Peter Urscheler, the youngest mayor in Phoenixville’s history, started his political career in third grade when he was elected class superintendent in charge of keeping order, writes Cristina Pastor for the FilAm Inquirer, a newspaper that caters to the information needs of the Filipino-American community.

The son of Swiss-born Emil Urscheler and Norma Bonuel, a native of the Philippines, was later elected class president for three consecutive years.

While studying at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., where he graduated with Marketing and Management Information Systems degrees, he began getting involved with community activism and soon became a prominent student leader.

After college, he became Director of Communications at an international financial services firm but decided to leave the corporate world when his mother died.

“I was able to get more involved with local organizations in Phoenixville, and I realized just how much I loved the community,” Urscheler said.

So, when a group of friends approached him about running for mayor, he signed up without hesitation. He was elected, and on the day he was sworn into office, his father held the Bible. Later that evening, Emil died in his sleep.

“I thanked him for being there with me,” said Urscheler. “I gave him a kiss goodnight, and he told me how much he loved me.”

Read more about Peter Urscheler in the FilAm Inquirer here.