Meet Our Candidates
Brian Burke
Mayoral Candidate
“I love Upper Darby. Our town is filled with many great people and unique neighborhoods, but over the course of the past three years I have grown increasingly concerned about the direction of our township government,” said Burke. “This administration has mismanaged the operations and finances of Upper Darby government, including putting many people in leadership positions who do not possess the necessary qualifications and experience to lead the state’s 6th largest municipality. The mismanagement has led Upper Darby to a critical crossroads. On one road, we continue down the path that this failed Administration has led us, which will likely bring Upper Darby to financial ruin and continued dysfunction. Down the other road, we create a thriving Upper Darby, where neighborhood businesses thrive, our schools bring out the best in our kids and we feel safe no matter the time of day. That is the road I choose and I am asking the citizens of Upper Darby to join me, and support me, down that road.”
“I decided to switch my registration from Democrat to Republican after watching in disbelief how the leaders of the Upper Darby Democratic Party have repeatedly endorsed the mismanagement and dysfunction of Mayor Keffer and her administration,” said Burke. “They have put blind allegiance to a political party’s interests, such as patronage and doling out lucrative township contracts at great expense to the taxpayer, ahead of our best interests. As President of Council, I have a proven record of working with elected officials on both sides of the aisle who want to work for the common good of our township and residents, not for the interests of political party leaders. If elected Mayor, I pledge to put in place a bipartisan administration, a coalition government, that is staffed by highly qualified individuals who have one goal, to get our hometown back on the right track. Because it is going to take all of us to Save Upper Darby.”
Burke also expressed his concern that rising crime rates, combined with increases in municipal taxes and government fees, are causing too many residents to question whether they want to continue living in the township.
Burke has been a member of Steamfitters Local 420 since 1986 and is a life-long resident of Upper Darby. He has been active in a range of Upper Darby civic organizations over the years and has served on the boards of the Pilgrim Gardens/Aronimink Civic Association and the Saint Dorothy Athletic Association. He currently serves as Vice President of the Aronimink Swim Club Board. Burke has coached youth soccer and basketball and is active in Saint Dorothy’s Parish, including one of his favorite traditions, decorating the altar for Christmas every year. He lives in Upper Darby with his wife and three children.
Tina Hamilton
Council at Large Candidate
Originally from the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, Tina Hamilton has been a resident of Upper Darby Township since 1975. A 1982 graduate of Upper Darby High School, Tina went on to marry William Hamilton and have four children: Laura, William, Christina, and Robert. In 2013, Tina lost her oldest daughter, Laura, to cancer; meanwhile, watching her other three children struggle with addiction. In her resolve to save her three remaining children, Tina founded Upper Darby Recovery Without Barriers in 2019. She was determined to break down the barriers to obtaining treatment that those suffering from substance abuse face.
Finally, with all three children in recovery, Tina immersed herself further into the fight of Upper Darby Recovery Without Barriers and the community they serve. Seeing a desperate need for shelter in emergency weather conditions, “The Jimmy Project,” a warming center for those without shelter to escape the cold weather and enjoy a hot beverage and snack, was born.
It is clear that Tina draws her passion from her children and the community that has been her home for 48 years. Upper Darby Township is desperately in need of leaders who will advance a bipartisan effort to better the situation of all Township residents. Voter registration does not matter, Tina is running an all-inclusive campaign, and she will equally represent every citizen of Upper Darby if elected. Tina is a doer. Words are not enough, and Upper Darby Township needs action, NOW!
Brian Smith
Council at Large Candidate
Born and raised in Hartford, CT, Brian is the only child to two working parents. Brian attended college at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Upon graduation, he immediately went on to attend Villanova University where he received his master’s degree in Human Resources Development. Brian began his Human Resources (HR) career in 2007 and has worked in HR for over 15 years. Brian has spent 10 years of his career in HR Management. Thus, these skills allow him to handle employee relations and conflict resolution with a high level of attention. Brian currently lives in Drexel Hill with his wife and 2 kids. His beautiful wife is an accomplished athlete in gymnastics, Cross Fit and marathon running. She also holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Villanova and is a subject matter expert in the field of pharma. Brian’s son attends Cardinal O’Hara high where he regularly attains honors, and the family recently welcomed a beautiful baby boy. Brian is for God and Family. Brian’s ultimate philosophy is that disagreement is inevitable, but respect is required.
Frank McGovern
Magisterial District Judge Candidate
Frank J. McGovern is the Northeast Regional Counsel of Title Resources Guaranty Company. He started
his title career in 1997, as an attorney and title agent with a real estate firm and title insurance agency.
Frank has also worked for a Regional Underwriter as General Counsel/Underwriting Counsel/Corporate
Secretary and he has worked with two national title insurance companies as an Underwriting Counsel.
