Competitive Races in Norristown region include Miller, Santoyo

In the Norristown area, several races for municipal council and township commissioner are on the ballot this Tuesday, Nov. 4. 

The aspiring public servants in Montgomery County’s 62 municipalities have broad latitude over policy decisions related to community development, land use, zoning, and much more. 

You can learn more from Montgomery County Voter Services, including sample ballots. 

Responses were received from Marty Miller, an incumbent commisioner in West Norriton Township, as well as Ana Santoyo, who is running for a spot on Norristown Council against incumbent Dustin Queenan (District 3). (Note: Since we haven’t covered or focused on East Norriton Township over the past year, we did not contact candidates in ENT). 

Question: Tell us about your overall vision and goals for community development. What specific steps will you take, and why?

Miller: We’ve been lucky enough to have accomplished a lot in my nearly 8 years on the board. I have spearheaded important policies: ordinance-wise, a non-discrimination ordinance, a responsible contracting ordinance, and regulation on single-use plastic, among others. My colleagues have created an Arts and Culture Commission, revitalized the Silver Circle group (for folks 55+), advocated for a new community space in the form of a (soon-to-open) dog park, and began sending a newsletter to our residents to keep them apprised of what’s going on in their township. We live-stream meetings to maximize public participation.

My specific focus is on environmental sustainability. This takes many shapes; examples we have already implemented are ensuring we obtain energy from renewable sources, improving the quality and volume of our stormwater runoff, and beginning to electrify our vehicle fleet. I wish to continue these goals, in addition to getting EV chargers installed in our parks and at businesses, to incentivize people to spend time and do business in our township.

Question: Does your municipality have enough rental dwellings to accommodate recent college graduates, seniors who wish to sell their homes, service workers, and other individuals who want to live in Montgomery County, yet may not envision home ownership as part of their future? If not, what is your plan to boost construction and availability for these individuals?

Miller: Sadly, no. The cost of living is quite literally unsustainable. Communities like ours are “held hostage” by about a half-dozen elected officials in Harrisburg, causing onerous taxes needing to be levied by our school district. Supply and demand economics, combined with predatory algorithmic control of rents, makes it quite difficult for folks to live in even a modest community like ours. My answer to question 4 will address this more.

Question: The U.S. Supreme Court case Grants Pass vs. Johnson from June 2024 states that municipalities can criminally penalize people for sleeping outside, even when there are no shelter beds available. Given this, what is your opinion about how local leaders should address homelessness, and will your administration serve criminal penalties to the unhoused?

Miller: I’m afraid my feelings on this are a bit more nuanced than I can likely provide in a brief written answer. People should not be criminalized for merely living. The most vulnerable among us have had a very difficult time recovering from the last major storm we had several years ago. The closure of the shelter on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital only made this worse. Why that happened without a plan to replace (or increase) shelter beds escapes me. I would be willing to work with any and all folks at any level of government to address homelessness and determine what ways West Norriton could help.

Question: The Walters Group had been working with the township on a LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) community. Do you support this initiative and will you commit to revisiting a new location in 2026?

Miller: Unequivocally yes. There are three sites in our township that I believe would be better locations than the one previously identified. These are on main roads, in residential areas (but near businesses), and have easy access to public transportation, which would mitigate traffic concerns. I have researched The Walters Group and believe that they provide safe, clean, nice-looking complexes, some of which I have personally visited (in South Jersey). If one did not know these were used for work-force housing, no one would ever suspect that the folks who lived there did so while paying below-market rents.

I want West Norriton to set an example for other municipalities in Montgomery County. That said, when West Norriton does our part, the expectation I have is that the other 61 municipalities would do their proportional parts. The housing issues are not unique to one borough, township, or county, nor should they be solved singularly by a few municipalities.

In West Norriton Township, there are three commissioners' seats on the Nov. 4 ballot. All are considered at-large, meaning you can vote for up to three regardless of where you live in the township. Commissioners Harold Halbert and Roseanne Milazzo did not respond to our survey, while the Republican candidates (Stuski, Capaldi, and Labenski) did not have a public email or social media account online.

Norristown Council

1. Tell us about your overall vision and goals for community development. What specific steps will you take, and why? 

Santoyo: It is a different time since I ran for council in May 2021. Today, we are dealing with the uncertainty of MAGA.2 on our federal, state and local budgets as masked ICE agents roam our streets. 

I plan to establish and facilitate strong coalitions and workgroups to identify and develop creative resolutions for our residents’ priorities that include basic human rights and housing for all.

In this regard, Montgomery Park Senior Housing, at Powell and Fornance which is in my district, was recently denied a tax discount (aka abatement) by our outgoing school board. A tax discount should not be granted to Montgomery Park unless the owners agree to increase the percentage of low-income apartments to at least 50% (currently only 5% are designated low income) and unless these apartments give priority to applicants from Norristown and nearby areas. 

Under 10% of residents in Montco are African American, yet over 50% of unhoused are black. This is an unfair historical disparity and a priority that I/we all need to be honest and open to addressing and resolving.

2. Does your municipality have enough rental dwellings to accommodate recent college graduates, seniors who wish to sell their homes, service workers, and other individuals who want to live in Montgomery County, yet may not envision home ownership as part of their future? If not, what is your plan to boost construction and availability for these individuals?

Santoyo: While the percentage of rental properties in the borough of Norristown is higher than homeowners, it is a major point of contention and blame against renters and landlords. A stance I believe is misplaced. Rents are rising and unaffordable for many. We have much construction going on throughout Norristown at present which will not meet the demands of many of those mentioned above. 

As a social worker and community volunteer, I am aware of the needs and challenges for reasonable housing for varied groups and individuals. 

I will establish workgroups to do comprehensive research and propose progressive ideas, such as cooperative, sustainable, intentional communities and restorative practices for community development which has historically focused on failed capitalist, consumer-driven models. 

3. The U.S. Supreme Court case Grants Pass vs. Johnson from June 2024 states that municipalities can criminally penalize people for sleeping outside, even when there are no shelter beds available. Given this, what is your opinion about how local leaders should address homelessness, and will your administration serve criminal penalties to the unhoused?

Santoyo: Poverty and a lack of housing is not a crime. Although it is not often acknowledged, violent crime has consistently decreased in the US since the 1990s (https://popular.info/p/why-you-might-not-know-that-2024).  I will work to ensure that our local police and municipal judges do not unfairly criminalize the unhoused.

4. What are the 2-3 most pivotal projects in Norristown’s immediate future? What is your opinion on the current supply of rental and owner-occupied housing in Norristown?

Santoyo: There are a number of housing and construction projects currently being undertaken within the borough, some of which will offer housing to those gainfully employed. I am pleased with the approval of a 50-bed transitional housing facility slated to open in 2026 in Norristown. 

The middle class and home ownership dramatically increased with the GI Bill from 44% in the 1940s to 62% by 1960. Today, some people own several homes and cars while others are living in the streets. Our economy and other factors have created this phenomenon that will require a great deal of forethought and compassion to reduce these disparities. I don’t have all the answers but I am willing to work with others to help ensure basic human rights and equity for all.

Facebook: @Santoyo4Norristown

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-santoyo-mss-lsw-cctp-959bba3b/

Email: AnaSantoyoForNorristown@gmail.com

Note: Council at-large candidates, David McMahon and Mydera Robinson (incumbent) did not respond to our survey. Councilman Rashaad Bates, of District 1, faces no challenger and also did not respond.