Mark Shaffer

Mark is running for Wilkes-Barre City Council District B because the residents of the city have been left behind. A researcher and community organizer with experience in housing policy and economic development, he ran in 2019 because an unresponsive city government had allowed crumbling roads, blighted properties, trash and litter, and the drug epidemic to spread throughout the city.

In the last four years, Mark has organized his community, bringing people together to improve their neighborhoods. He founded a community service group called the Wilkes-Barre Worker Bees, organizing weekly cleanups throughout the city. Last October, they planted over 20 trees in 5 parks around the city.

Mark represents Luzerne County as an elected member of the PA Democratic State Committee. He is the Chair of the 6th District of the Luzerne County Democratic Party, helping to recruit members and candidates. He is also a Luzerne County chapter coordinator for Action Together Northeastern PA, a grassroots progressive advocacy organization.

Mark thinks the city council needs to tackle the housing crisis in Wilkes-Barre, using recovery funds to expand affordable housing opportunities through land trusts and other innovative policies. The city also needs to change its policies on addiction, shifting from criminalization to compassion, giving neighbors the resources they need to protect themselves and get clean. Mark believes that through organizing and bold policy changes, a brighter future for Wilkes-Barre is possible.