Candidate for
Supervisor; Township of Upper Providence

I am George Faris, and I am the Democratic candidate for Supervisor of Upper Providence Township.

I was born in Abington, Pennsylvania and graduated from Abington High School. I went to Amherst College and graduated with a BA in English Literature. I taught at a school for learning disabled students before attending Vermont Law School. After two years, I transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, and earned a Masters Degree in City Planning, and my JD from Vermont Law School in a joint degree program between the Penn School of City and Regional Planning, Penn Law School and Vermont Law School. I have also attended Harvard Law School, taking courses in bankruptcy law and negotiation.

Following graduate school, I entered the private practice of law as a real estate and business lawyer. At the same time I began my evening career as a land use planner, volunteering as a planning commission member in the three towns in which I lived while in Vermont. I used to joke that I was a lawyer by day and a planner by night.

A year after I jwas appointed to the Commission, I was elected chair of the Shelburne Planning Commission, a position I held for fifteen years. During my time as a planning commissioner I wrote three comprehensive plans, two sets of zoning by-laws, and reviewed hundreds of land development plans. It is always said that I ran very fair meetings, where all parties felt that their concerns had been heard and taken into consideration. My planning commission always conducted our deliberations in open session, and we rarely denied applications, although we always made suggestions that the applicants acknowledged made their projects better. I was also appointed to serve on the regional planning commission, and was asked to oversee the creation of a new regional plan, which was very well received by an often contentious group of regional planning commissioners.

I ran for selectman of my town, successfully challenging the incumbent, with a large bi-partisan vote in my favor. As a selectman, I was responsible for coordinating the activities of eight volunteer Town committees, as well as reviewing budgets, negotiating with our police union, reviewing contracts regarding our regional 911 dispatch service, and all of the other details in which local government is involved.

Since returning to Pennsylvania, I have continued my involvement in public service. I serve on the executive committee of an economic development agency in Berks County, and worked to get John Pearson elected as Supervisor two years ago. I wish to serve as Superintendent to continue my public service career and to put my education, background and experience to work helping to resolve the issues that face Upper Providence Township.