Frank has been a presenter at numerous seminars on title insurance for CE/CLE credit. He was awarded
the professional designation of Certified Land Title Professional by the Pennsylvania Land Title
Association (PLTA). Frank is a Past President of the PLTA and current Chair of the Education
Committee. Frank is a member of the American Land Title Association’s Congressional Liaison
Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and Title Action Network, a group formed to communicate
with state and federal legislators on issues affecting the land title industry. He was a Third Circuit VP,
and a Past President of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and
current Chair of the Veterans and Military Law Section of the Federal Bar Association. In 2004, he was
selected by the Legal Intelligencer and the Pennsylvania Law Weekly as one of Pennsylvania’s “Lawyers
on the Fast Track,” a designation given to only 35 lawyers throughout the Commonwealth under the age
of 40 determined to have influenced the legal community based on their development of the law,
commitment to the community and service to the bar.
Frank is a graduate of Msgr. Bonner High School, Widener University where he earned a B.S., magna
cum laude, M.B.A., and J.D. In addition, he received a M.S. from the London School of Economics and a
M.S. from the Army War College. He was a first team Academic All American in college in Cross
Country and Track.
He is a Colonel in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard currently serving as the Staff Judge Advocate
(General Counsel) for the 28 th Infantry Division which has 12,000 Soldiers commanded by a Major
General (2 star command). He has 3 overseas deployments to the Middle East, two to Iraq and one to
Kuwait. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars and many other awards including the Combat Action
Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge. He has also represented the USA in international athletic
competitions in countries such as Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, Croatia, New Zealand as a member
of the US Military Pentathlon team.
He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
He is involved in the community having served as a member of the Community YMCA of Eastern
Delaware County, Board of Directors; Historic Commission of Upper Darby, Chair; Zoning Hearing
Board member; Drexel Park Homeowners Association; Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation,
Board of Directors; Highland Park Athletic Association, Basketball coach; Drexel Hill Raiders,
Basketball coach; St Bernadette Parish CYO Board; American Legion Post 667, Judge Advocate; and he
is an Eagle Scout.
Nick Voight
2nd District Council Candidate
Nick Voight has lived in Upper Darby Township for the past twenty-plus years and has been a proud Westbrook Park resident since 2007. Originally from the Overbrook section of Philadelphia, he is pleased to share that he attended St. Callistus grade school, graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic High School (West Catholic Prep), and graduated from LaSalle University, Class of 2000, where he received his Business Degree with a focus in Business Management.
Professionally, Nick has been in nonprofit management for over fifteen years and focuses on building relationships with supporters and the organization. He also understands budget management, relationship building, and transparency.
Community service and community involvement have been a significant focus since his education at West Catholic. Nick has served on local boards and volunteered with organizations, including Holy Cross Home and School Association, Holy Cross CYO, The Knights of Columbus, and The Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation.
Nick enjoys spending time with his family and friends, especially his wife and their son. His wife is an insurance professional and is also involved with different nonprofits. Their son attends Holy Cross Catholic School and participates in many activities and sports.
From a young age, Nick’s parents provided a solid foundation of caring, acceptance of personal responsibility, and the belief that things will work out if you do the right thing.
Nick is looking forward to helping the citizens of his district feel supported and heard on critical discussions and issues.
Bob Ferraro
4th District Council Candidate
My name is Bob Ferraro. I have lived in Drexel Hill for over 22 years with my wife, three children, and now five grandchildren. I’ve worked for Thomas Jefferson University for over 20 years as a maintenance painter. Before that, I served in the PA Air National Guard for seven years, stationed at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. I am active in the American Legion Manoa Post 667 in Havertown. I served as 2nd Vice Commander for two years, Post Commander for two years, and am currently Finance Officer. I also hold the office of President of the Manoa Legionnaires Association in Post 667. I was Judge of Election in the 4th District for three years, from 2016 to 2018. I am looking forward to serving on Upper Darby 4th District Council.
Roger Tsayo
6th District Council Candidate
My name is Roger Tsayo and I am running for the 6th District Council of Upper Darby. I have been an Upper Darby resident for over 10 years. I was born in Cameroon in Central Africa. I am the second oldest child of 6 siblings and I have been married to my wife Eulalie for 13 years, and have three lovely children of 2 boys and 1 girl.
I am currently a registered nurse at Riddle Hospital and Fair Acres Geratric Center. I received my Bachelors of science in Nursing in May 2022 from West Chester University, a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Law abroad at a University in Cameroon, as well as my Associates Degree in nursing at Florida College of Health Sciences.
I am committed to work for the residents of the 6th District of Upper Darby and make this a safe, clean, secure environment for our families and friends to live. For too long our community has been neglected and I am a driven individual to work for the best interest of our district.
