Three Candidates on Ballot for Lower Saucon Township Council

Editor's Note: Hellertown-Lower Saucon Patch attempted to contact all current Lower Saucon Township Council candidates via email. However, Council Vice President Tom Maxfield did not receive the questions in time to answer them for Friday's story's publication. We have since received his answers and have added them below. We apologize for any misunderstanding this may have caused. We are committed to providing voters with a comprehensive view of local races and to that end, we apologize for any inconvenience the omission may have caused.

In Tuesday's primary election, three candidates--including two incumbents--are running for three open seats on Lower Saucon Township Council. Each seat is for a four-year term.

Patch submitted an identical series of questions to the candidates, who have provided their answers, along with brief statements.

The responses provided by Democratic incumbent candidate Priscilla deLeon, Democratic candidate David Willard, and Republican incumbent candidate Thomas Maxfield appear below, in no particular order.

A fourth candidate who filed a nominating petition earlier this year, Republican incumbent Sandra Yerger, is no longer on the ballot.

CANDIDATE: Thomas Maxfield (incumbent)

Age: 57

Party: Republican

Education: Art - Marywood College, Northampton Community College

Profession/Work Experience: Teacher/department head - 23 years - Bethlehem Catholic High School (Art, Drafting, Eco Club); Graphic artist/illustrator - 35 years

Community Service: Lower Saucon Environmental Advisory Council; Lower Saucon Planning Commission; Library Task Force; Board member - Saucon Creek Watershed Association; Advisory Board member - Lower Saucon Township Historical Society; DCNR Sustainable Lands Partnership member; Lehigh Valley Watershed Coalition; Road and park cleanups - Lower Saucon, Springfield, Pa.; Lower Saucon Township - designs for park signs, logos, Community Day, etc.; Lutz Franklin Schoolhouse - repair crew

Family: Keri, my wife, and five rescued cats

Length of residence in Lower Saucon: 15 years; Lehigh Valley, 38 years

Why are you running for re-election to Lower Saucon Township Council?

I would like the opportunity to continue and strengthen the changes that I, and some of my fellow councilmen, have instituted over the last few years. I would work to ensure that growth remains both sensible and sustainable, and that the rural and cultural characteristics which make Lower Saucon a special and unique community in the Lehigh Valley are maintained.

What are your qualifications to serve on Lower Saucon Township Council?

I have served as a councilman for the last eight years (two terms). I am also a 10 year member of the Planning Commission and a founding member of the Environmental Advisory Council. I currently serve as vice president of the above three boards. I have had training for my council and board positions through PSATS (Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors) and have taken numerous workshops about local government. I have experience compiling budgets, developing programs and working as a team member. With Sandra Yerger, I was twice nominated for a Presidential Leadership Award for open space preservation. I have been invited to present at various conferences about the innovative ordinances that now make Lower Saucon a model state-wide.

What do you feel are the most important issues currently facing the township?

Increasing local business opportunities, water resource/environmental protection, casino impacts and continued cooperation with Hellertown and Saucon Valley School District.

What will be your top priority if re-elected to council?

Providing a healthy, safe and sensible living environment for residents.

What else would you like voters to know, in your own words?

I have been proud to serve the residents of Lower Saucon for the last decade. There’s no better eye-opener for understanding a community than sitting on Township Council, listening to and addressing the concerns, hopes, dreams and wishes of residents. Your council has provided open lines of communication, organized educational forums for residents and offered township services to struggling families. Anyone who has attended a council meeting knows that I am not afraid to speak out against things that I feel can potentially harm our community. It’s a job that I accept as councilman because I deeply care about our shared home.

I have actively promoted increased cooperation between Hellertown and Lower Saucon, and I will continue to work tirelessly to adopt sustainable methods of development and to give added protections to our open spaces and resources.

CANDIDATE: Priscilla deLeon (incumbent)

Age: 61

Party: Democratic

Education: Bangor High School; Philadelphia General Hospital, School of Radiologic Technology

Profession/Work Experience: Radiologic technologist

Community Service: President and Founding Member, Saucon Valley Conservancy; Past Director, Lower Saucon Township Historical Society; Director, Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce

Family: Husband, Leon

Length of residence in Lower Saucon: 26 years

Why are you running for re-election to Lower Saucon Township Council? 

It has been a pleasure serving the residents since 1988. I have gained valuable experience in our government process and am proud of my record. With your support, I am looking forward to the next four years and will focus my efforts on preserving the rich historic, scenic and natural resources of the township.

I favor ways to balance controlled commercial growth while preserving the rural character of the township. I will continue to be fair and weigh all issues in an educated manner. I will be a voice for the residents and work to decrease taxes without losing services.

