Episode #217: Chad Edwards – Rebuilding Trust and Community After the East Palestine Derailment

Chad Edwards, Borough Manager of Breckenridge, PA, joins host Steve Vancore to recount one of the most extraordinary disaster recovery challenges in recent municipal history. Before his current role, Chad served as village manager of East Palestine, Ohio, stepping into the position in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 train derailment that sent toxic chemicals spilling across the community, just outside city limits, with no village manager in place at the time it occurred.Chad reflects on the complex task of rebuilding a community divided between economic recovery and ongoing health concerns, and shares the leadership lessons he took from navigating a crisis not of his making. Steve and Chad also discuss how Pennsylvania's municipal classification system works and what it means to lead through disaster when a community's trust and health hang in the balance.