Joey Mazza
School Board Director Candidate
Joey Mazza has lived in Drexel Hill for the past 23 years. Raised in Yeadon he is a product of St. Louis School and graduated from Penn Wood High School before becoming a member of the class of ’98 from Penn State University. Willing to give back to the community he has served 2 terms as the President of the Upper Darby/Lansdowne Rotary Club (2019-2021) and is currently a Board Member. One of the club’s initiatives, and personal goal is to raise funds and give scholarships to our local high school seniors Upper Darby, Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast, and Penn Wood. Also active with The Upper Darby Collaborative, which unites local nonprofit leaders to build a stronger community. The Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!) is his latest venture as a volunteer mentor to the program last year to an instructor role this year.
His professional career has always involved management since his senior year in college. From industries like food and beverage to parking, and eventually being an entrepreneur in commercial and residential cleaning to opening a business coaching and consulting firm. Joey’s unorthodox style of combining analytics with down to earth decisive “gut” decision making allows him to cut through obstacles and help people/organizations get things done.
On a personal note, one of his favorite hobbies is curating a Batman collection of over 10,000 comic books, a couple hundred statues, Lego, and more.
Joey’s wife Michele of 31 years, daughter, and son are all graduates of the Upper Darby School District. His parents and two of his siblings have lived in Upper Darby Township for 25 years.
Frank Zarrilli
School Board Director Candidate
Elected to 5 consecutive terms by over 10,000 plus of you Upper Darby Citizens each time, who voted Frank into office as an Upper Darby School Board member from 1995 to 2015. (That’s 20 years of public service !)
During Frank’s tenure he was responsible for various areas of assignment over those years including but not limited to: School Board Vice-President, Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, Chairman of the Policy Committee, and Chairman of the Personnel Committee.
Frank gave daily courtroom service over 34 years as a public servant in The Delaware County Public Defender’s Office, where Frank served well over
20,000 indigent citizens and their families in our Delaware County Community – helping them to accept responsibility for their problems and
get court ordered drug and alcohol treatment, mental health treatment services, and many other helpful and rehabilitative programs in both adult
and juvenile court.
As a result of Frank’s initial 26 years of public service, our Delaware County Council recognized Frank’s leadership capabilities and appointed him unanimously as the Deputy Director (a/k/a The First Assistant) of our Delaware County Public Defender’s Office for his next 8 years, until his retirement from that office at the end of December 2019.
During Frank’s public service in our county’s Public Defender’s Office he worked with and learned from over 50 Delaware County Judges their best practices, enabling them to sharpen Frank’s analytical, Socratic, legal, judicial reasoning and judgment skill sets. Furthermore, while doing so Frank also mentoring over 25 of our county attorneys in how to try cases
before our courts; as well as how to handle a wide range of indigent citizen’s legal and numerous related personal issues. Frank has 38 years of experience serving regularly deciding civil matters including auto accident cases, landlord tenant cases, breach of contact cases and numerous other legal issues as an Arbiter on the Delaware County’s Arbitrations Panels, where he has spent over 28 years of those same years
serving as the Arbitration Chairman on our county’s three member arbitration panels.
Frank moved from Broomall purposely to live in Upper Darby in 1990 right after he got married because he wanted to be a part of such a culturally
diverse community, he bought a twin with his wife Marie – where he still lives to this day, has a son Andrew who earned a Presidential Scholarship to
Temple University, where Andrew is a honors graduate of The Fox School of Business – after which he became employed as a Financial Planner.
For over 17 years Frank has worked weekly as a volunteer in The Boy Scouts of America, where he spent 5 years as a Cub Master (with Scouts 6 to
11 years old), and 14 years as an Assistant Scout Master, including as an Adult Leader taking both Scouts and Crew members (including young
women from 14 to 21 years of age) from the Delaware Valley Area to 3 National Boy Scout Jamborees (2010, 2013, and 2017).
Frank is a graduate from 3 local universities with 3 degrees, including: Villanova University (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering), Widener University (Juris Doctorate at The Delaware Law School), and Temple
University (LL.M. in Trial Advocacy at The James E. Beasley School of Law).
Finally, Frank is an Eagle Scout with a Bronze Palm, and he has been living the Scout Oath and the Scout Law his whole life since he was 11 years old; as well as the Scout Mottos of “Be Prepared” since he was 11 years old, and “Do Your Best” since he was 6 years old.
Jim Plummer
School Board Director Candidate
Dr. James Plummer ‘06, administrator for the Division of Population Health for the Delaware County Health Department, has received Delaware County Community College’s 2022 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award. The Wong Moss Award is for alumni who personify academic success, professional achievement and a deep commitment to community service.
For nearly five decades, beginning with his role as a U.S. Army Medical Corpsman in 1973, Dr. Plummer has made it his mission to help others.
