ELECTED OFFICIALS
- Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr.
- Councilman Shepard A. Garner, Jr. - Director of Accounts and Finance
- Councilman John Linder- Director of Public Safety
- Councilwoman Marrea Walker-Smith - Director of Parks, Recreation and Public Property
- Councilwoman Portia West - Director of Streets and Highway
- Dalinda Carrero-Papi - Controller
Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr.
Wendell N. Butler, Jr. was appointed Mayor of the City of Chester on October 9, 2002, to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor and now State Senator, Dominic f. Pileggi. Born and raised in the City of Chester, Mayor Butler attended Chester public schools until his junior year in high school, when his parents moved to Ridley Township. After graduating from Ridley High School in 1962, he completed three years of service in the United States Army before returning to Chester.
From humble beginnings growing up in a federal housing project, Mayor Butler was determined to make a real difference in his life and in his community. Upon his return to Chester, he was employed with American Viscose for about three years and in 1969, joined the ranks of the Chester Police Department. This was the beginning of 33 quality years in law enforcement, which saw numerous promotions and successes. In 1989, he was promoted to Sergeant, and in 1994, he was promoted again to the Command Staff, where he held the position of Major. During this time, Mayor Butler supervised police officers in numerous divisions, administered the drug forfeiture account, was commander of the narcotics unit, worked closely with the City’s administration and often performed the duties of the Chief of Police. He also received numerous awards and citations for his duties. In January 1996, he took his seat as Commissioner of the Chester Police Department, where he made numerous accomplishments and improvements within the department.
Mayor Butler is committed to his community and is actively involved in numerous organizations. He is a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Chester, and Chester Police Activities League. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Chester, the International, and Delaware County Chiefs of Police Associations, Fraternal Order of Police, the Masonic Order, and Spencer Memorial Church. An avid sports enthusiast, Mayor Butler spent many years working with city youth through the Chester Biddy League, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts and Chester Youth League.
Mayor Butler is a lifelong resident of Chester. He resides with his wife, Tanya, and is the father of a daughter, Elaine, two sons, Dondi, and Dirk, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Shepard A. Garner, Jr. - Director of Finance and Accounts
“Don’t be afraid to lead by example.” This is the motto for Shepard A. Garner Jr. He believes it is okay to be a leader focused on a positive lifestyle even if it’s not perceived to be the cool thing to do. Shepard is a lifelong resident of the City of Chester. He was educated in the Chester Upland School District until his senior year of high school where he was awarded a basketball scholarship to attend Solebury Prep School where he graduated in 1989. He then matriculated to Alvernia College in Reading, PA, where he graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in both Accounting and Business Management (dual major).
Shep began his professional career while attending Alvernia working for CTCE Credit Union in Reading, PA in 1993 where he received unlimited training in the field of accounting. Shep is presently employed with Delcora, as a Staff Accountant.
In addition to his professional duties, Shep spends much of his time volunteering in the community where his calling is to help children. He was an Assistant Coach for Village Charter School’s varsity Basketball Team from 2000 to 2002. He worked as a Mentor/Coach/Referee for the City of Chester’s Violence Prevention Summer Program called “Camp Umoja Nia” from 1997-2006. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Chester, which has programs that serve the community, such as Toys for Tots, a book bag program, as well as a coat drive and a scholarship fund for Chester residents. He was hired by New Foundations Foster Care Agency in Chester as a Recruiter for foster families in 2005.
Shep is a board member with Youth Interlock Society, a non-profit organization in Chester, PA that provides tutoring, mentoring and athletics to help provide a better future for the student athletes of tomorrow. He has also served as a Committeeman and as a Watcher for Chester’s 11th ward first precinct since 2005.
Shep is the proud son of the late Shepard Garner Sr. and Christine Garner and the younger brother of Theresa Sargent-Butler. He is married to Kim Pinder-Garner (a professional singer for EBE and the Franklin and Alison Orchestra and employee in the Lead Program for the City of Chester). He is the proud father of three children, Brittany, Shepard III and Brianna.
Councilwoman Marrea Walker-Smith - Director of Parks and Recreation
"Where you live, does not define who you can be." This is the motto of Mrs. Marrea Walker Smith, a lifelong resident of Chester, Pennsylvania, and former tenant of the William Penn Housing Projects.
Mrs. Smith was educated in the Chester-Upland School District and graduated with the class of 1989. She attended Delaware State University from which she graduated in 1994 with a Bachelors Degree in political science and a minor in history. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Widener University. In 1993, she participated in President Clinton's Pilot Program, "Summer of Service for College Students." She traveled to California to be trained in diversity, community service, ethnicity, and public relations.
After graduating college in May 1994, Mrs. Smith returned to the City of Chester with one goal in mind, which was to help rebuild Chester. Mrs. Smith was eager to work for the City of Chester and began her career as a Clerk at the Chester Fire Department. Shortly after, Mrs. Smith worked as a Health Inspector and as a Project Director for the Violence Prevention and Sexual Abstinence Program. She created the Violence Prevention Summer Basketball Program called "Camp Umoja Nia" which combines violence prevention workshops with basketball.
Mrs. Smith was elected to a (4) year term as Controller for the City of Chester in 1999. She is a Chester Republican Committee Woman, 2nd Vice-President for the Chester Republican Women's Club, Former School Board Director for the Chester- Upland School District, and member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.
