Politics & Government

Who Gets Your Vote in Ward 9: Richard Kaufman or George Manos?

The all-Bala Cynwyd ward is represented by the incumbent Democrat Manos.

's Ward 9, which includes much of Bala Cynwyd, is represented on the Board of Commissioners by Democrat George Manos, who is being challenged for his seat in Tuesday's election by Republican Richard Kaufman.

To learn more about the candidates ahead of Tuesday's election, Patch asked both the same questions, via email. 

Manos' answers, edited only for Patch editorial style, are below. Kaufman replied with his own election profile, and the excerpts most relevant to Patch's questions are also posted below.

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After reading about both candidates, tell us in the comments who your choice is.

PERSONAL

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  • George Manos, an architect from Clwyd Road in Bala Cynwyd
  • Richard Kaufman, a doctor in pulmonary and critical care from Snowden Road in Bala Cynwyd

What’s the most important issue that is specific to your ward?

  • MANOS: Maintaining services during this very challenging economic climate, and, locally, the proposed City Avenue rezoning process.

What’s your opinion of the township’s current financial situation?

  • MANOSThe outlook for 2012 is considerably brighter than it was for 2011.  In his preliminary report, Township Manager Doug Cleland brought forward a budget that contained no Township tax increment increase.  Whether that can be maintained throughout the budget process remains to be seen, considering that services such as police, roads, parks and fire need to be maintained at least at their current, reduced level.

What is the township funding too much or too little?

  • MANOSTownship staff size and department capacity has shrunk considerably over the last three years in response to the severe drop in revenue, so just about every Department is running on low, meaning none are really over-funded.  The reverse is true - police staffing is below previous levels and needs to be restored, and road and parks crews are short-handed, to name a few.

How would you approach your job in the upcoming term, if elected?

  • MANOSI would continue to try to find ways to enhance the experience of living in Bala Cynwyd and in the Township with initiatives such as the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, the renovation of the Bala Library, the Bala Farmer's Market, and the forthcoming Bala Avenue Streetscape Improvement project.

What makes you a better choice than your opponent?

  • MANOSLegislative experience, architectural and planning experience, extensive prior community service, on-demand constituent services, support of appropriate infrastructure improvements, Township enhancement initiatives, and responsible budgeting approaches, to name a few.

Contrast the job performances of the board’s Democratic and Republican blocs in the past couple years.

  • MANOSRepublican: very strongly, in my opinion too strongly, short-term, conservative approach. Democrat: moderate, fiscally responsible, long-term approach to Township issues.

What’s the most positive aspect of Lower Merion Township?

  • MANOSLiving and working in it.

Motivation to run for the Ward 9 commissioner’s seat?

  • KAUFMAN: As a 28 year resident of Bala Cynwyd, I greatly appreciate living here. This community affords its residents a marvelous quality of life, a sense of security of the neighborhood and wonderful amenities. There is a feeling of community here. I believe our foundation is being eroded by the financial conduct of our local government. The trust in our representatives is being undercut by backroom deals and lack of transparency. I wish to shine a bright light on the decision-makers. I will not fear what is seen by the taxpayers. My hope is to help repair and strengthen that foundation by running to represent Bala Cynwyd (Ward 9) on the Board of Commissioners of Lower Merion.

Some of the most important issues for residents of Ward 9?

  • KAUFMAN: Many important decisions will confront Bala Cynwyd in the near future. Bala Cynwyd citizens will need to be involved in decisions concerning the City Avenue. This project has the potential to ruin the residential atmosphere that makes Bala Cynwyd such a special place and turn it into a crowded, urbanized zone that is sure to cause the quality of life here to deteriorate.

How to address the problems

  • KAUFMAN: Our property taxes have increased over 60% since 2002. Contributing to this tremendous increase in taxes, are the spending and borrowing decisions that have led to this massive rise. Our elected leaders have increased general fund spending by 45% (twice the rate of inflation) and have more than doubled township debt (now almost $130 million) in nine years. Lower Merion is headed for the many of the same fiscal difficulties that affect our commonwealth and nation. We borrow and spend too much money. There will come a point when our debt burden is so large that our choices for maintaining and improving our township will become more and more limited. At that time essential township services will be impacted. Lower Merion has lost approximately 3% in population in the most recent census. Raising taxes will drive more residents to leave and fewer families to consider moving to Lower Merion. Our population will decrease further and therefore our tax base will become smaller. The financial strain on the remaining residents will worsen. This is a vicious cycle that will be difficult to break.


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