First to declare candidacy in what could be a crowded field for 2014
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Joshua Young
CALN — Township Commissioner Joshua Young became the first declared candidate for the new 74th District State House seat in 2014, announcing his candidacy, Tuesday afternoon.
Young, a Democrat who just won reelection to a third term as Township Commissioner, describes himself as a local small business owner and graduate of Coatesville Area School District — and also was the youngest college Board of Trustees Chairman in the history of the state higher education system, at his alma mater, Slippery Rock — said he would run for the new seat.
The new 74th District includes Caln, Coatesville, Downingtown, East Caln, East Fallowfield, Modena, Parkesburg, South Coatesville, Sadsbury and Valley.
He is the first candidate to announce his intention to seek the seat. Fellow Democrat Josh Maxwell, the mayor of Downingtown, is expected to run for the seat. Republican Harry Lewis — a former Coatesville High School administrator, teacher and coach — is expected to run as well. And rumblings continue of at least one other candidate — although nothing has been confirmed as yet.
“I am running for State Representative because I want to see our community and our commonwealth realize its greatness,” Young said in a statement. “Our community is great because of its people, and I know there is no challenge we cannot overcome and nothing we cannot achieve. The voters of the 74th deserve a leader who recognizes our potential to be great, and has the desire, the skills and the experience to help us achieve that greatness. I am that leader.”
Young cited his current experience in elective office — noting while he served as commissioner, Caln Township created and passed eight balanced budgets, which included no property tax increases, and created and preserved an average $1.2 million-dollar fund balance, all during a recession. He also opposed the proposed building of a new $12 million township building — which ultimately was rejected — and fought for and led the purchase of Ingleside Golf Course, which he noted saved open space and has been a financial success for Caln Township. He is also credited with creating the Caln Green Task Force and restarted Caln Community Day.
“I want to use my experience and my talents to do the same thing in other communities throughout the 74th and throughout the Commonwealth,” Young said. “Years of a slow economy and a lack of investment in our future, have left people feeling like our future will be determined by our problems. I don’t believe that is true. I served as a Caln Township Commissioner during those difficult economic times. We were able to not just meet those challenges, but to prosper by working together, capitalizing on the things that were great about our community, and laying the foundation for future growth.”
Right out of the gate, Young was publicly endorsed by former State Rep. Tom Houghton — whose old 13th District included East Fallowfield, Sadsbury, South Coatesville, Modena and Parkesburg.
“I am endorsing Josh Young because he has been a leader and advocate for our community in so many ways,” Houghton said in a statement. “He shares our progressive values, and effectively works with everyone to get real results for the community. I know that he has the experience voters want, and the strength they need.”
Houghton trumpeted Young’s record on various fronts as clear evidence that he should be the region’s representative in Harrisburg.
“He was a leading proponent for the Coatesville Solar Initiative, which, when approved, may save the school district more than $75,000 a year,” Houghton said. “He established a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA) in Caln Township as an important financial incentive for growth and development through new construction and improvements to existing properties. He successfully fought Coatesville Area School Board’s closure of Caln Elementary School. He was also the lone Democrat on the Caln Board protecting local jobs. Josh’s record clearly demonstrates that he is the person we need representing us in Harrisburg.”
Young said he is proud of his record and hopes to use his experience in local government to help government on the state level function better.
“Being a leader in tough economic times is very difficult,” Young said. “I have made tough decisions, and taken tough votes because I know that the things that are worth doing usually aren’t easy. The responsibility and experience of governing is what makes me the clear choice to represent the 74th. I have the experience voters want, and the strength our community needs, as my record clearly shows. Whatever challengers may arise, and I’m sure there will be others, I have a record of making tough decisions and I am confident that my record speaks for itself,” Young concluded.
Young, in addition to being a township commissioner, former Chairman of the Council of Trustees of Slippery Rock University, serves as Vice President and founding member of the Western Chester County Council of Government (COG) and is a member of the Coatesville Christmas Parade Committee. He currently works as a mechanic at his family’s business, Young’s Garage in East Bradford, which he also manages.
