A responsible government
In Josh’s own words:
“Government has to work for the people, and it can only do that if it has the people’s trust.
I strive every day to make our county worthy of that most important kind of trust.”
Josh’s plan:
Accountability and Transparency
Within County Government, Josh has spearheaded a groundbreaking approach to spending: the county’s first Priority Based Budgeting process, which ensures the County budget reflects community values first and foremost. He also created the first employee group for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and led efforts to implement the first Ethics Policy in Chester County to ensure that public employees are acting in accordance with public trust.
Public Financial Management
Josh believes that everyone deserves a say in how resources are allocated. As commissioner, he helped create a citizen committee of 36 volunteers (half county employees, half residents) to review and prioritize proposals from municipalities, public authorities, small businesses, and non-profit organizations to allocate nearly $102 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.
Leading through the COVID crisis
Only a few weeks into his first term, Josh and his fellow county electeds were thrown into one of the biggest health crises in modern memory. Josh was proud to be part of a team that responded swiftly, acted thoughtfully, and saved both money and lives through strategic implementation of a countywide health and economic response--even extending the county health department's resources to neighboring Delaware County, helping thousands more people in a move praised as both fiscally smart and above and beyond the call of duty.
Fair, equitable, and transparent elections
During some of the most critical and hotly contested elections in Chester County history, Josh stepped up as Chair of the County Board of Elections and ensured that Chester County's electoral procedures were fair, equitable, transparent, and thoroughly accurate. Josh was instrumental in restructuring County Voter Services to respond to the needs of the pandemic and beyond, and further expanded voting access through the creation of Voter Services Satellite offices and secure ballot drop boxes that allowed registered voters in Chester County to vote safely, securely, and with the knowledge that their votes would be counted accurately.