Widener University to Host Hall Meetings for 159th District Candidates

Chester, Pa.—The Rev. William Rocky Brown III (R) and State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland (D), who will square off in the Nov. 2 election for State Representative of the 159^th District, will talk to voters at two town hall style meetings on Oct. 27th and 28th at Widener University’s Lathem Hall, 13^th and Potter Streets in Chester.

Rev. Brown will address voters’ questions on Wednesday, Oct. 27th at 7 p.m., and State Representative Kirkland will address voters’ questions on Thursday, Oct. 28th at 7 p.m. Candidates will make brief introductory statements and will then take questions from the audience. Both events are free and open to the public. The events are sponsored by the Widener NAACP College Chapter, the Widener Political Engagement Committee, the Young Democrats of Widener, and the College Republicans of Widener.

Pennsylvania’s 159^th district covers the city of Chester, Chester Township, Eddystone, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Upland, Lower Chichester Township, Parkside and parts of Upper Chichester Township and Ridley Township.

Rev. Brown is president and CEO of Brown and Associates, LTD, a comprehensive government and public relations firm. He is also a state certified drug, alcohol and gambling addiction counselor and was recently voted by his peers and colleagues as employee of the year at Crozer-Keystone Health System’s Community Hospital.

A preacher by calling, Brown is an ordained Baptist minister of 31 years. He spent six of those years as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bernardtown in South Coatesville, Pa. He is presently pastor of youth and community at the Bethany Baptist Church in Chester.

Rev. Brown graduated from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He also holds a master’s degree in religion from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate of divinity degree from Jameson Christian College.

Representative Kirkland has served the 159^th legislative district since being elected in 1992, on his first attempt for public office. He currently serves as chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and is a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, the Health & Human Services Committee, Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, Policy Committee, and Urban Affairs Committee. He is also second vice chairman of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Kirkland is the pastor of Community Baptist Church. Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Kirkland was a community service coordinator at Crozer Chester Medical Center, where he conducted outreach and educational programs for teenagers.

A 1973 graduate of Chester High School, Kirkland holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He also attended classes at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener comprises eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. The university’s campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve some 6,700 students. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.