I am very dedicated to listening to your needs and respecting your rights when making decisions. I will balance your needs with those of your neighborhood and the entire community, and will not be a rubber stamp. I will be aggressive in the enactment of laws and policies that will protect those rights and improve your quality of life. Preserving our sense of place is very important in keeping us unique. Preserving the rural characteristics is a must.

What are your qualifications to serve on Lower Saucon Township Council? 

Incumbent, past 24 years (six consecutive four-year terms), council president for eight of those years; Saucon Valley Partnership, Chair; Northampton County Gaming Revenue and Economic Redevelopment Authority, Secretary

What do you feel are the most important issues currently facing the township? 

My focus, as in the past, will be on preserving the rural character of this beautiful township by controlled growth and preservation of open space. I favor legislation protecting environmentally sensitive areas; especially carbonate geology areas, steep slopes and woodlands, stream valleys and natural habitats. 

I believe that council has the responsibility to provide for checks and balances in the day-to-day operations of its administration to ensure the efficient conduct of municipal affairs. In dealing with these checks and balances I will focus on strict compliance in the execution and administration of all laws and policies passed by council and hold the administration accountable for their day-to-day actions. Council must always act as a body and vote publicly when convened at an advertised public meeting.

What will be your top priority if re-elected to council? 

I will continue to ask questions and to insist on strict compliance with the letter and the spirit of the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance of the township.

I have always insisted on a detailed budget to maximize the efficiency of your tax dollars through approved expenditures. I will continue to look for ways to lower taxes without losing services, such as applying for private and government grants. Economic development is crucial to our survival and I will support commercial development that will serve the needs of the township citizens. 

What else would you like voters to know, in your own words? 

It is very important for the residents to get involved by not only exercising their right to vote, but to attend council meetings and to provide valuable information which will help your elected officials make informed decisions. Council represents the people and I welcome and encourage community involvement, especially at public meetings. I am always available to work with the residents and to offer solutions and provide guidance through a common sense approach. In my many years on council, I have tried to make certain that residents are treated fairly and consistently. I have never forgotten the feelings and questions I had sitting in the audience. Because of that, I try to be helpful to those calling seeking my help and advice.

It is a great place to raise a family. I hope to help preserve these special features of the township and the quality of life while welcoming new residents.

CANDIDATE: David Willard

Age: 62

Party: Democratic

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; Master of Business Administration, concentration in marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Profession/Work Experience: 40 years of management experience in private enterprise, including 31 years with Olympus Corporation of the Americas. Professional assignments in the fields of marketing, sales, business development, e-commerce, human resources, corporate social responsibility/community services

Community Service: PBS 39 - Board member and Treasurer; ArtsQuest - Visual Arts Board member; WDIY Community Public Radio - Community Advisory Board Chair; Allentown Symphony - jazz committee and Schadt String Competition host family; Via Marathon - Planning Committee member; Digital Wish (national nonprofit connecting schools with technology) - Advisory Board

Family: Married to Monica Willard for 40 years. Three grown children (two sons, one daughter). One granddaughter.

Length of residence in Lower Saucon: 5 1/2 years (relocated from Long Island when Olympus moved its headquarters to the Lehigh Valley)

Why are you running for Lower Saucon Township Council? 

I love living in Lower Saucon Township and expect to stay here for the foreseeable future. With my recent retirement from private industry, I will have more time to devote to government service supporting the residents of the area.

What are your qualifications to serve on Lower Saucon Township Council? 

My 40 years of experience in the private sector will serve me well as an elected representative of the people of Lower Saucon Township. My roles in business with Olympus and other companies have involved financial responsibility, innovation, and problem solving, as well as listening and building trust through a “customer first” orientation. It’s clear that these skills are important in the management of local government.

What do you feel are the most important issues currently facing the township? 

The most important issue is to strike a sensible balance between economic development and preservation of the environment that maintains the character and the quality of life in the township. Like government at all levels, Lower Saucon Township also faces budget pressures to make sure that all expenditures generate a good return on investment. My experience in business included extensive budget management and bottom line responsibility. 

What will be your top priority if elected to council? 

My top priority would be to meet the needs of the residents of Lower Saucon Township. I would like to see more residents become aware of and engaged with local government by attending council meetings. I have been attending meetings regularly for the last six months and found that only a handful of people attend. Perhaps we can use technology to better communicate about the work of the council and to identify needs and priorities.

What else would you like voters to know, in your own words? 

My observation is that Lower Saucon Township is well governed and managed. The work and actions of the council are transparent. Council members and township staff are dedicated and knowledgeable. I think the recent opening of the Saucon Rail Trail--a great addition to our community--is a good example of effective government at work. I will work and serve with the same spirit of dedication and transparency. I believe that my community service listed above demonstrates my contribution and commitment to the community to date. I will also add a new voice to the council with a different background and qualifications from the current members.