Key takeaways from Lancaster City Council candidate debate ahead of May primary (2025)

Lancaster City Council candidates largely agree on the most pressing issues facing the city, with housing and police transparency the focus of a debate Thursday night at Bethel AME Church on East Strawberry Street.

Eight Democrats are on the May primary ballot, each competing for one of four open City Council seats. Ahmed Ahmed and Lochard Calixte are both running for their second terms on council. Marshall Miller, Vincent Derek Smith, Willie Shell Sr., Nancy I. Millán, Andre Gilbert and Amos Stoltzfus would be newcomers.

Gilbert was not at Thursday’s debate. No Republicans are on the ballot this May.

Candidates answered questions from event organizer South Ann Concerned Neighbors and an audience of close to 50 residents. Issues ranged from housing to immigration to trash pickups.

Here are four takeaways from Thursday night’s debate.

READ:Here are the candidates vying for Democratic endorsement for Lancaster city municipal races

Affordable housing is key

Nearly every candidate called affordable housing the city’s biggest priority. They agreed it is essential for the city to expand housing resources, particularly for low-income residents.

Ahmed Ahmed and Marshall Miller said they would support growing the city’s critical repair program that offers homeowners funds to complete home projects like fixing a leak or correcting electrical hazards.

Smith supported stricter short-term rental ordinances to keep residents in their homes. Calixte pointed to zoning law updates as an opportunity to expand housing. Stoltzfus agreed, adding that council can make it easier for developers to build affordable units.

“The city does not build housing, but the city has regulations,” Stoltzfus said. “We got to go through the zoning with a fine tooth comb and look at everything that is limiting our housing capacity.”

Keeping taxes low

Many candidates committed to keeping taxes low, particularly property taxes. Millán said low property taxes are essential to addressing housing affordability.

Ahmed and Stoltzfus said they would support protections for low-income residents after the city raised income taxes for the first time this year through the adoption of a home rule charter.

Calixte said the city should do a better job of using city revenues to fund underserved communities, though he did not specify which neighborhoods are in need of additional money.

“If we want equity, equitable development, we have to start from the budget,” he said.

READ:Lancaster city Democrats support Jaime Arroyo for mayor, endorse other citywide candidates

Promoting police transparency

Every candidate said they would support the creation of a citizen board to review police activity. Residents have called on the city to create such an oversight board after a video of a March 2 arrest of two teenage bicyclists sparked outrage.

City officials have since deemed the police’s actions in that arrest to have been proper.

Candidates also largely supported a review of the police department’s use of force policy. Ahmed said the city should differentiate its force policies between minors and adults. Miller added that the police department should improve its communication with residents when issues like the March 2 arrest arise.

“I think there’s a lot of talking past one another, and I think the police department hasn’t done a really good job of explaining to us and being transparent about what is going on,” Miller said.

Smith also suggested a cultural training program for the police department as a way to build trust with the public.

Candidates want to be more involved

Every candidate promised to meet residents at their doors to discuss issues regularly, if elected. Shell said council members should knock on doors every year, not just during campaign season.

“Letting people know who you are and why you’re there, I think that’s the only way we’re going to help our city and make it more transparent,” Shell said.

Miller and Smith supported utilizing the city’s Department of Community Engagement as council members to best serve residents. Calixte proposed bringing council meetings to each of the city’s quadrants to provide greater access to city government to every resident.