James Boyle, Patch Staff

Email James.Boyle@patch.com

Phone 215-300-2747

 James Boyle figured out he wanted to work in journalism during his second year at Temple University. He soon found a part time job collecting local sports scores for The Intelligencer in Doylestown.

After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from Temple, he took a full time position as an assistant arts editor for the Princeton Packet in New Jersey. For five years, James got paid very little for doing a job he completely loved. Each week he got the opportunity to interview new and interesting local artists and musicians around Central Jersey. James sat in a UFO fanatic's home while his interview subject showed him picture after picture of suspected sightings. There was also the time he got to sit backstage during auditions for Showtime at the Apollo's traveling show and watch as one hopeful clanged two pairs of bottles together with the tips of his fingers, keeping in rhythm with the recorded music. The position also gave him the chance to interview several well-known performers, including Richard Lewis, Eric Idle and Jewel.

As enjoyable as the experience was, a growing family meant that James had to move on to bigger things. After a year working as an associate editor for a construction magazine, he found employment as an assistant editor at Advance for Health Information Executives. The magazine focused on health care information technology, which meant that James spent a lot of time combing through press releases and interviewing marketing representatives about the importance of their new product.

Revenue woes forced the publishing company to lay James off, along with many of his co-workers. After 18 months of struggling in the job market, James found his way to Patch.com and is now doing what he has always loved the most, community journalism.

James has lived in Warminster for almost 30 years. He went to Nativity of Our Lord school and graduated from Archbishop Wood High School in 1995. Jim played soccer at Munro Park and basketball at the WREC Center. A few years ago, he leapt at the chance to buy a house down the street from where he grew up, and now couldn't be happier that his children are growing up in this wonderful community.

Your Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics

How would you describe your political beliefs?

My liberal beliefs are pretty well known to the people around me. The common mantra is that liberals only want more government. My take is that I don't want more, I just want the government we have to work properly. Government and the private sector need to maintain a good balance, because the country cannot succeed without either side functioning properly. That being said, I don't filter everything I see to fit within that philosophy. I love a good debate and never enter into one thinking I know everything there is to know about any certain topic.

Are you registered with a certain party?

I am a registered Democrat.

Religion

How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I was born and raised Catholic, but have fallen away from religion the past few years. My children go to weekly church school, and I take them to mass as often as I can so that they can have the same opportunity to accept the Catholic faith.

 Local Hot-Button Issues

What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

Like most communities, the economy is a major factor for Warminster. The board of supervisors is struggling to keep the budget balanced while there are a lot of good people unemployed or underemployed. They are rightfully dreading any tax raises, but at the same time the police department needs to be fully staffed and equipped.

Warminster residents are also concerned about the addition of more box stores in the township. There are two CVS pharmacies about to open within a mile of each other, to go with the Rite Aid and the Walgreens already in town. There are also plans for a Costco on Jacksonville and Street roads. These new constructions are sure to bring in more jobs and attract consumes from surrounding communities, but they also threaten the uniqueness of Warminster. Not to mention increased traffic congestion will surely be a byproduct. Street Road is already a nightmare around rush hour.