Why am I the best candidate for the Hellam Township Board of Supervisors?

The experiences, skills, and knowledge I have gained throughout my career give me a uniquely diverse perspective that will bring balance to the Board of Supervisors for Hellam Township.

Each position has taught me:

• Collaborative problem-solving to meet a goal, quota or mission

• Leadership and team-building skills

• Fiduciary and ethical standards

• Strategic planning and volunteer management

• Process analysis and project management

• Communication, outreach and marketing expertise that promotes transparency

The best asset we have in Hellam Township is our people. I listen, connect people and find the right resources for the job. I am passionate about my community and bring energy to the processes and procedures involved in running our Township.

We need a balanced voice on our Board of Supervisors. Instead of debating whether or not growth should be allowed, we need leadership that focuses on how and where new development should be accommodated. I am that balanced voice.

Together, we can keep
Hellam Township
a great place to
live and work and play.

What experiences qualify me to hold this office?

I have lived, worked, and served with my fellow residents of Hellam Township for 28 years and have served in leadership and volunteer capacities locally with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Eastern York School District and Kreutz Creek Library. I have served at a statewide level coordinating and developing cooperative efforts in military and veteran non-profit organizations. I understand the hearts and souls of people who volunteer and serve in a community organization that has limited resources but lots of passion for their mission. It takes a certain type of leader to appreciate the value of volunteers’ personal time and effort. I know how to infuse energy behind a mission while balancing the realities of budget, capital resources and available workforce hours.

My 39-year experience in business, nonprofit, real estate and government sectors gives me a uniquely balanced perspective that I will bring to the position of Hellam Township Supervisor. I have worked for Intel, Hewlett Packard and IBM as a sales and marketing professional, and as a national sale director for Government Technology Services Inc. (GTSI) specializing in value-added resale to federal and state governments.

My background has allowed me to develop communication skills and knowledge of businesses, governmental processes, and procedures. I have created numerous strategic plans to meet goals and objectives of varied needs and to provide vision for organizations. Through this corporate planning, I developed the ability to talk with people at all levels and bring them together.

I am a licensed real estate agent and have sold many homes here in the Hellam Township area. I understand the importance of property rights, land use issues and community zoning challenges. My knowledge of these processes and procedures coupled with the ability to see points of view from all sides enables me to facilitate communication that can strike a balance among many competing interests.

I served on the Board of Directors and as Executive Director of the Horn Farm Center, a nonprofit organization located in Hellam Township. I led a team that, with the York County Commissioners, developed a countywide long-range strategic plan resulting in a 99-year lease for the Horn Farm.

The Horn Farm Center continues to provide national recognition to York County for their innovative use of conserved farmland. It has become a leader of best practices that continues to draw attention from people around the nation who come to visit and learn.

My six-year experience as a member of the Board of Directors for Capital Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area Council gave me a seven-county perspective of utilization of resources. I was exposed to regional land use issues and their impact on communities, farming, and land ownership, and how the work of the local County Conservation Districts can assist with environmental and physical challenges we face in our Township.

“I understand the importance of property rights, land use issues and community zoning challenges.”

What is the most important issue facing the office you are seeking?

Hellam Township is faced with the challenge of balancing the needs of our residents, businesses, and agricultural operations. We need leadership that focuses our community towards the maintenance and improvement of our quality of life here in Hellam Township. Our community faces increasing pressure from the depreciating effects of the gradual encroachment of sprawl resulting from indifferent leadership. Sprawl contributes to a decline in community distinctiveness and cohesiveness; we need leadership that prioritizes efforts so that we do not experience the costs and rising taxes associated with sprawl.

Comprehensive planning for the future of our Township will help the entire community create, and achieve, a vision for growth. Our last Comprehensive Plan was created 20 years ago and expired 11 years ago. We need a new plan, developed collaboratively and strategically, that can serve as a catalyst for economic and community revitalization while protecting our important agricultural lands and supporting our family-owned farms and businesses. An effective comprehensive plan will protect real estate values and quality of life for residents, isolate and mitigate challenges, identify and capitalize on strengths, and discover opportunities for strategic economic growth.

By engaging our residents, our businesses, and our community leaders, we can create an innovative, well thought out and realistic blueprint for our Township. Communication and transparency are vital in creating this type of vision and in addressing this important issue facing Hellam Township.

What other issues are priorities for you?

Within the last several years Hellam Township has seen several incidences of significant flood damage as a result of heavy rain and runoff. In 2021 this damage still exists and yet the root causes have not been addressed. This is a big problem. Residents deserve a response and an opportunity to dialogue about potential resolutions. The Township needs to lead by example by engaging in effective management of storm water and streams. In guiding Hellam responsibly, other priorities include:

• Increasing awareness of the financial needs of our two volunteer fire departments. Promoting the importance of our Fire Capital Fund to our residents, businesses and stakeholders.

• Continued funding and support of our Township’s Police Force.

• Increase communications and transparency of the office. I believe an informed Public makes better decisions for our community, and helps to achieve balance in community relationships.

• Creating an infrastructure study of future needs and doing a deep dive analysis of our future financial obligations.

• Engaging with neighboring communities, regional stakeholders and other economic development organizations to build a collaborative and cohesive region that strengthens our River Town communities. There is real energy and resources being invested into creating a River Towns region that can bring in economic growth and development that serves our whole Township as well as surrounding communities.

• Attracting desirable innovative and traditional businesses and services that benefit our Hellam Township community.