Eric Papenfuse
Eric Robert Papenfuse | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1971 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician, bookstore owner, educator |
| Known for | 38th Mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; co-founder of The Midtown Scholar Bookstore |
Eric Robert Papenfuse (born September 4, 1971) is an American entrepreneur and political figure who held the office of the 38th Mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Alongside his wife, he established and co-manages The Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, a business they have run since 2001.
Early life and education
Papenfuse was born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 4, 1971. He completed his secondary education as valedictorian at the Boys' Latin School of Maryland in 1989. His father, Edward C. Papenfuse, is a retired state archivist from Maryland, while his mother, Sallie Papenfuse, serves as a reading instructor at Boys' Latin. He spent ten years at Yale University pursuing both undergraduate and graduate history degrees. During his time there, he authored The Evils of Necessity: Robert Goodloe Harper and the Moral Dilemma of Slavery, which was published by the American Philosophical Society in 1997.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
In 2000, Papenfuse launched the Midtown Scholar Bookstore with the goal of establishing a cultural and intellectual gathering place within Harrisburg. He imagined it as a kind of Town Hall where community members could engage in literary discussions, enjoy music, and connect socially.
The bookstore maintains an inventory of approximately 200,000 new, used, and rare books, supported by an online catalog featuring over two million titles. It is regarded as one of the largest academic used bookstores in the United States and plays a significant role in revitalizing Harrisburg’s Midtown cultural scene. Dwight Garner of The New York Times characterized visiting the store as an "essentially religious experience." In 2023, the Midtown Scholar received Publishers Weekly's Bookstore of the Year Award.
Additionally, the venue includes a coffee shop and bakery operated by P&R, noted for their southern-style sweet potato pies. The space regularly hosts concerts, author presentations, book clubs, and poetry readings. Recent distinguished guests have included Salman Rushdie discussing The Golden House, Mark Bowden presenting Hue 1968, Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen, and poet Patricia Lockwood.
Politics
In 2007, Papenfuse briefly served on Harrisburg’s Authority board (currently known as Capital Region Water), which oversaw the city's problematic incinerator contributing to more than $300 million in debt. He stepped down that November following the circulation of a video showing him delivering a satirical Christmas gift list aimed at city officials. Beginning that same year, Papenfuse revealed a billion-dollar fiscal crisis within city finances and brought to light then-Mayor Stephen R. Reed’s improper use of public money to purchase artifacts—some of which were kept privately by Reed; these revelations ultimately resulted in Reed’s indictment by state attorney general Kathleen Kane in 2013.
After unsuccessful attempts in Democratic primaries for Harrisburg City Council in 2009 and Dauphin County Commissioner in 2011, Papenfuse declared his candidacy for Mayor of Harrisburg in 2013. He won that election and was re-elected for a second term in 2017. Prior to his involvement in politics and bookstore management, he taught Latin at Central Dauphin East High School and Linglestown Junior High School.
Comprehensive Plan
In his sophomore year as Mayor, Papenfuse initiated a $200,000 Comprehensive Plan for Harrisburg in 2015. The initiative focused on safeguarding historic architecture, enhancing neighborhood vitality, and fostering growth through quality-of-life improvements. However, complications with consultant Bret Peters led to the early termination of the contract in 2016 before its completion. Subsequently, a revised version titled the City of Harrisburg 2020 Comprehensive Plan (HBG 2020) was prepared by July 2020, with final community consultations planned for 2021 ahead of formal approval by City Council.
2016 Patriot-News media ban
In 2016, The Patriot-News published reports concerning Papenfuse’s ownership of eight properties near a bar he aimed to shut down as a business nuisance, alongside allegations regarding his avoidance of overtime payments to employees. On June 13, 2016—the same day that Donald Trump withdrew press credentials from The Washington Post—Papenfuse prohibited Patriot-News journalists from attending press events, disparaging the outlet as "more like Gawker" rather than a credible news organization. Media observers linked this ban directly to the critical coverage of his business dealings. The incident was spotlighted by the Committee to Protect Journalists in their report Attacks on the Press: The New Face of Censorship.
Media reflections on tenure
Lawrence Binda, editor of TheBurg, underscored Papenfuse’s accomplishments across municipal finances, public services, and infrastructure throughout his two terms. Under his administration, Harrisburg achieved consecutive budget surpluses and enhanced its fiscal health. Core service staffing levels were doubled, major thoroughfares such as 3rd Street were reconstructed, and a two-way traffic conversion was implemented on 2nd Street. The city also introduced its inaugural roundabouts and encouraged development in multiple neighborhoods including South Allison Hill. Nevertheless, Binda pointed out Papenfuse’s difficult rapport with City Council members and limited engagement with the public as significant weaknesses. Despite these issues, Binda concluded that "Harrisburg is better for having had Eric Papenfuse as mayor for the past eight years."
Interviews conducted by Fox 43 revealed a public perception that Midtown received disproportionate focus and investment during Papenfuse’s administration compared to other districts.
2013 Harrisburg mayoral election
In May 2013, Papenfuse emerged victorious in the Democratic primary by defeating incumbent mayor Linda Thompson, Dan Miller, and Lewis Butts. After his primary defeat, Dan Miller secured the Republican nomination via write-in votes and challenged Papenfuse in the general election. On November 5, 2013, Papenfuse won the mayoral contest against Miller and several write-in candidates; notably, write-ins accounted for an unusually high share—17%—of the total votes cast. He officially assumed office on January 6, 2014.
2017 Harrisburg mayoral election
On May 16, 2017, Papenfuse won the Democratic Primary with 48.5% of votes, defeating Gloria Martin-Roberts who garnered 38.2%. The vote exhibited geographic polarization: Papenfuse was favored predominantly on the West side while Martin-Roberts led on the East side. In the November 7, 2017 general election, Papenfuse secured a second four-year term by a wide margin despite his primary opponents running as write-in candidates.
2021 Harrisburg mayoral election
On May 18, 2021, Papenfuse was narrowly defeated in the Democratic Primary by City Council President Wanda Williams, losing by a margin of forty-six votes. Subsequently, he pursued a write-in candidacy for the November General Election but was decisively beaten by Williams, who secured more than twice the number of votes.
Personal life
Papenfuse met his wife, Catherine Lawrence, during a graduate seminar in American history at Yale University. Following her graduation, Lawrence accepted a role as an assistant professor specializing in British history at Messiah College in 1999, which led to their relocation to Harrisburg. They made their home in a spacious Victorian residence on Front Street, located in Harrisburg's Shipoke district near the historic Harris' Ferry site.
Together, they established The Eric Papenfuse and Catherine Lawrence Endowment Fund in Film and Media Studies through the University of California Press Foundation. This endowment underwrites publications related to film studies, emphasizing the artistic, political, historical, and sociocultural dimensions of cinema and mass media. To date, it has supported eight scholarly works.