Callahan Looks to Take on Perception of North Ward

It was  a Sunday afternoon, and from the  window, I could hear the pitch being made, “I want to see things change for the north ward…” and that’s all I needed to hear, grabbing  pen and notepad, heading downstairs to engage the young woman speaking to one of her potential constituents.

Bridget Callahan, 25, has been on the election stump every waking moment she has,  introducing  herself, speaking  with the north warders who will vote on May 21.

This is the only race in the borough where more than two people are facing off against each other, as there are four candidates in this race to November.

The takeaway from the impromptu meeting confirmed much of what’s been said about  the former intern for Rep. Patrick Murphy, when he was the congressional representative of  the 8th district.

Impressive, driven, new, and outspoken with some calling her  the “darkhorse”  in the primary where she’s running against three other challengers.

Callahan, has some definite ideas she wants to see materialize into efforts that will change the perception of the north ward and its residents, she says.

“We need to find a balance with this because there are plenty of residents in the north ward that feel no one really cares what happens here, and that creates a mindset among residents  that the local council  isn’t for them, but against them. We need to solve this  because  it will benefit everyone involved.”

Councilman Devine has been, great she says, and I’m not looking to step on anyone’s toes, but the fact remains a majority of the people living in this part of the borough are disenfranchised in one way or another, and somehow, someway we need to change the mindset from the kids on up to the adults here, she said.

Callahan, sees the building of the floating docks as just one element in a successful recipe to bring back Bristol Borough as whole,  to its rightful esteemed place in Bucks County.

‘I see those docks as an opportunity for people throughout the borough, and here in the ward, because I think jobs are going to be created, and if there’s one thing people here are looking for,  is jobs!”

Asked if being the youngest in the race is an issue for her in any way, she said, I don’t see it that way actually. I think my way of seeing things and advocating for my constituents requires a different way viewing challenges we face.

“My experience interning for former Congressman Murphy has forced me to look at issues in a different kind of way. For example, one of the ongoing issues we have are people dumping their garbage in the ward constantly  If we were able to hold a cleanup the ward day, or something similar, with the community getting involved maybe that translates into a sense of caring for what the ward looks like,” she said. In turn the next jerk seen dumping might get caught because someone who was out there cleaning up sees it,  gets annoyed  and in turn reports it to the proper authorities.  That, she said, would reflect a small change in the culture of mind.  It’s  what we need to do in terms of changing the outside  perception of  the north ward .

For more information about Bridget Callahan’s run for for Bristol Borough  Council click here

A major concern Callahan is campaigning on is the need for  cooperative reciprocity between police and resident cooperation.