Eric Papenfuse

Eric Robert Papenfuse (born c. 1971) is the current mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He won a contested Democratic primary election in May 2013 by beating incumbent mayor Linda Thompson as well as Dan Miller and Lewis Butts. Miller switched parties and ran against Papenfuse in the general election as the Republican candidate. Papenfuse defeated him and several write-in candidates to win the mayor's seat on November 5, 2013. There were an unusual amount of write-in votes for mayor, accounting for about 17% of the final vote. Papenfuse assumed office on January 6, 2014.
Prior to becoming mayor, Papenfuse managed The Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA, which he and his wife still co-own. Papenfuse is also a graduate of Yale University.

Stolen Valor Controversy

On July 3, 2015, Papenfuse, who wasn't present at the time of the incident, publicly defended Harrisburg Police detective John O'Connor, who had, according to witnesses, repeatedly, and according to witnesses loudly yelled to the crowd at The Harrisburg Artsfest: "He's not a real Marine!", accused 75-year-old Marine veteran Robert Ford of being a "fake marine." Following Papenfuse's comments Ford declined a previously scheduled meeting with police officials.