Following his tour with the Army, Dr. Plummer joined the U.S. Postal Service for a successful 25-year career. His retirement was short-lived, however, as he joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a screening manager from 2002-2005. While the work was rewarding, Dr. Plummer felt he had unfinished business and decided to return to the classroom. He re-enrolled at Delaware County Community College to complete his Associate in Applied Science degree in 2006, then held several managerial roles with the American Red Cross, Exam One, Rosemont College, Penn Medicine, Crozer-Keystone Health System, Philadelphia University of Osteopathic Medicine, and Axia Women’s Health. Recently, he became the Administrator for Population Health with the newly created Delaware County Health Department.
Delaware County’s Division of Population Health coordinates with community partners, agencies and healthcare institutions. It uses public health data to closely examine local communities and identify disparities and health concerns. Key services provided by the Division include community health assessment; health education and resources for chronic disease prevention; pandemic emergency preparedness (including COVID response), the Delaware County Health Department Wellness Call Center, and health equity promotion.
Dr. Plummer likes to tell people never to stop learning. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007 and a Master of Science-Healthcare Management degree in 2010, both from Rosemont College. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business for a Certificate of Leadership in 2012, followed by Eastern University’s Master of Business Administration-HealthCare Administration program in 2015. His classwork continued towards concurrent studies in the Master of Science-Healthcare Law from the University of Oklahoma (virtually) and the Thomas Jefferson University Doctor of Management in Strategic Leadership programs, successfully graduating from both in 2020. Now, he is pursuing his fifth post-graduate degree, having enrolled in the Master of Science-Public Administration program at Villanova University. He also is an adjunct faculty member for the College of Business and Leadership at Eastern University.
Dr. Plummer proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Penn Foundation and the Delaware County Medical Society. He also volunteers as a fellow with the Thomas Jefferson University Institute of System Wisdoms, the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society at Eastern University, and as a mentor with the Delaware County Community College Alumni Association. Last December, he was named an Outstanding Alumni for his studies and service at Eastern University.
Kristen Truax
School Board Director Candidate
I was born and raised in the Drexel Hill area of Upper Darby Township, returning to the township in 2004 to present as a homeowner.
I have 2 children. My daughter will graduate in June 2023 from Upper Darby High School and my son went through Upper Darby School District until 8th grade and now attends Bonner/ Prendie.
I received my BSN from Barry University and have been a nurse for 30 years. The last six years I have been a certified school nurse which I received my certification and Masters in School Health from Eastern University. From 2017 to 2022 I worked as a school nurse in the Upper Darby School District at Stonehurst Hills Elementary School.
Pat Benner
School Board Director Candidate
Patrick Benner was born and raised in Upper Darby. Growing up, Pat was an active and loyal Camp Counselor for the Upper Darby Department of Recreation at the Bywood and Stonehurst Schools.
He is an avid supporter of the Summer Stage program at Upper Darby high school and can be found taking his young children—6 of them–to the shows every summer.
Pat is one of seven children, all born and raised in Upper Darby and all of whom have served in some fashion in Upper Darby township.
Proud and unapologetic of his Catholic faith, Pat attended Catholic school in Upper Darby his entire life.
Pat graduated from Temple University in 2007.
Upon graduating from Temple, Pat entered the education profession as a Middle School teacher in the City of Philadelphia. During this time, Pat earned his Masters in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph’s University.
At 27 years old, Pat was voted by the School board to serve as Principal of St. Kevin school in Springfield, PA.
At 29, with a rapidly growing family, Pat made a career pivot into the Public Relations business.
Known for his natural relationship building skills and gift of rhetoric, Pat quickly climbed the ranks in the Public Relations business frequently working down in our Nation’s Capital serving clients in the National Security space. For 3 years, Pat served as the Public Relations Executive for the Chief of Staff for the National Security Council securing world-shaping pivotal interviews for his clients on CNN, FOX, CNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS among others.
Once Covid-19 hit the world, like millions of us, Pat reflected on his future and sought a career path that would allow Pat to be more present to his family and better serve his wife and 6 children. This led to Pat entering the property and casualty insurance industry in the Greater Philadelphia area in 2020.
After 2 years of working for a Fortune 500 Property and Casualty company, Pat felt the entrepreneurial call to open his own Independent Property and Casualty Insurance Brokerage. In 2022 he did just that and is currently the CEO and Principal Agent of Benner Insurance Solutions.
In his free time, Pat is a Board of Director for the very reputable Food4Friends helping secure leftover food from restaurants, hotels and grocery stores to deliver to those families without enough nutrition.
One of Pat’s proudest characteristics is his natural gift to peacefully hold dialogue with people who have various viewpoints. He is proud to say he has close friends across the entire political spectrum and
He stands for 3 simple things: Integrity in All Things, Love for Learning and Respect for all neighbors.
Pat is proud to say he is for God, Family and Country.
To get a better idea of just who Pat Benner is, just ask him about one of his favorite heroes. Answer: Mother Teresa.