Seven vie for Luzerne Township supervisor’s seat
LUZERNE TWP. – Not seeking re-election after 17 years as a supervisor, Ron DeSalvo is leaving a vacant chair that seven Democrats would like to sit down in. Seeking the position are Bob Miller, David “Bud” Miller, John J. Marshall, Keith Mayle, Robin Moore, Roy Mehalik and William Lane III. Four of the candidates already work for the township. Bob Miller is the emergency management director, Mehalik is the chief of police and David Miller and Marshall are township laborers. Many of the candidates cited township roads as a major concern for residents, while others focused their election platform on grants, sewerage or change. Each candidate below, listed alphabetically, answered the following questions: Why are you running? Why should voters vote for you? What are the township needs?
Lane could not be reached for comment.
John J. Marshall
Marshall has worked for the township for the past 13 years. He said he would like to “get more sewerage in the area and get the roads paved.”
He’d also like to bring industry to the township. He noted that with the new highway “looping through Luzerne,” new businesses could be attracted to the area.
“I’m honest. I listen to people. If they have a problem they can come see me,” he noted. “You come to me with a problem and I can’t resolve it, I can sit down with the other two supervisors and work things out.”
Marshall said the township was “nice already,” but “small things” might help out in the community.
“I’m not going to make any promises. We work as a group to get things done,” he said. “I want to try to do what’s best for everybody involved.”
Keith Mayle
Running for township supervisor is “something I always wanted,” Mayle said.
“I think I could do a better job than the other folks,” he noted, adding that his knowledge of “what goes on around here” would help during his tenure.
He also felt his experience in the heavy equipment industry would push him a notch above the other candidates.
The condition of the roads in the township is a major concern for residents, he explained. He said residents complained of bad patch jobs after sewer or water lines were installed, specifically in Allison.
Roy Mehalik
Watching over the township streets since 1974 as chief of police, Mehalik said he is looking for a “career change.”
“I’d like to continue to serve the public,” he said. “I would do the best job I can. A lot of people know I’ve always done my job.”
“I know what the needs are in the community,” he said, noting that township children and roads are a concern for the township.
“The only place to play right now is in the streets. I want to make (the township) better for the kids,” he added. “The only thing I can promise is to do the best I can.”
Bob Miller
“Honestly, I’ve been toying with the idea for two years,” Miller explained of why he was running. “I’d like to be able to participate in the decision making.”
Miller explained that he was interested in working with the state and county in getting grants for the township, adding that his experience can help him be a good supervisor. He has been a firefighter for 35 years. He is the Luzerne Township emergency management director, president of the Fayette County Fire Police Association, president of Hiller Volunteer Fire Co., past vice president of the township’s sewer authority and past president of the Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and area Community Days.
He wants “fair” and “equal” representation for all township residents, he noted.
He is also committed to the following: “bringing sewerage to the Swan Plan within two years, promoting the development of the Patsy Hillman Park, pursuing federal and state grants for township improvements, working closely with federal, state and county agencies for the continued growth of the township and complimenting the current administration with leadership experience and management skills.”
“I see a lot of potential in the township,” he explained. “I want to be part of the progress.”
Miller has been trying to get sewerage in the Swan Plan since 1972, he noted, adding that sewerage in the plan would help develop Patsy Hillman Park.
“I want to give the community a little bit more,” he noted.
David “Bud” Miller
Miller said he has been a part of the township for a long time and knows the equipment and roads. A laborer for the township, Miller plans to seek grant money for the renewal of roads and wants to keep the sewerage system up-to-date.
Miller also wants more police coverage for the township.
“We need more than one police officer,” he noted. “There’s too much for one officer.”
Miller said the township has 63 miles of road to “keep clean” and maintain.
“I feel I’m qualified, and I should be the candidate they hire,” he added.
Robin Moore
Moore wants to be “accountable” and “accessible” to her constituents.
“They want to know they can get a hold of me,” she noted.
Supervisors need certain qualities, such as, the ability to “abide by a budget” and “appoint qualified people,” she explained.
She also said meetings need to last longer than five minutes and should be held later in the day so the public can attend. She’d also like to see more media coverage.
As for the “quick meetings,” she said, “like there are no problems in the township. There are problems. They are being ignored.”
Moore wants to know what’s going on with the budget.
“Why is there no money? What’s happening? The budget needs looked at,” she said. “See where we are sitting with the budget and where the money is being divided.”
She said the public is under the impression that they are electing a roadmaster when they elect a supervisor.
Supervisors “oversee the management of township affairs” and hire employees, she explained.
“People want to keep the status quo,” she commented. “It’s time for a change. We need to be looking at the issues. It’s time to look at people with a diverse background.”
As the founder of Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, Moore said she gained experience writing grants. She now owns Healthy Pet, a physical therapy clinic for pets in Eighty Four. The humane officer for Fayette County for eight years, Moore obtained her law enforcement certificate from the University of Missouri. She also holds a degree in animal sciences from Penn State University.
“I’m the can-do supervisor. I have multi-tasked in the past,” she said. “I have a good business sense about me.”