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Stefan Roots is an American politician currently serving as the Democratic mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania, since January 3, 2024. He defeated the incumbent Thaddeus Kirkland in the May 2023 Democratic mayoral primary and Anita J. Littleton in the November 2023 general election. He previously served as a member of the Chester City Council from 2022 to 2024.

Education and professional career

Roots was born in Chester to a 15-year old single mother. He attended Archmere Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Chester High School. He received a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Villanova University.

He lived in Denver, Colorado, and New York City but moved back to Chester after 2001. He worked in engineering, marketing and sales roles for Philadelphia Gas Works, IBM, MCI and the Delaware County Daily Times. He also worked in industrial operations for Sunoco, Praxair and DELCORA. He worked as a substitute teacher for one year in the Chester-Upland School District.

He served as a director on several boards including the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority, the Delaware County Historical Society and the Chester Education Foundation.

In 2006, he published a monthly paper Chester Spotlight which in 2010 evolved into the blog Chester Matters. In 2012, he published a book titled Toxic Man - the Melvin Wade Story. In 2016, he published a podcast, "Dirty Water Dude", which focused on practical ways to obtain clean drinking water. In 2017, he published a book titled "How to Buy a Water Filter".

Political career

Roots defeated William Jacobs in the Chester city council Democratic primary in May 2021. In January 2022, Roots was elected to Chester City Council and served as Director of Public Property and Recreation.

In May 2023, Roots defeated the two term incumbent mayor Thaddeus Kirkland in the Chester Democratic mayoral primary election by nearly twice the vote. There was no Republican opponent, and Roots defeated independent candidate Anita J. Littleton in the November 2023 general election. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2024.

Personal life

He is married and has seven children and ten grandchildren.

Publications

• Toxic Man - The Melvin Wade Story, Communicate U Media, LLC, ISBN 9780988892101, 2013
• How to Buy a Water Filter - Everything You Need to Know to Select the Right Home Water Filter for You and Your Family, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 9781548275990, 2017

References

1. Dehuff, Jenny. "UpRooted: How establishment Dems lost their stronghold in the city of Chester". www.broadandliberty.com. Broad & Liberty. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
2. ^ "Mayor Stefan Roots". www.chestercity.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
3. Stein, Linda. "Dem Outsider Wins Chester Council Primary, Vows to Blog on". www.delawarevalleyjournal.com. InsideSources, LLC. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
4. "Board Members - Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority". www.dcigra.org. Delaware County Interactive Revenue Gaming Authority. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
5. "Board of Directors - Chester Education Foundation". www.chestereducation.org. Chester Education Foundation. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
6. "Chester's newest Podcast - Dirty Water Dude". chesterpablog.wordpress.com. Chester Matters Blog. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
7. Roots, Sefan (2017). How to Buy a Water Filter - Everything You Need to Know to Select the Right Home Water Filter for You and Your Family. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781548275990. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
8. Carey, Kathleen E. "Roots win council nomination in Chester upset". www.delcotimes.com. MediaNews Group. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
9. "Chester mayoral candidate strives to turn around beleaguered city". www.fox29.com. FOX29. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
10. Wood, Anthony R. (May 17, 2023). "Bankrupt Chester's beleaguered mayor is overwhelmingly defeated". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
11. Wood, Anthony R. "Bankrupt Chester needs change now, before defeated mayor leaves office, state argues". www.inquirer.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
12. Cooper, Kenny. "Democrat Stefan Roots wins Chester mayoral race". www.whyy.org. WHYY. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
13. Wood, Anthony R. "What Chester's next mayor has planned as the city marks 1st year since filing for bankruptcy". www.inquirer.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
14. Rodgers, Loretta. "New Chester mayor is 'ready to work'". myspiritnews.com. The Spirit. Retrieved 4 January 2024.

External links

• Chester Matters Blog
• Roots for Mayor

• 21st-century African-American politicians
• 21st-century mayors of places in Pennsylvania
• African-American bloggers
• African-American city council members in Pennsylvania
• African-American mayors in Pennsylvania
• American electrical engineers
• American male bloggers
• Archmere Academy alumni
• Chester High School alumni
• Educators from Pennsylvania
• Living people
• Mayors of Chester, Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Democrats
• Villanova University alumni