Jake Miller: We need to get this out of the way… What do you say to the citizens of the state who show concern about your age?

Dan Knorr: When I was running for council, age was an issue. Now that I have the experience (Knorr served as a town councilman for two years – ed.), a grasp on the issues, and responsible votes, I can let that speak for itself. But I heard no complaints whatsoever in the Town of Bloomsburg.

JM: How do you anticipate what it will be like to juggle being a full-time mayor and a full-time student?

DK: I work very hard at time management; I have to, I have other jobs and activities besides this. I have to understand I can’t meet personally with every citizen, and I need to direct them to the proper meetings and departments to resolve their issues.

JM: Do you feel your contributions will help bridge the gap between year-round residents and university residents?

DK: I hope. The biggest opportunity here lies with me, as a new mayor, and Bloomsburg University’s new president (Dr. David Soltz). Both begin our tenures in January and can begin with a clean slate.

JM: What were your thoughts / strategies during this campaign season?

DK: I announced last January and didn’t do much major campaigning. I wanted to lay low and let my record speak for itself. I hoped people who thought I did well would vote for me as I let the work I did on town council speak for me. It also didn’t hurt that I ran unopposed.

JM: What do you believe the political culture will be for a Democratic mayor in an overwhelmingly Republican town?

DK: On the ballot, I cross-filed to run as a Democrat and a Republican, so people voted for me regardless. But this area is overwhelmingly conservative, not partisan. I’ve reflected that as I’ve always been tight with budgets and have helped privatize our now very successful downtown group.

JM: What is the number one priority under your administration?

DK: To help educate new council members. There’s going to be at least three new members – the turnover is huge. I’d love to get workshops together to bring the new members up to date on flood protection, code enforcement, and community-development block grants.

JM: Other topics you hope to address?

DK: Definitely university-town relations and our budget. We’re not doing bad with revenue, but expenses (such as the increasing costs of health care and an increased size of our proactive police force) will be a challenge to keeping our budget in check.

JM: How about Interstate 80 tolls, or the town’s flood wall?

DK: We just passed a resolution opposing the tolling of I-80. We’ve also been attending the forums to make our points well known. The problem lies in the fact that if 80 is tolled, most of the money will probably be redistributed elsewhere across the state, not on fixing 80. And if the state can decide to toll 80, why not anywhere else, such as I-81 or I-99? The state Assembly is nuts if they don’t think this idea will spread.

As for the flood wall, we were thankful that Congress overrode Pres. Bush’s veto on the Water Resource Act. We were approved for a $48 million flood wall, of which $32 million was coming from the federal government. I’m no engineer, but I’ve researched and read all the Army Corps. of Engineers has provided me and it seems this will work. I’m ready to go with that.

JM: What are you looking forward to as part of your new position?

DK: I’m looking forward to setting an agenda. As a councilman, I didn’t have the immediate resources to prepare before and after meetings. Now I can use my office as an epicenter to set an agenda, guide arguments, and promote important issues.

JM: Any advice for the other young politicos out there?

DK: Show up! People ask, “how can you get involved?” You just need to show up and take it upon yourself. Not many people show up at meetings, but when you show you care, you make connections and doors begin to open. This isn’t just advice for politics, this is in regards to just about anything.

JM: What are your future plans – both in your career, and in your politics?

DK: I only know what’s going to happen for the next two years. I just enrolled in Bloomsburg University’s MBA program, because I realized being part of local government is 10% politics, 90% business. After that I’m not so sure, just going to see which doors open for me.

JM: Is Bloomsburg’s Mayor ready to throw his weight behind any of the candidates?

DK: I think a lot of the candidates are good in both parties (laughs at how political his answer sounds), but I’m pretty impressed with Barack Obama. I read his book and find him to be very bright. He has just enough experience to know the ins and outs, but not enough to be muddled in Washington’s floodwaters. And America could use a fresh face.

JM: Thanks Dan, always a pleasure. Best of luck!