Elected to City Council in November 2003, Mrs. Smith is the wife of Kirk Smith, dedicated daughter of Dolores Walker and youngest sibling of Donald, Denny, Ronda, Mar'Se, Lindberg, and Frank.
Councilman John Linder - Director of Public Safety
John Linder is currently Professor in Social Sciences at Delaware County Community College, Media, Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. degree in Behavioral Sciences for Widener University, a Certificate of Training in Family Therapy from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and a Master's degree in Higher Education and Counseling from Kutztown University.
Mr. Linder was formerly Assistant Director of the Human Services Program at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. He served in that position from 1980-1989, holding concurrently the rank of Assistant Professor in Human services. Prior to joining the faculty at NVCC, Mr. Linder was a counselor/instructor at Kutztown University from 1976-1980. He has been a Master Trainer and an Associate of the Robert R. Carkhuff Institute of Human Technology, specializing in Interpersonal Skills Training for teachers, counselors, and other human services personnel and clientele.
His special skills in individual and group counseling, alcohol and drug education, and marketing and resource development, have led to extensive consulting initiatives in these areas. He has written and co-authored a number of publications relating to student development, the helping relationship and peer pressure.
Mr. Linder has been Clinical Supervisor for the Alexandria Department of Mental Health and Retardation Division of Substance Abuse and has been the Associate Director of the Parent Focus Program; a program for teenage parents, in Washington, D.C. for five years.
More recently, Mr. Linder was a co-founder and superintendent of a Charter School, and has received an honorary doctorate degree (D. Sci.) for his work/co-authorship on "The Freedom Doctrine: Architecture for Global Freedom, (2003) Possibilities Publishing, Inc., Amherst, MA,; Other co-authorships include: The Art of Helping in the Twenty FirstCentury:Student Workbook. 2000). HRD Press, Amherst, MA: Getting Away Clean: SKills for Handling Negative Peer Pressure (1986). HRD Press, Amherst, MA
Councilwoman Portia West- Director of Streets and Highway
Portia West was educated in the Chester-Upland School District and graduated from Chester High School in 1967. She continued her education at the Keystone School of Business in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, taking Stenography and other Business Related courses. Ms. West also attended Allegheny Community College and is currently enrolled in the Delaware County Community College's program for Business.
Ms. West worked for QVC, Inc. for over twenty-one years as a Department Specialist III where she supported two Directors and two Teams of Project Managers. She was a loyal employee and dedicated to the QVC Difference of customer focus, teamwork, pioneering spirit, commitment to excellence, respect and concern for others. Ms. West is also experienced with handling Better Business Bureau and Attorney General Issues on behalf of QVC.
Ms. West is a long time member of the Calvary Baptist Church. She is the 2nd Vice President for the Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Xinos Hub Parents, President of the DCCC Student Success Parent Group, member of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women, Inc., and also works with their Youth Club. Ms. West was a Volunteer Presenter/Educator for Breast Cancer Awareness in the Chester Community on behalf of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
Other affiliations include: 3rd Vice-President of the Chester High School PTO, Executive Board Member for the Booker T. Washington Community Center, Former President of the Chatham Estates Residents Council, Past Member of the Resident Advisory Board for the Chester Housing Authority, Board of Directors for the Chatham Estates Community Development Corporation, Former Executive Board Member for Mothers In Charge (Chester Chapter), Former President of the Columbus-Edison PTO, Member of Chester-Upland Superintendent's Community Advisory Board, Former Member of the Community Advisory Board for Edison Corporation in Chester-Upland, Parent Spokesperson for Education in the Community of Chester, PA, Former Member of the Board of Directors for the Chester YWCA, Member of the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc., Past Contributing Editor to Perspective Magazine, and a volunteer for the Barack Obama Campaign 2008.
Dalinda Carrero-Papi - Controller
A life-long resident of Chester and the daughter of immigrant parents, Tito and Alicia Carrero, Dalinda Carrero-Papi was taught, "the only limits in life are those we place on ourselves." Living this creed, Dalinda's accomplishments are numerous and still growing.
Ms. Carrero-Papi entered the Widener University School of Law with a full minority academic scholarship before she was 21. One year later, she was the First Latino to be elected to the Chester-Upland School Board.
By age 23, Ms. Carrero-Papi passed the Pennsylvania Bar and was a civil rights lawyer for the State Attorney General's Office. She was a Deputy Attorney General from 1996-2002. After that, she specialized in banking law, with clients including First Union/Wachovia, Commerce Bank, and Sovereign Bank.
Ms. Carrero-Papi's commitment to civic service combined with her experience in law and finance paved the way for her position as City Controller. Before being elected Controller, Ms. Carrero-Papi was Chester's Assistant City Solicitor, since 2002, where she was legal advisor to the mayor and council. She also works as a County Advocate for Children with Child Support Enforcement.
In addition to her daily work duties, she was also instrumental in bringing a FREE "English As a Second Language" course to the City of Chester. She currently assists County Council in identifying issues affecting women and children through the Delaware County Women's Commission. She's an active member of the Chester Hispanic Heritage Organization, Chester City Zoning Board, Ches Penn Board of Directors and Neumann College Standing Committee for Student Affairs.
She is married to Tom Papi.