Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
A visibly tired and irritated Mayor Wanda Williams vowed her next four years leading Harrisburg would be better than the first, promising to ‘uplift’ all areas of the city. But Williams also was looking back in disdain at what she called challenger Dan Miller’s campaign of “lies.” City voters resoundingly returned Williams to office with 56% of the vote, compared to Miller’s 43%. “Did you say I was corrupt? Did you say I was incompetent?” Williams said, addressing an absent Miller, who conceded the race early on election night. She also criticized the city treasurer who she defeated by 80 votes in a five-way race for the Democrat nomination in the May primary for making her campaign again in the fall, with Miller running as the Republican nominee. “First I had a battle with five other men, and then I had a battle with Dan, who lost, and he came back and he talked about everything,” Williams said. “He couldn’t even run on his own merit. He ran on lies.” Asked by a reporter whether she could work with Miller, who remains as treasurer, going forward, Williams didn’t exactly hold out an olive branch. “We’ll see because guess what, I’m the big cheese in charge. I’m the executive chief of the city of Harrisburg,” she said. Oddly, Williams also used her victory speech to address a prolific poster on Facebook who apparently accused the mayor of over-imbibing alcohol. “For all the texts you did and all the negative comments you made on Facebook… have a drink on me,” Williams told the poster, who she referred to by a first name and last initial -- Elizabeth B. As for her own plans for a refreshment at the uptown bar hosting her victory party, Williams said, “I do not drink.” She planned to enjoy a Pepsi instead. Williams did have kind words for the voters of Harrisburg – at least those who cast ballots to return her to office. “Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trusting me. I know there’s a lot of criticism. I know there’s a lot of name-calling, but I didn’t participate in that,” she said. When asked by a reporter her message to those who cast votes for Miller, Williams said they should be ashamed for believing Miller’s untruths about her 25 years in Harrisburg government. Setting out her second term agenda, Williams identified the following priorities: Infrastructure improvements: Upgrading streets, curbs, and ADA accessibility. Playground renovations: 14 playgrounds will be revamped to ensure children’s safety. Downtown business development: She’s in talks with three potential investors to bring new businesses to the central business district. Clean streets and affordable housing: She touted past successes and promised continued progress in both areas. But Williams said her first order of business would be to take an overdue vacation, following what she called nine months of grueling campaigning, stretching from the primary to the general election.
