Doug Oliver Mayoral Candidate Profile

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Doug Oliver greeted voters along Chelten Avenue in Germantown, a few blocks from where he grew up.

Oliver says he has a plan for the economic revival of once thriving business corridors like Chelten Avenue if he is elected mayor.

"I would like to see a reduction in business and wage tax with the dollar for dollar increase in property tax so it doesn't hit homeowners but at the same time it starts to fund the things that are most important to the future of our city," said Oliver.

At 40-years-old, Oliver is the youngest Democrat on the ballot this spring.

He's been a man on the rise - Mayor Michael Nutter's first press secretary, then a top executive at PGW.

That blend of experiences, he says, will help him in terms of economic development.

"I think we can look at keeping the city open later in certain neighborhoods and using the additional revenue to fund our schools," said Oliver.

A stronger public education system, he says, will help solve so many of this town's problems including crime.

"At the end of the day, if we don't educate our young brothers and sisters in this city, if we don't employ them then we can forget having a safe city. I have a long-term solution but the short-term fix is community policing, education and jobs," said Oliver.

Mayor Nutter did a good job in a tough economic time Oliver says, but he adds that there is much more to do for Philadelphia.

"Investing in our commercial corridors, investing in small businesses, continuing to work on our relationships between the police officers and the communities they serve," said Oliver.

Oliver's war chest is all but empty as he stakes out transit stops morning and night trying to get his message out there.

The mayoral primary is Tuesday May 19th.