Jon Long
WEST CHESTER — Democrat Jon Long announced last week he would run for District Justice of District Court 15-01-04, which covers portions of the borough.
The current Justice in that district is Gwenn Knapp, also a Democrat.
Long, an attorney, cites his interest in dedicating his professional career to public service as his motivation for running.
“I am running in order to put my experience as a prosecutor to work serving the citizens of West Chester, Long said in a statement. “The neighborhoods of West Chester that District Court 15- 1-04 serves are beset by many issues, especially those concerning the late night activities of some West Chester University students. I am uniquely positioned not only as a prosecutor, but also as a member of the WCU Alumni Association board of directors to make an impact on University-Borough relations and best serve both the residents and students alike so they can live side by side in peace.”
A number of local Democratic party leaders expressed their support for Long, who has worked as a prosecutor in both the Chester and Bucks county District Attorney’s Office.
“Jon Long has been an asset to our community since his undergraduate days at West Chester University and has gone on to prove his merit as an Assistant District Attorney in a neighboring county,” said Jim Salvas, a long-time Democratic leader and retired Ward 1 resident. “He is ready to take on the responsibilities of District Justice.”
Stephanie Markstein, a small business owner and Democratic Zone Leader of the West Chester Democrats expresee her support for Long, saying “Jon Long as been an active Democrat since we met many years ago. He is intelligent and compassionate. Jon goes out of his way to help others, and his easygoing temperament gives him a unique ability to engage people around him. I trust Jon’s honesty and integrity and fully support his candidacy for this important role in our community.”
Nathaniel Smith, a former ward 2 resident for 22 years, long-time Democratic leader and retired professor endorsed Long saying, “I have known Jon Long for years now through his involvement in various organizations and issues concerning the Borough. He has the combination of integrity, fairness, compassion, and strictness, as well as professional familiarity with the law, to become the ideal district justice.”
Having been part of the justice system already, Long said he wants to use his experience to the benefit of the community.
“As an Assistant District Attorney I see an opportunity to continue developing my interest in the law at a higher level,” Long said. “I want to make this important local court the best it can be for the citizens of West Chester.”
Long notes that despite being one of the smallest districts in the county, this court has the highest number of non-traffic filings in Chester County, with the majority of complaints being quality of life crimes.
He said it was his hope to, “continue running this District Court with the highest integrity in order to best serve the citizens of West Chester. All cases, no matter the subject matter, will be heard and decided on the merits with the law to be applied strictly and fairly.”
As many citizens’ first encounter with the judicial system, Long said he believes that “those citizens should walk away with the feeling that the system is tough when it needs to be, but ultimately fair.”
Long is a graduate of West Chester University and Temple University Beasley School of Law. A resident of the borough for the past 16 years, he has been an active citizen serving on both the University- Neighborhood Task Force and, most recently, the Borough’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force. Besides his career as a prosecutor, Jon has worked for local small businesses, the Chester County government, and the State Legislature.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have been residents of Ward 1 for the past nine years.
