dave also created “Best Places to Work in PA” to recognize good employers who maintain a trusted relationship between their customers and employees.

Born to working-class parents and the product of public schools, his belief in the dignity of the individual has been a driving force behind a lifelong commitment to lifting people out of poverty. Through volunteer and nonprofit work, Dave focused his energies on building organizations and communities that give everyone the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential.

As a passionate supporter of education, Dave was a founder and the first volunteer board chairman of Harrisburg University—an institution designed to erase the gap between an employer’s needs and a trained workforce. The school revolutionized the region’s education marketplace by providing a realistic pathway for Harrisburg’s youth to receive an affordable, world-class education. He believes access to a safe, quality education is the civil rights and moral imperative of our time.

A newcomer to politics, Dave has never sought or held a political office. In 2019, Schankweiler was asked to lead Harrisburg’s Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. After a nine-month examination of the city’s finances Dave resigned, convinced that little could change without the cooperative, creative leadership of a mayor.

Dave is a graduate of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. He and Donna are the parents of Kate, Parker and Drew.

PLATFORM

• • Prioritizes the city’s response to rising crime
• • Offers a post-Covid plan for economic development and job creation
• • Renews the focus on student safety and opportunity
• • Restores vital cooperation between the Mayor, City Council and other government officials
• • Establishes a responsive process for neighborhood ideas, strategy and action

Click here to visit Dave Schankweiler’s website.

ABOUT

Wanda Williams is a proud lifelong resident of Harrisburg. She has been married to her husband Jerome K. Williams for 43 years, and together they have 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Wanda is a graduate of William Penn High School and Harrisburg Area Community College. She spent her professional career working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Wanda was first elected to City Council in 2005 and has been the president for the last 12 years. She challenged the Act 47 plan twice, and filed lawsuits against the city receiver, resulting in a fairer deal for our citizens. She worked with Right Site Harrisburg to build the new Federal Courthouse. She enacted legislation to “Ban the Box” on city job applications and has worked with numerous Federal and State agencies to secure more resources for the city. Wanda also serves her community as an executive board member of the PA League of Cities, as a Democratic committeewoman, and as a board member for the Downtown Improvement District. She previously served as a member of the Human Advocacy Commission (on a national level), as a board member of Rejoice Adoption Agency, and as president of AFSCME Local 3105.

PLATFORM

• • Continue to advocate for the health safety and welfare of citizens of Harrisburg.
• • Focus on affordable housing and improvements to sewer system and help clean the river.
• • Ensure that economic development and job creation benefit our entire city.

Tim Rowbottom has filed to run as a Republican candidate in the Harrisburg mayoral race. He is the only Republican running.