‘Every Day Is Fun’: Marty Spiegel, Newly Elected Mayor of Swarthmore
The mayor reads to Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School Kindergarten Complement Students.
“I was invited to throw out the first pitch this year for the Swarthmore-Nether Providence T-ball game…I throw out the first pitch, and then they throw all the balls at me.”
Such are the pleasures and perils of life as a small-town mayor. Marty Spiegel has been serving as mayor of Swarthmore since February, when Borough Council appointed him to replace Tim Kearney, who resigned after being elected state senator of the 26th district. On November 5, Spiegel was elected to the position by the borough’s voters.
The mayor’s job combines real business—overseeing the police department, sharing views at Borough Council meetings, and casting a deciding vote on Council in the case of a tie—with ceremonial duties and civic fun. On a recent visit to the Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School, he read to the preschoolers about what mayors do. They had learned about civics in preparation for his visit by practicing voting on what to have for snack.
Spiegel has been a social worker, started a home inspection business, and spent ten years as Swarthmore’s Town Center Coordinator. Before that he served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela from 1967-69. With his wife, Linda Heffernan, he has lived in Swarthmore for nearly 30 years. Originally they rented a 200-year-old farmhouse on five acres near the junction of Michigan Avenue and Morton Avenue. “We had our wedding back there,” he said. “It was just magical.” The house has since been torn down and the land redeveloped.
Downtown Redevelopment
One of Spiegel’s major concerns is the condition of Swarthmore’s downtown. On his mind are people who are ready to downsize and might stay in town if more kinds of housing were available. “We have the over-50 population, the empty nesters…The kids are gone, they don’t need the school district anymore, the taxes are a burden.” He conjectured that many such residents would “like to have more upscale apartment options.”
With little undeveloped land left in the borough, Spiegel believes redevelopment of existing buildings is the only option: “There are some real opportunities for upgrades.” Swarthmore’s zoning code allows for greater density in Town Center than we currently see. “Downstairs would be more appropriate commercial spaces—larger spaces that would accommodate restaurants and retail—and upstairs would be residential.”
Working with the Police and the College
Perhaps the mayor’s most substantial duty is overseeing the police. While the chief, Ray Stufflet, runs the department, the two men work closely together, with Spiegel offering support and advocating for department needs. Together, they meet monthly with Swarthmore College’s Department of Public Safety, for which the borough police provide back up. “We have to be careful; we’re not their police force,” Spiegel said. “But we want to make sure there’s always an open line of communication so if something comes up, they feel comfortable calling.”
Officially Elected
Spiegel had been retired from his position as Town Center Coordinator when the mayor’s job came open last winter. “I hadn’t thought necessarily about running…until a couple of people from Borough Council asked if I would consider having my name put in as a candidate,” he recounted.
Seven people threw hats in the ring for the mayor’s job, and of these three were nominated by members of Borough Council. No candidate received a majority on the first ballot, but Spiegel received four of seven votes in the second round, which was enough for a victory. He ran unopposed in the May 2019 primary as well as in the general election on November 5, when Swarthmoreans elected him to complete the balance of Kearney’s term—another two years—with 2,298 votes.
Coffee with the Mayor
The job of mayor doesn’t come with an office, but Spiegel has rented one over D. Patrick Welsh Real Estate on Park Avenue: “One agreement I had with Linda was that I wouldn’t bring a lot of government paperwork into the house.”
Although it’s not a requirement of the job, Spiegel makes himself available to borough residents through weekly “Coffee with the Mayor” at the Swarthmore Co-Op every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. “People come with issues and concerns.” Sometimes they just want to say hello. All are welcome.
The mayor buys the coffee.
Explainer: What the Mayor Does
Official Duties:
Oversees the police department.The mayor is the chief law enforcement officer for the borough. The mayor and the police chief consult several times a week about issues affecting the department and public safety in general.
Serves as liaison between the borough and Swarthmore College on public safety issues. The mayor, chief of police, and members of Council’s Public Safety Committee meet monthly with the college’s Director of Public Safety and other college personnel regarding police and public- safety services provided to the college.
Attends Swarthmore Borough Council Meetings. The mayor does not vote on legislative issues except in the case of a tie. The mayor may offer opinions on issues being discussed by the council. The mayor also has the power to veto ordinances.
Unofficial Duties:
Speaks at ceremonial events such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.
Listens to concerns of Swarthmore residents and tries to connect them with people or organizations that can help.
Issues proclamations recognizing individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the community.
Meets with school groups and others to explain how local government works.
The mayor can perform marriage ceremonies anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Embodies the ethos of Swarthmore! The mayor is the cheerleader-in-chief for the borough.
