FARRELL MAYORAL RACE Sanders focuses on people; Morocco points to progress

Both candidates agree the city must be revitalized but differ in their approach.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The Rev. Martha J. Sanders believes that Farrell can become a self-sustaining community again but says it will take a visionary to lead the effort.
She believes she can fill that leadership role and is challenging incumbent Mayor William A. Morocco Sr. for his post in the May 20 primary.
Both are Democrats. There are no Republicans on the ballot so whoever wins the primary is likely to be the next mayor, barring any write-in campaign in November.
The challenger
Sanders, a former city councilwoman who made an unsuccessful bid for the mayor's post in 1995, said city officials and staff in positions of responsibility and those who benefit from Farrell's programs must be accountable for their decisions.
The city also needs to make its residents its top priority and Farrell people should get first consideration for municipal business loans and jobs from companies that receive those loans, Sanders said.
Sanders said she is disappointed with businesses that got their start in Farrell and prospered here but then moved to other communities "without looking back."
People who get a share of funds sent to Farrell because it is a distressed city ought to be monitored and shouldn't be allowed to borrow city money to start a business and then go out of business without repaying the debt, as has happened before, she said. Farrell is rated as a financially distressed municipality by Pennsylvania because of the Sharon Steel bankruptcies of 1987 and 1992 that severely damaged the city's tax base.
Youth and young adult awareness is important as well, she said, explaining that job training, recreation and programs that foster community pride are essential for Farrell's revitalization.
Her background in human relations work and her understanding of people and their issues help qualify her for the job of mayor, she said.
"Farrell must save Farrell," Sanders said. "We have gone over the limit joining in with other communities in various endeavors. We have helped far more than we have been helped."
The incumbent
Morocco has been a fixture in city government, first as a councilman and now as mayor, since 1978 with the exception of a few years in the late 1980s.
He said those years have given him the experience and qualifications to continue to lead the city.
Farrell's twin objectives are financial revitalization and redevelopment, Morocco said, adding that he believes he has been effective in moving the city forward toward those goals.
The major consideration in this campaign is making sure the city is financially able to provide fundamental services for residents and businesses, Morocco said.
Morocco said he has been a leader in helping the city reduce expenses yet maintain services during its recovery.
The city is providing the same services as before but at less costs as a result, he said, noting that Farrell will have no more municipal bond debt in 2004.
Morocco said the city is moving forward with rebuilding its community development department, which should then restart a mothballed housing rehabilitation program to repair older residences in the city.
Moving forward on the housing and community development fronts will enable Farrell to meet the future, he said.