Josh Maxwell

Joshua A. Maxwell
Mayor of Downingtown, Pennsylvania[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2010[2]
Preceded by Heather A. Bruno
Personal details
Born September 3, 1983[3]
Political party Democratic[1]
Religion Christian[1]
Website www.joshmaxwell.com

Joshua "Josh" Anthony Maxwell (born September 3, 1983) is the current mayor of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest mayor elected in Downingtown history.[4]

Personal life and education

Maxwell, a native of Downingtown, was active in the community, serving as a church deacon and participating in community service project.[2] He graduated from Downingtown High School.[5] Maxwell holds a BA from West Chester University and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania.[6]

DUI Conviction

Maxwell was pulled over by a Pennsylvania State Trooper on August 20th, 2011 at a routine sobriety checkpoint on Route 322 in West Bradford Township. He failed the field sobriety test and a breath test indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 or above. In September 2011, Maxwell waived his preliminary hearing and entered the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, which offers nonviolent first-time offenders a clean slate if they complete requirements such as community service and treatment programs. [7]

Political career

Maxwell began his career in politics while still in college, serving on the Planning Commission of Downingtown. On the Planning Commission, he helped write various city ordinances and “people liked what I had to do and asked me to run,” Maxwell said.[4]

Mayor of Downingtown

Mayor of Downingtown is a largely ceremonial position paying $2,500 per annum. [8]

On March 20, 2014, he signed into law an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodations in Downingtown. This made Downingtown the 34th municipality in Pennsylvania to do so.[9]

2009 election

In 2009, Maxwell ran for office of mayor of Downingtown. On November 3, 2009, he defeated Republican Nick Winkler. In January 2010, he was sworn in as mayor of Downingtown.[4][2]

Mayoral election in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 2009[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 659 51.88%
Republican Nick Winkler 611 48.12%

2013 election

In 2013, Maxwell ran for reelection for mayor of Downingtown. On November 5, 2013, Maxwell defeated Tony L. Babcock and was re-elected mayor of Downingtown.[11]

Democratic primary for the mayoral election in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 2013[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 195 90.28%
Democratic Write-in 21 9.72%
Mayoral election in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 2013[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 848 67.68%
Republican Tony L. Babcock 391 31.21%
Write-in 14 1.12%

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

155th district

In the 2012 Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, Maxwell ran in the 155th district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and lost to the Republican Becky Corbin on November 6, 2016.[14]

Democratic primary for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives election in District 155, 2012[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 1,670 100%
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives election in District 155, 2012[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 17,131 46.4%
Republican Becky Corbin 19,787 53.6%

74th district

In the 2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, Maxwell ran in the 74th district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In the Democratic primary, he defeated Joshua Young to win the parties nomination. He lost to Republican Harry Lewis, Jr. on November 4, 2014.

Democratic primary for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives election in District 74, 2014[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Maxwell 1,947 59.76%
Democratic Joshua Young 1,166 35.79%
Democratic Write-in 145 4.45%

Political views

Maxwell is a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has spoken publicly about stopping gun violence, supporting background checks, and supporting an assault weapons ban. He also supports levying an excise tax on fracking. He is pro-choice and believes more should be done to prevent domestic violence. He supports repealing the Pennsylvania's voter ID law. He supports inclusive non-discrimination laws. is a member of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, and supports LGBT rights at all levels, including same-sex marriage.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Facebook
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Widener Law Student Begins Term as Mayor of Downingtown
  3. ↑ A look at county row office, judges and mayoral races
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Aquino, Karen (25 February 2011). "It's good to be mayor". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Carey, Art (24 October 2009). "At 26, candidates vie to be mayor Downingtown will elect its youngest mayor. Borough officials say both candidates are well-suited for the job.". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Meet Josh". Mayor Josh Maxwell. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Brady Shea, Kathleen (26 September 2011). "Downingtown mayor seeks prison alternative on DUI charge". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  8. ↑ "Borough of Downingtown". ecode360.com.
  9. ↑ Downingtown becomes 34th in PA to ban LGBT discrimination
  10. ↑ "Feldman, Maxwell lead Downingtown races". The Daily Local. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ Dunbar, Ginger (6 November 2013). "Downingtown race decided by single vote". Daily Local News. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "SUMMARY REPORT OFFICIAL RESULTS RUN DATE:06/11/13 PRIMARY ELECTION, MAY 21, 2013". web.archive.org. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  13. ↑ "UPDATE 12/11/13 8am:". downingtown.does.co. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ McGann, Mike (19 January 2012). "Maxwell announces run for 45th Seat". Coatesville Times. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "State Representative; Pennsylvania State House of Representatives; District 155 Voter Information". Smart Voter. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  16. ↑ "State Representative; Pennsylvania State House of Representatives; District 155 Voter Information". Smart Voter. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  17. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS PRIMARY ELECTION, MAY 20, 2014". http://web.archive.org. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  18. ↑ Josh Maxwell on the issues

External links