3 candidates running for Democratic nomination for Lancaster mayor

(Harrisburg) — Three candidates are vying for the Democratic nomimation for Lancaster mayor.

They’re all working to stand out to voters in the Tuesday primary.

Norman Bristol Colon would be the city’s first Latino Mayor.

He says he’ll focus on a more diverse city workforce.

“By creating the sense of involvement and inclusion, we can achieve a sense of trust in individuals that this is a different time and this is a different leader, and this is a great opportunity for us to be at the table.” Bristol Colon works in consulting, and says he wants a welcoming community, citing Canandian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as an example to follow.

At his campaign kickoff, Norman Bristol Colon declared his candidacy in both English and Spanish, something he highlights.

“When the city continues to grow and demographic changes continue to be at the center of everything that we do in the city, I am the most inclusive candidate for the job,” he adds. He says he’s focused on social justice, with employment and education at the center.

Danene Sorace has been on city council since 2014, and says better communication will be one of her priorities.

“It’s that disconnect that I really want to try and tackle and to do better at making sure that the staff on the inside who are doing the work are feeling like their work in recognized and people understand the efforts that are being made,” she says.

Sorace also works in consulting.

She says with her experience on city council, she’s ready to get to work on day one.

“I have a working knowledge of what the city can do already, and I want to make sure that we are connecting city residents to the resources they have.”

The race also has attracted 33-year-old Kevin Ressler, the head of Meals of Wheels of Lancaster.

His focus?

Home ownership.

“This is how you break the chains of generational poverty, by providing wealth-building opportunities and stability in neighborhoods for people to commit long-term to their communities,” he says.

Ressler would be Lancaster’s youngest mayor, and also its first black mayor. Ressler says he’s the best option because of his management skills.

“When it comes to what types of jobs the future holds, what type of industries that we should be going and attracting, those are the industries that I know best,” he adds.

The primary is next Tuesday.

The winner of the it will face Republican Cindy Stewart and independent Tony Dastra in the general election.