Is the COATESVILLE UNITY COMMITTEE united with the Walker Administration?

The COATESVILLE UNITY COMMITTEE is spending a lot of money on the campaigns of Patsy Ray, Kurt Schenk and Jarrell Brazzle.

Andrew Lehr, Eddy Scrivens and Harry Walker have worked together for a very long time. Walker, Lehr, Pat Sellers and Harry Walker were involved in the Scott School project that fell though.

Lehr, Walker and Scrivens also worked together in the Wilmington, DE area.

From the Daily Local News:

“Walker said he met (City Solicitor) Lehr several years ago through Ed Scrivens, a business associate from Wilmington.

‘He (Scrivens) asked me to come up to Coatesville and talk to city officials regarding economic development. I remember meeting with them in the council chambers, although I don’t remember whether it was council members or the city manager or members of the RDA,’ he said.

Walker said he made some suggestions regarding revitalization projects; specifically, he recalled talking about the concept of tax-increment financing, which the city has since adopted.

As the economic development director in Wilmington, he also worked with an organization called Phase V Community Development Corporation.

Scrivens and Lehr sit on the board of directors of Phase V, which was involved in converting an abandoned building into a charter school.

Walker worked with the company on the project, and later, after he left the city payroll, Phase V signed on as a client of Walker Marketing Group.

‘I don’t know Andrew Lehr well. Our relationship was about helping them get the school going,’ Walker said.

But that was not the only time Scrivens and Lehr worked with Walker.

The two served on the Coatesville Regional Development Corporation (CRDC), a nonprofit group that in 1999 sought to turn then-defunct Scott High School into a business and technology center.

Walker also reportedly worked on the project.

But it fell through after plans were delayed and the CRDC missed agreement deadlines.

Ultimately, the school district spent $22 million transforming the former Scott High School into Scott Middle School.”

The Daily Local News Article is HERE:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2006/04/30/frontpage/16558811.txt

Are Lehr and Scrivens now working together for certain people running for the Coatesville City Council?

The Political Committee Registration Statement of the Coatesville Unity Committee has Eddy Scrivens as it’s Chairperson, and Raelyn Stonewall as its Treasurer. The person submitting the Registration Statement of the Coatesville Unity Committee is Andrew Lehr.

CHESTER COUNTY VOTER SERVICES RECORD OF THE COATESVILLE UNITY COMMITTEE REGISTRATION STATEMENT CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.box.net/shared/1c8kx30af4

Read Eddy Scrivens’ own description of his relationship to Harry Walker and Andrew Lehr in the Minutes of the Coatesville City Council Meeting Monday, April 24, 2006:

Ed Scrivens, 133 Pennsylvania Avenue:

Mr. Scrivens spoke on behalf of Mr. Walker, a businessman, devoted father and an individual he has known for 14 years. What he’s read and heard about Mr. Walker is a debasement of his professionalism; Mr. Walker is overqualified for the position. Mr. Scrivens stated that Mr. Walker directed the economic development plan for the City of Wilmington under hostile conditions. Mr. Walker is for the little guy and elevates the lowest economic standard up to the highest.

He stated that Mr. Walker schooled Mr. Paul Janssen on TIF; he is a man with outstanding academic accolades. Mr. Scrivens stated that if the people want to turn the City around, hire Mr. Harry Walker tonight. Mr. Simpson asked Mr. Scrivens if he had submitted Mr. Walker’s name to Mr. Lehr for consideration. Mr. Scrivens replied, “I certainly did.”

Ed Scrivens, 133 Pennsylvania Avenue: Mr. Scrivens stated that revitalization starts with the little people. If you can’t elevate the standard of living and quality of life, the lesser people in your community, then you fail with community development and revitalization efforts. He mentioned the work of the Coatesville Redevelopment Corporation, and how the group was blocked by the then City Manager and the Economic Development Coordinator with the revitalization of Scott School. However, Harry Walker helped the Corporation to stop people from tearing it down. Mr. Scrivens spoke of what’s needed for regional economic development and community economic development. Mr. Simpson asked Mr. Scrivens if he were still associated with the Coatesville Redevelopment Corporation, and he replied yes. Mrs. Smith-Dowridge asked if Mr. Scrivens has any current development projects going on now. Mr. Scrivens said yes, they have other initiatives they’re exploring at this time. Mrs. Smith-Dowridge asked if they were working with any other municipalities, and Mr. Scrivens said their focus is only Coatesville. She asked if they did anything anywhere else, and Mr. Scrivens said not in Pennsylvania. They collaborated with a group in Delaware on refurbishing and bringing back into operation a 35,000 square foot school in the City of Wilmington. They worked with the Mr. Walker on the development of this project; Harry Walker is a financial wizard. Mr. Simpson asked if Mr. Lehr is on their Board of Directors. Mr. Scrivens said, absolutely, he was at the time and implored City Council to look out for the little guys.

The Minutes of the Coatesville City Council Meeting of Monday, April 24, 2006 can be found here:
http://www.coatesville.org/minutes/council/060424.pdf

The Coatesville Unity Committee is supporting candidates Patsy Ray, Kurt Schenk and Jarrell Brazzle.

Hundreds of hand cards "paid for by the Coatesville Unity Committee" for Patsy Ray, Kurt Schenk and Jarrell Brazzle were passed out on Election Day by people who were allegedly paid $200 each to hand them out.

You can see some of them here:

http://www.box.net/shared/k4og3tjxd6