No Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates are on the May 21 ballot for Lower Macungie Township Commissioner. This is a 4-year term. Vote for no more than two. All photos are contributed.

Biggest issue for residents

The candidates were asked to respond to the following question in 100 words or less: What do you see as the biggest issue for residents in Lower Macungie Township?

Ron R. Beitler

Biggest concern remains land use. Lower Macungie is very desirable, so our population is increasing since people want to live here. Problem is, if a community isn’t thoughtful about its growth they slowly become what folks move there to get away from. To avoid high taxes, congested roads and crowded schools we must continue to fund preservation efforts, invest in infrastructure and make smarter land use choices. Last few years we’ve accomplished this preserving a record amount of farmland, guiding growth to areas where infrastructure exists and eliminating warehouses from the zoning code. We now have to continue this progress.

Maury Robert

The township should be more structured in decision making. Rather than making decisions on a case-by-case basis, the township should establish a comprehensive 10-year financial plan to drive budgetary decisions. In addition, more policies should be established to allow more effective management of the township by the township manager. Using the more structured financial planning and comprehensive policies would allow the township to do a better job maintaining valuable township resources like creeks, floodplain and stormwater management facilities, as well as, acquire farmland development rights in a fiscally responsible fashion, for the benefit of all township residents.

Bill Royer

The most challenging issue for the future of Lower Macungie Township is preserving and growing the character and lifestyle of our township without increasing our cost of living. This can only be done by developing and implementing 1-, 5- and 10-year rolling strategic, capital and operational plans. We must decide and plan our short- and long-term spending priorities. We must know where and when the money will come from to fund these priorities. They include: smart land use, stormwater management, maintaining and improving our roads, parks, recreational programs, community security and township services.