When I was growing up, Dupont’s heartbeat was local. My family ran Kalmanowicz’s Market and Deli, and it wasn’t just a store — it was a gathering place. People came in for groceries, sure, but they also came in to catch up, share stories, and stay connected. Small businesses like ours weren’t just shops — they were the threads that held the town together.

But I also watched what happened when the big boxes rolled in. Walmart, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Arby’s, McDonald’s — they set up just down the road, and one by one, the corner stores and family-run places struggled to survive. My family held on as long as we could, but the squeeze was real. That experience left a mark on me. It showed me how fragile small-town economies can be when outside corporations set the terms.

Local ownership means more than nostalgia. It means jobs that stay here, money that circulates here, and pride that grows here. When you buy from a family business in Dupont, you’re not just buying a product — you’re helping a neighbor pay their mortgage, keep their kids in school, and invest back into our borough.

As Mayor, I want to make it easier to start, grow, and sustain small businesses in Dupont. That means cutting unnecessary red tape, streamlining permits, and standing up a “Shop Dupont” campaign to remind us all how much power we have when we spend our dollars locally. I want to see storefront improvement programs that give our Main Street a fresh coat of life. I want borough contracts to go to local vendors first, so taxpayer money actually benefits taxpayers.

This isn’t about being anti-business — it’s about being pro-Dupont. The truth is, we can’t stop the big chains from existing. But we can decide where we put our focus, our resources, and our pride.

I’ve lived the story of small business in Dupont — the highs and the heartbreak. And I’m determined to make sure the next generation of family shops, diners, and local services don’t just survive here — they thrive.

Dupont First. Local First. Always.