Mayor’s post gets opponent
Published: October 28, 2009
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John Wilson
Jamie Smith
The Montrose Mayor seat has a recent write in challenger, as borough resident Jamie Smith has entered the race as a write in candidate.
Smith, a mathematics teacher and recently appointed baseball coach at Susquehanna Community High School, decided to run after several friends suggested he challenge Mayor John Wilson, who has served one term, and was elected in 2005.
"I am running for mayor to provide a different voice and point of view," said Smith, a Republican. "Some of my friends could not run because of conflicts, but urged me to try a write in candidacy, because we'd like to see a change."
He noted he is new to the political arena, but serves as the building representative at the Susquehanna Community High School. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Pa. teacher’s certification from Misericordia University, and a Master’s in Instructional Technology that he earned last year.
He noted he is new to the political arena, but serves as the building representative at the Susquehanna Community High School. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Pa. teacher’s certification from Misericordia University, and a Master’s in Instructional Technology that he earned last year.
Incumbent Mayor John Wilson is completing a 4-year term, having been elected in 2005. He is optimistic that his record over the last four years should ensure his reelection bid.
A Republican, Wilson has been working with Borough Council toward creating a regional police force, and has fully staffed the Montrose Borough police force with nine officers, eight of which are part time. "We have a full time chief, Dale Smith; a sergeant, John Walker; and we just designated a new corporal, Josh Atherton," Wilson said. "We have complete coverage now every night, and two cars covering the area on weekend nights." He has noticed a decline in vandalism and crime on the Montrose streets recently, and attributes this to the more thorough patrols and increased police presence.
The Borough has received several grants to purchase two new police cars, and still needs to replace another. "We are covering Montrose and New Milford now as a region, and would like to extend coverage further and stay ahead of the new law in the works, which will require full coverage."
He said that he and council have worked to ensure that the officers get to their training sessions. He is also pleased with the new Montrose Borough building, and says construction is going well, with local people doing the work.
New sidewalks, a million dollar project, are also a big improvement that had not been done for some time, he said.
In addition to serving as mayor, Wilson pumps gas at the Shell Station, now that he has retired from Procter & Gamble in Mehoopany, after 20 years of working there.
In addition to serving as mayor, Wilson pumps gas at the Shell Station, now that he has retired from Procter & Gamble in Mehoopany, after 20 years of working there.
One part of his job as Mayor that he particularly enjoys is performing marriages, and says he has done a few dozen wedding ceremonies. He also enjoys swearing in fire department and police officers.
