In the early 70's I first became interested in local government. My mother was a committeewoman and I would tag along with her to the Darby borough council meetings when I was 10 years old. I found it interesting that a bunch of men would make all the decisions for our borough. I remember going to the meetings when they were at the old Borough Hall located upstairs at 44 N. 9th street. The "decision makers" would sit around a table, smoke their cigarettes and some would have a quart of beer by their side on the floor!
I didn't think it was right for these men to sit there, smoke and drink and make decisions for our town!
From that point on, I would help my mother deliver literature for elections and attend the meetings.
8 years later, when I turned 18, I was legally allowed the right to voice my opinion and boy did I ever! I've voted in every election since, and attended every meeting.
I was 19 years old, with 2 babies when I saw something that wasn't right. Main Street in Darby was getting new sidewalks. From my front yard, I can overlook most of Darby. One day, I saw the contractor who was working on the main street sidewalks, dump the old concrete into Darby Creek. I immediately called the Borough and reported it. I was told they were temporarily putting it there until it could be hauled away. This didn't sound right because they were not storing it on the banks or the lot next to the creek, they were dumping it into the creek. I called another official and received a different answer, so I called another official and received another different answer! So, I took it upon myself to call the EPA and the DER and asked them if this was right. The answer was no.
So... I turned the Borough in to the authorities... The EPA and the DEP. As a result, the Borough had to remove all the concrete and put up measures to correct the problem...
That's when I said it's time for me to get involved! And I've been here ever since!
I was a Democrat and lived in a 2 to 1 Republican majority borough making it virtually impossible to get elected. The first office I ran for was Committeewoman. That was easy! I won! Well, it was inevitable because there were no other candidates. Guess no one wanted to get involved. But it was a good start. Then I really wanted to be a part of the town government. So, I ran for school board. Of course I lost. Who would vote for a 19 year old kid? So I ran again the following election for another position. This time for Council. I Lost again this time. By now I think I was 21 years old with 4 kids. Again, who would vote for a 21 one year old kid with 4 kids? But I tried and tried and tried and finally in 1987 I was elected to the Borough council. I was 24 years old. The youngest ever to serve on council!
During my first month in office, I found many things that I felt I should question or bring attention to. The council, (some of the same men who were there when I was 10 with their quarts of beer), didn't like being questioned all the time and they didn't like some of the subjects I brought up to be discussed. During one particular discussion, the chairman gave me the floor to speak. I brought up a subject and the Council did not want to hear it. So they ruled me out of order. I told them quite frankly that I wasn't out of order and continued to speak. So... They sent the chief of police over to me to escort me out of the room. I refused to leave and stayed put in my chair. At the time, I was the only female on the Borough Council. I knew I did nothing wrong and knew that I should stand my ground ( or rather sit in my chair)... so I did...
Well, the chief of police tried to remove me and I wouldn't budge. So.. he and another officer carried me outside... chair and all! What a beginning!
The following year wasn't much better. One year later almost to the day, the same scenario occurred! This time, I wasn't going to be carried out! So I stood up! To make a long story short....when the Chief came over to remove me, again I refused. He went to grab my tape recorder and belongings and I reached out to get the tape. The next thing I knew I was flung down on top of the desk and carried out in handcuffs! Charged with aggravated assault and battery on a police officer, simple assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting.
Needless to say, I was found not guilty on all charges. I took the Borough to Federal Court so this would never happen again to anyone else, elected or a resident. Again I won on the conviction of malicious prosecution and violation of civil rights.
And... I've been here ever since. I have learned a great deal since then and have made many mistakes along the way. But, the same conviction that I had when I first started out still remains the same. I stand up for the people I live with and speak out for US. I am not afraid to tackle areas that I am not familiar with and I am not afraid to learn. And... I work and work and work until the job is finished. I don't punch a time clock so I work till it's done. I try my best and that's all I can say.
I stayed on council for 8 years and then decided to run for mayor. I felt it was time to expand.
After the election, our borough was in a bit of turmoil. The former mayor had robbed a bank and most of our citizens were very concerned as was I. So, I took the bull by the horns and was sworn into office early to help qualm the fears.
My, how things have changed! Darby has gone through a lot. Probably more than most borough's have ever gone through... but we are survivors. It's a Darby thing.
