Swarthmore Mayor Conlen Booth Reflects on First 3 Months in Office

The new mayor discusses his transition, relationship with Swarthmore College, and the borough's political landscape.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 9:08am

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Swarthmore Fire Department Chief Conlen Booth became mayor of the borough on Jan. 6, 2026, after receiving the endorsement of the Swarthmore Town Democratic Committee. In a recent interview, Booth discussed his experiences in office so far, his memories of the college’s past, and his outlook on the relationship between campus and borough residents.

Why it matters

Booth’s transition to mayor comes at a pivotal time for Swarthmore, as the borough grapples with issues like zoning, a recent termination of the borough manager, and the upcoming departure of Swarthmore College President Val Smith. Booth’s perspectives provide insight into the unique dynamics between the college and the local community.

The details

Booth said his first few months as mayor have been “wildly fascinating” as he’s learned more about local governance, including handling issues like snow removal and trash pickup during a recent storm. He also discussed the challenge of terminating the borough manager, which he said was “unfortunate” but required ensuring no lapses in governance. Regarding his relationship with Swarthmore College, Booth recalled fond memories of the college from his youth, including his time volunteering with the fire department when it was largely staffed by Swarthmore students. He expressed a desire to see more student engagement with the borough today, suggesting internships or project-based collaborations. While Booth characterized the relationship between borough leadership and the college as positive, he acknowledged the relationship with the broader student body is “nebulous” and an area for potential improvement.

  • Booth became mayor on January 6, 2026.
  • Booth was endorsed by the Swarthmore Town Democratic Committee in February 2025.

The players

Conlen Booth

The new mayor of Swarthmore Borough and former fire department chief who has lived in the Delaware County area his entire life.

Kristen Seymore

A Swarthmore Borough Council member who expressed concerns about the endorsement process that led to Booth’s nomination.

Jill Gaieski

The Swarthmore Borough Council President who asserted that the endorsement process is crucial for helping voters assess potential leaders.

Val Smith

The current president of Swarthmore College, who announced she will be departing the college in June 2027.

Jennifer O’Mara

A Pennsylvania state representative who represents Swarthmore and other municipalities in the area.

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What they’re saying

““I think the relationship between the borough and the college is very good. It’s one of those unique things because the college exists within the borough, but it is its own entity. But I find — and this is just the snapshot of the two-and-a-half-month period of me being mayor — the college leadership is very collaborative. They engage with us even when they don’t have to. They go out of their way to ensure that we’re working together and that we’re all working towards common goals.””

— Conlen Booth, Mayor

““I think that generally, people are uninformed when it comes to who they’re voting for. Unless it’s a large election where there’s all this money funneled into advertisements and public debates and blah, blah, blah, and that doesn’t happen at a local level. And so — is there a way to reliably allow everyone to understand who a candidate is and make an informed decision outside of those Democratic or Republican primary and endorsement processes? I don’t know.””

— Conlen Booth, Mayor

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Booth’s transition to mayor highlights the complex relationship between Swarthmore College and the surrounding borough, as well as the challenges of local politics and governance. His desire to foster greater student engagement and his openness to reconsidering the Democratic endorsement process suggest a mayor committed to improving transparency and collaboration within the community.