Today, we get to meet Phil Gilbert,Jr, City Council Member, Director of the Tax Claim Bureau for Warren County, and Owner of JP Photography.

Phil Gilbert may not have been born in Warren, but he has become one of the city’s most deeply rooted and dedicated community leaders. Originally from the Kensington area of Philadelphia, Phil’s journey to Warren began with what could have been a disastrous family vacation — but instead, it led to a lifetime commitment to a town he now proudly calls home.

Phil’s story starts in the gritty streets of Kensington, one of Philadelphia’s most challenging neighborhoods. “Anyone familiar with that area knows I was lucky to get out,” he says. At just 11 years old, his life took an unexpected turn when a horseback ride at Red Oak Campground in Warren led to a series of unfortunate events — spooked horses, a serious injury for his father, and an emergency helicopter ride to Warren General Hospital. My mom fell off her horse, and slid off mine onto a pile of rocks. My dad, however, was bucked off and landed on a rock,breaking some ribs and puncturing his lung.What felt like weeks in Warren was just a few days, but it made such an impression on the family that they moved permanently shortly after.

Phil started sixth grade in Warren, graduated from Warren Area High School in 2000, briefly lived in the Outer Banks, but ultimately returned. “I’ve now spent more of my life here than where I grew up,” he says, “and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Photo submitted to the Times Observer Pictured is Phil Gilbert, Jr.

Gilbert’s career path is as diverse as his community impact. He’s worked at several well-known local businesses — Dollar General, Movie Gallery, Bon-Ton, Jantec Neon, Blair, and Whirley, to name a few. Today, he serves as Director of the Tax Claim Bureau for Warren County, a role he’s held for over a decade.

But that’s just one of his many hats. Phil is also the owner of JP Photography, capturing everything from weddings to city events. He’s even the official photographer for the Crary Art Gallery. Photography, he says, is a creative outlet and another way he stays involved with the pulse of the community.

Phil’s involvement in local governance and community improvement is nothing short of remarkable. He is currently serving his third term on Warren City Council, where he’s known for turning ideas into tangible change. He’s also chair of the County Redevelopment Authority, co-founder and chair of the County Landbank, and president of the Warren Area Student Union.

His achievements include: Spearheading the installation of custom bike racks featuring the city logo. Creating a Safe Exchange location for secure custody or online purchase meetups. Securing the PA Wilds Remote Worker Grant, which brought new talent and investment to Warren. Helping implement LERTA, a tax abatement program that supports residential and commercial property development.

Looking ahead, he’s championing new efforts like Wayfinding signage, a Warren city branding sign, and a gateway arch at the riverfront.

Outside of politics and public service, Phil is passionate about fitness. A daily visitor at the YMCA by 6 AM, he helped organize a member-led initiative to improve the weight room, advocating for new equipment like hack squat and T-bar row machines.

Phil’s most cherished milestone? His son, Holden, who just graduated high school and turns 18 this August. “I couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s become,” he says, grateful also for the role Holden’s mother played.

He also credits his girlfriend, Tessa Brown, as an essential source of encouragement — and a huge help with his photography business.

Phil was recently awarded the Governor’s Award for his instrumental role in creating Innovault, Warren’s downtown co-working space. Traveling to Harrisburg to receive the award alongside collaborators was, in his words, “incredible.”

But not all milestones have been easy. The roundabout project, a deeply polarizing issue in Warren, tested him in ways he didn’t expect. “I was harassed at the YMCA, confronted in public — it was brutal,” he recalls. When a fellow council member tried to have him removed and revealed a painful personal detail about his father’s death, it took an emotional toll. “But I stood by the project. I believed it was right for the city.”

Phil Gilbert is more than a council member. He’s a neighbor, a father, a partner, and a force for progress. Whether he’s pushing policy, capturing local beauty through his lens, or simply being a friendly face downtown, he represents the best of small-town leadership: persistence, compassion, and vision.

“I believe in our community,” he says. “And I’ll keep showing up, project by project, to make Warren a better place — one improvement at a time.”