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Butler County's great daily newspaper

New faces needed

On May 19, Center Township voters will have the opportunity to vote for two candidates for township supervisor. There are three Republicans and one Democrat. The Republicans are Ronald Flatt, Kristopher Goas and Steve Bash. Mark Lauer is the Democratic caidndate.

Flatt served as supervisor from 2002 through 2013. When he took office, the township had a surplus of $3.8 million, no debt and taxes were 2.5 mills. During Flatt’s 12 years in office, the surplus was spent, taxes rose to 7.6 mills, there were three straight years of deficits and debt hit $3 million. Despite no increase in township roads to be maintained, the township road crew rose from four to eight. In 2012, voters approved a referendum to reduce the board from five members to three. Flatt voted to challenge the referendum legally. Legal fees for the suit were paid by township taxpayers. Now Flatt is asking voters for another six years.

Mark Lauer was the township roadmaster for 12 years. In January of this year, township supervisors appointed him for another year as roadmaster, on a probationary basis. The board’s action was long overdue. Rather than accept those terms, Lauer resigned. Now, Lauer is seeking the office of supervisor. It’s worth asking if Lauer’s motivation for running for supervisor is to be a thorn in the board’s side. If Lauer is elected, you can expect tension and discourse on the board.

Flatt and Lauer represent old faces and the same policies as before. Bash and Goas are newcomers, hopefully, with new ideas to move the township forward.

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