Meet the Collegeville Council Candidates

Election Day (Nov. 8!) will be here before we know it, and Patch is bringing you the information you need before you cast your votes.

The following information was submitted/collected.

• Andrea Baptiste (D)
A lifetime Montgomery County resident, Andrea Baptiste grew up in Norristown, attended local schools and earned a BA degree in History degree from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.  She followed up her college studies at the University of Madrid, Spain, with a program to increase her Spanish fluency.  She also holds an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI.
Convinced that her skills could help the residents of Collegeville, and ever the leader, Andrea ran for and won a seat as the only Democrat on the Collegeville Borough Council on Nov. 2, 2007.  A tireless worker on behalf of her constituents, Andrea uses her knowledge of the retail business, the construction industry, and commercial marketing to chair the Borough’s Business Liaison Committee.  She personally spearheaded the development of the Collegeville Revitalization Plan to revitalize our two shopping areas and Main Street areas through the Montco Planning Commission and she has worked tirelessly to market the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel and the Acme space to potential commercial tenants. 
Andrea is also chair of the Borough’s Parks and Recreation Committee which hosts the “Concerts in the Park” and is a member of the Borough’s Finance Committee.  Additionally she also serves a prominent role on the Board of Directors of the Collegeville Main Street Program.  

• Hugh Braun (R)
My name is Hugh Braun. I was born and raised in Montgomery County, and graduated Pottstown High School in 1988. In 2002 I married my high school sweetheart, Audrey. I have one daughter named Emily, who is my pride and joy, and she is 8 years old. I am currently employed by the Vanguard School in Paoli, PA. During the regular school year, I teach a number of different elective courses to special needs students. In the summer time, I am the program supervisor for 125 students and about 40 staff members. I have a B.S. Degree from West Chester University in Education. I also have a M.S. degree and principal certificate from Penn State University. I am running for office to do my part to keep Collegeville a great place to live and raise a family.

• Catherine Kernen (D)
Cathy has over 35 years’ experience in marketing, communications and PR, with the last 25 years of her career working in healthcare communications. She has held executive level and management positions both in the U.S. and internationally with four pharmaceutical companies:  AstraZeneca, Astra/Astra Merck, Merck, and CIBA-Geigy (now Novartis). Upon retiring in 2007, Cathy has headed up Kernen Communications LLC, a virtual PR agency.
Cathy resides in Collegeville, PA, where she has been active during the last 19 years with the Borough and the region.  She served two terms as a Councilwoman in 2004-2005 and 1998–2000, is also a past member of the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission and a current board member of the Collegeville Main Street Program.
She is also a member of that group’s Economic Restructuring Committee, which works toward expanding and recruiting new businesses to the town. Since early 2010, Cathy has overseen the Main Street’s Farmers’ Market Committee and spearheaded the development and oversees the running of the Collegeville Farmers’ Market.  She has also worked closely with Councilwoman Andrea Baptiste in trying to convince Acme to give up their lease on their vacant Collegeville store to get another anchor store in that space. 

• Alex Rodriguez (D)
I was born and raised in Los Angeles and lived there till 2007. I was a police officer for 9 years with the LAPD and worked patrol. I decided to make a career switch and went back to school. I received my B.A. from the University of California, Irvine in 2007. I then moved cross country with my daughter to Collegeville. I am a single dad and just graduated this past May from Temple law school. I took the PA Bar exam in July and just got word about two weeks ago that I passed. I am currently looking for employment and want to specialize in criminal law, and believe my nine years as a police officer will be very beneficial.
In terms of hobbies and personal stuff I love to travel, like photography and enjoy live music.

• Terrie Stagliano (R)
After a two-year hiatus for family responsibilities, Terrie has decided to run for borough council once again. From 1998 until 2009, Terrie Stagliano was a member of Collegeville Borough Council as councilmember, vice chair and president. Her responsibilities while on council encompassed all that involved keeping Collegeville Borough the great town that it is. Her committees included Public Safety, Public Works, Parks & Rec and is currently Chair of the Collegeville Veteran's Memorial, Vice Chair of Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority and member of Collegeville/Trappe parade committee. A few of her accomplishments include the renovation of Collegeville Community Park with new playground equipment, pavilion, basketball and hockey courts, the popular free Summer Concert Series and established the Collegeville Veteran's Memorial dedicated to all residents who served in our armed forces. Committed to Collegeville Borough and it's residents during her previous 12 years of service, Terrie always remained dedicated to the idea of accessible and responsive local government. 
Terrie has lived in the borough for 20 years, is a wife, mother and grandmother, and along with her husband owns and works at Stagliano's Barber Shop.

• Louise-Marie Tuilio (R)
A long-time Collegeville resident, Ms. Tuilio has been a council member since 2002.
She is a St. Bonaventure University alumnae and works for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, according to her biography on the Collegeville Borough website. Find out more about Ms. Tuilio here.