The first in a series of two by Cliff Lewis
On November 3, Lancaster Township residents will vote whether to retain Supervisor Tony Allen or to oust the three term incumbent in favor of candidate Ben Bamford. If voters ultimately elect Bamford, a Democrat, the township will fall out of majority Republican leadership for the first time in its 280 year history.
Allen has spent 18 years in his current role on the Board of Supervisors. During the 14 years prior, Allen served on the Township Planning Commission. He cites a professional background in managing electrical projects as foundational to his style of leadership: “You must be able to do [those projects] on time and under budget, and I’ve always been successful in doing that.”
Bamford has worked in real estate development for the last 20 years. He is a current member Lancaster Township Planning Commission and past chair of the Township Parks and Recreation Commission. Bamford emphasized his background in working with State and Federal government agencies—a skill that he considers crucial to sustaining future Township budgets.
If elected, Bamford would not be the first Democrat elected to the Township’s Board of Supervisors. Current Supervisor Kathy Wasong was the first, having taken office in 2006. But, with Allen and Supervisor Tom Schaller both being Republicans, the majority has remained on the right. “If this changes,” Allen said of the upcoming election, “we’ll have the Democrats in power and the Republicans out.”
According to Allen, political demographics in the traditionally Republican township have progressively balanced out in recent years, mostly due to city residents—largely Democratic—moving to the suburbs. “It’s pretty even right now,” Allen said.
While not nearly as ideologically-charged as a State or Federal election, the contenders’ campaign arguments clearly touch on partisan distinctions—especially from the incumbent.
“This is a very conservative community, and it bides well for us to stay that way,” Allen said, asserting that even many registered Democrats in the township would share much of his political perspective. Allen’s campaign platform leans heavily on Republican principals: Low taxes, low government spending, and minimal government control over private affairs.
“I believe government should interfere the least in your life,” Allen said.
As both a conservative and an incumbent, Allen’s essential goal for another term is to “keep things going”—“to keep our costs down, keep an efficiently running government.” Allen said that one challenge that will be faced in the next term is a 2-3% revenue decrease, owing to the economic downturn. “We operate pretty close to the line [already],” Allen said.
Bamford sees the revenue challenge as a problem that will only worsen with time: “Today, simply maintaining is sometimes a step backward. We need to find new ways to fund what we’re doing currently so we can better serve the residents of the township.” Noting the township’s new, fully-funded fire department, Bamford observed that the expenses for the Township will inevitably increase beyond the reach of regular collections.
Bamford said that he would pursue additional funding from sources outside of the township to meet those rising expenses. “We’re going to have to look to the State and Federal governments,” Bamford explained. HR Bill 3007, currently referred to committee at the US House of Representatives, could provide a new opportunity to obtain more funding for townships, Bamford said.
One way that Bamford stressed he would not pursue additional funds is through raising local taxes: “I’ve heard that I’m going to raise taxes,” Bamford said, “No.”
