Politics

Wanda Williams ignores Dan Miller as he turns up heat in Harrisburg mayor’s race

Wanda Williams ignores Dan Miller as he turns up heat in Harrisburg mayor’s race

Is there a mayor’s race in Harrisburg or isn’t there? Depends on which candidate you ask.
City Treasurer Dan Miller is trying to ignite a full-blown campaign against incumbent Mayor Wanda Williams, but Williams appears intent on ignoring him — and the race — altogether.
On Tuesday, the two candidates laid out starkly different strategies. Miller held a press conference to accuse Williams of incompetence, corruption, mismanagement – even vengeance.
Williams, meanwhile, issued a written statement dismissing Miller as grasping at straws and declaring she will not debate or engage with him — period.
“I have no reason nor desire to discuss politics or policy with Dan Miller,” Williams said. “Let him say what he will. He’s grabbing at straws. Everything he is running on, I am tackling head-on.”
Williams confirmed she will not participate in debates or interviews. In her written statement, she turned the theme of his press conference – ‘Where’s Wanda?’ – back on him:
“‘Where’s Wanda?’ Running the City. ‘Where’s Dan?’ Ask him how many times he’s been to work this month. It is in the single digits,” the mayor wrote.
Miller, meanwhile, used his press conference to blast Williams for refusing to debate, saying the public deserves answers.
“Tonight was supposed to be the first debate,” Miller said. “But it’s not happening because Wanda refuses to debate. That’s a shame for the people of Harrisburg.”
Miller, who lost the Democratic primary by 80 votes but won the Republican nomination via write-in, said Williams is avoiding debates ahead of the Nov. 4 general election because she “can’t defend her record.”
He cited a list of grievances with Williams’ city leadership and management, including:
Delayed repairs to the Broad Street Market, which he said have dragged on for over two years and ballooned from $20 million to $23 million. “Yes, finally, after 27 months, they might have started some demolition, but who knows when that will actually be done,” Miller said.
A $2 million trash bill write-off, which he called arbitrary and lacking income verification.
Declining real estate tax revenues, which he partially blamed on downtown collapse and poor business relations. “Under Wanda’s watch, downtown Harrisburg has pretty much collapsed,” Miller said. “People are coming in and getting a reduction in their assessments.”
A $132 million unfunded liability in city employee retirement benefits. “That’s a big looming, hatchet over the head of Harrisburg,” Miller said.
High parking rates and mismanaged long-term contracts, which he said are driving businesses out of the city. “I know that that’s already a contract setin stone, but that needs to be looked at. It is causing tremendous problems downtown because we have such high parking rates.”
Miller also accused Williams of retaliatory behavior and said many local officials privately support him but fear public endorsement due to her “Donald Trump-style retribution.”
“She’s corrupt, do-nothing, and incompetent,” Miller said. “She can’t answer for these things. That’s why she won’t debate.”
Williams, in her statement, made it clear she’s not interested in giving Miller a platform.
“He wants publicity, and I am not giving it to him, and it is killing him,” she said. “My focus is the City of Harrisburg, not some time-consuming back-and-forth banter with Dan Miller.”
Perhaps, Williams is betting on Harrisburg history showing that capturing the Democrat nomination equates to election gold in November.
But told of the strategy to ignore him, Miller expressed confidence voters would see through the attempt.
“She does that at her peril,” Miller said. He then addressed Williams directly, stating: “Great, Wanda. Just think you’ve got this race in the bag and that I don’t count. Well, we’ll see what happens.”