Rodriguez Faces New Challenge as Bristol West Ward Race is Far From Settled

The race for the west ward seat on the Bristol Borough Council is far from over, contrary to popular reports.

The Bucks County Board of Elections confirmed late last week that Jason Grisolia of  583 Linden Street has thrown his name into the race to take on incumbent councilwoman Betty Rodriguez.

“Its time we had a council person available and visible to all the people of the ward,” Grisolia said Thursday night by phone.

Rodriquez, who barely squeezed by political neophyte Daryl Curtis in the Democratic Primary by 14 votes in May, has been taking victory laps for the installation of speed bumps yet she has serious issues she’s yet  to deal with in the ward, the Libertiarian candidate said.

“We need to get the problems associated with Bath and Buckley Streets cleaned up. Residents deserve a safe community to live in. Children deserve a safe place to play and live.  All the residents of the ward deserve the same kind of response from the councilwoman and that’s just not the case,”  he said.

“When was the last time they saw the councilwoman,” he said plainly. “I know the answer and so does she,” he said.

The 32-year old single man and life-long Bristol resident holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Holy Family University in elementary and special education and now teaches at Neshaminy High School on a substitute basis while also being involved with local kids as a coach for various sports teams.

Grisolia, has gained the support of  Councilman Tony Devine,  who said ” Jason is a well-respected Bristolian who was born and raised here.  His  family doesn’t work for the borough or elections,” clearly indicating his displeasure with an issue he feels ails the borough when it comes to elections.

“Jason comes from a good family with deep roots here in the borough. One that isn’t involved with or employed by the borough like we have with so many other officials. His interests won’t be tied to how to benefit from the borough or take advantage of his role to fatten his wallet. The influence he would gain would be for the voters of his ward, not his own. He has a mind of his own can think for himself and that’s critical to the health of the council and his ward, ” Devine said.

Grisolia said one of the issues he’s been concerned  has been the PECO site that’s going through a clean up.

“I’ve tried to contact the councilwoman several times over the last two years  about a number of issues and have yet to get a response. Seems to me the only time she responds to any one is election time and that’s just not good enough for me or the residents of the ward and borough,” Grisolia, said.

Grisolia, who needed a minimum of 10 signatures to get on the ballot,  collected 21 endorsers from his ward in support of his candidacy, said he’s already started campaigning and realizes he faces a challenge of sorts.

“The councilwoman has yet to be beat ” he said, “but on any given day you never know what could happen,” borrowing  from a popular sports analogy.

In little over a month, Grisolia is  the third candidate to be added to the ballot for election day in November.

Eric Sokalski, also running as a Libertarian Party candidate,  caused a bit of a stir in July with his a planned candidacy announcement at a memorial site for Veterans is challenging incumbent, and council president Ralph DiGuiseppe II for the south ward seat.

Anthony Muccie of 619 Beaver Street has filed to take on David Girard, who won the May democratic primary in a landslide, in the north ward as a libertarian.

Rumblings continue about another August surprise announcement from a candidate looking to run, a  source has said on the condition of anonymity.

“There is still time to make those decisions and any changes if need be,”  the political operative said.

Rodriquez was unavailable for comment for this report.