Incoming Gettysburg mayor Chad-Alan Carr says he is preparing to “hit the ground running” when he is sworn in on December 31, outlining plans for a smooth transition, strengthened community engagement, and a renewed focus on collaboration across borough government. Carr, who currently serves as the at-large borough council member, is also the Founding Executive Artistic Director of Gettysburg Community Theatre (GCT) — a role he says gives him the scheduling flexibility to meet frequently with staff, police leadership, and community members as he steps into office.
Carr said he has already begun early transition conversations with outgoing Mayor Rita Frealing and key borough leaders, including Borough Manager Charles Gable and Council President Matt Moon, whom he expects to work closely with throughout his term. “We’re such a small community that if we’re not working together, finding compromise, and listening to each other, we won’t get where we need to go,” he said.
A major theme of Carr’s campaign — and one of his immediate priorities — is strengthening communication, morale, and accountability within the Gettysburg Police Department. Carr said he believes the department is benefiting from improved leadership under Sgt. Chris Evans, currently serving as officer-in-charge as the borough seeks a full-time chief. “There’s been a breath of fresh air,” he said, adding that he intends to support the progress already underway. He said residents — including some connected to Gettysburg College — have shared concerns about past interactions with officers.
Carr said he wants to ensure officers have the tools, training, and resources needed to serve effectively, and he expressed support for the incoming budget’s funding for 14 full-time officers, a staffing level long recommended by borough leaders. He said the department will likely also need more part-time officers to help reduce overtime costs and fill gaps during absences, injuries, or vacations.
On the broader question of police oversight, Carr said he intends to review how responsibilities should be shared between the mayor’s office, the borough manager, and police leadership. He said he plans to consult Gable, Moon, the solicitor, and Sgt. Evans before taking any formal steps. “I want to sit down with the department and understand exactly what needs to occur in the best interest of the borough,” he said.
Carr said he also wants to clarify how residents can raise concerns about police conduct and encouraged people to use the borough’s formal complaint process. “We can’t fix problems we don’t know about,” he said. While the Gettysburg Human Relations Commission handles nondiscrimination complaints related to housing, employment, and public accommodations, Carr said police-related concerns should be reported directly through the borough’s established channels.
Beyond policing, Carr said he plans to strengthen transparency and community engagement from the mayor’s office. He hopes to create a “mayor’s calendar” listing recurring events throughout the year and to attend as many community, nonprofit, and business gatherings as possible — a public-facing approach he said he admired in Frealing’s tenure. “Tell me when and where, and I will be there,” he said, adding that he wants residents to feel the mayor is accessible and visible.
Carr will help guide the process of selecting the person who will fill his council seat after he becomes mayor. Applications are already being accepted, and Carr said he hopes frequent meeting attendees and other engaged residents will apply. Because he cannot resign until he is sworn in on December 31, the appointment process will likely unfold in early January.
After several years of campaigning and service on council, Carr said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve as mayor and eager to begin. “What can the mayor do for you?” he said. “That’s the mindset I’m taking into this job.”
Photo credit: Linda Toki
As someone who supported Rita throughout her tenure, we’ll do the same for Chad, and wish him all the best.