Congressman Joe Pitts has officially endorsed Republican county commissioner candidates Carol Aichele and Terence Farrell, lauding their commitment to land preservation and urban revitalization.

Congressman Joe Pitts recently campaigned in southern Chester County with commissioner candidates Carol Aichele and Terence Farrell

Pitts (R-16th) met with Aichele and Farrell outside of the Oxford Main Street office in downtown Oxford. Farrell, who has lived nearly his entire life in southern Chester County, has been a volunteer board member with the Oxford Main Street organization since 1999. If elected, he will be the first commissioner from the southern end of the county in 35 year.

"There are few issues as unique to the quality of life in Chester County as open space preservation and land conservation," Pitts said. "That is why it is so great to have candidates like Carol and Terence who are emphasizing open space issues."

Pitts said he has introduced a bill in Congress called the Family Farm Preservation Act which creates an incentive to preserve land by preventing farmers from having to pay taxes when they sell their development rights to a land conservation entity. Farmers can continue using their land for agricultural purposes while taking advantage of this tax relief.

Farrell said the revitalization of Chester County's boroughs helps protect open space and reduce sprawl in other areas of the county. "I know what it's like to be in the trenches fighting to revitalize an older urban area in Chester County," he said. "The more we work to help our downtowns and neighborhoods, the more we can prevent sprawl throughout the county. Land preservation and urban revitalization go hand-in-hand."

Aichele, who was first elected commissioner four years ago, said the county has invested more than $2 million over the last four years in the Oxford area." We kept county property taxes among the lowest in Southeastern Pennsylvania while increasing our commitment to land preservation," Aichele said. "As commissioner, I'm working on passing a zero tax increase budget for 2008. In addition, because of the county's sound financial leadership and high bond rating, Terence and I will be able to increase the county's commitment to urban revitalization and land preservation over the next four years," she added.

Chester County is recognized as a national leader in land preservation. Over 100,000 acres of land in Chester County have been preserved. Earlier this year, the county received the prestigious Pennsylvania Land Conservation Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association. Current Commissioners Carol Aichele and Don Mancini committed $64 million to land preservation funding over the last four years, more than any other four-year period in the county's history.