Meet John Nagle

I read far too much about the presidential race this soon in the cycle. Senate races get a lot of press. Congressional maybe not so much. Governor’s races you can read about, but anything below that usually doesn’t get a lot of press. Readers don’t clamor for it and there are too many state senate and state house seats to keep track of. At the township and municipal level voters are dependent primarily on retail politics and direct mail to find out about the candidates. Yet this level of politics can often have as much or more impact on daily life. This is the level for trash pickup, a lot of road repair, and so on.

The folks at the township and municipal level aren’t in it for the money, because there usually isn’t any, or so little it isn’t enough to entice many people to run. There is often little power, although the unscrupulous will always find opportunities for graft. Most of the people serving at this level are doing so out of a love for their communities, even if we don’t always like the way it is demonstrated.

Let me highlight one candidate who really exemplifies what community service is about. John Nagle is running to represent the 5th ward of Radnor Township in Delaware County. He has been active in community affairs for over a decade. According to the Delaware County League of Women Voters site he has:

• Served on Parks and Rec 13 years (Chaired)
• Served on Environmental Advisory Committee 3 years (Chaired)
• Helped found Radnor Conservancy, now Treasurer and Board of Directors
• Served on Pastoral Council

That’s a lot of volunteer work, in addition to a job in engineering and raising a family. According to “Nagle no stranger to Radnor,” by Deede Formachella in an issue of Main Line Life earlier this year:

In his aggressive concern about the environment, he wrote grant applications that generated $60,000 for park improvement projects, and directed his energy to the development of trails through Skunk Hollow, the Willows, and Brooke Farm, all of which residents enjoy today. In addition, he worked with the Township Environmental Advisory Committee for three years and chaired it for its first two years. Years ago, when the debate was still red hot, Nagle fiercely supported the creation of the now much used P&W bike/walking trail. That was when many myopic township leaders dug in their heels against its construction. Sixth Ward residents know that he supported the purchase the of the Levin tract, one of that wards most effective natural storm water management open space parcels.

In 2003 he came within 33 votes of being elected to office. If you’d like to know more about John, he has posted an interview he did on a local television show on his website, www.radnor5thward.com. He also has a blog, http://roundradnor.blogspot.com/

If you aren’t paying attention to the local races in your area you are probably missing out on meeting some fine people in your neighborhood, probably some people just as nice as John Nagle.