Seven candidates, six Republicans and one Democrat, are running for two open seats for a four-year term on the Center Township Board of Supervisors.

Alan Smallwood, one incumbent who is running for reelection, declined to respond to the questions. Robert Sloan, the other incumbent, is not running for reelection.

The Democratic candidate, Tom Scheibel, will run unopposed in the primary election.

Nick Angiolieri

Angiolieri is a project manager and senior appraiser for a reassessment company. He was a Butler County assessor for seven years, doing field and valuation work.

He has held a seat on the Center Township Planning Commission for nearly seven years, where he assisted in writing the current comprehensive plan in 2020.

He said he decided to run to have a hand in remedying issues that are holding back Center Township.

Randy Corlew

Corlew previously worked as a field service engineer for Ford Motor Company for 25 years, which gave him experience with automotive service operations, the acquisition of equipment and training of service employees.

He has also served on the Center Township Planning Commission for about two years, where he has inspected and renewed various projects, such as a storage business at Clearview Mall.

He said he decided to run after the idea came up in conversation and it seemed like a good way to give back to the community. He said he believes his prior job experience will be useful in the operation of Center Township.

Ronald Flatt

Flatt is a chiropractor and said he is a lifelong resident of Center Township.

Previously, Flatt served three terms as township supervisor, but said he chose in 2013 and 2021 to not seek reelection as a self-imposed form of term limits. During his time in office, he helped complete several large road projects and a new public works and salt storage building.

He said he’s enjoyed public service in the past, and felt ready to do another term.

Mark Lauer

Lauer worked at an oil refinery in Petrolia and spent almost 18 years as the public works director for Center Township.

He said he has heard that a lot of people are disappointed with the township’s roads. He said the problem comes from the fact that the public works department doesn’t have clear leadership or vision. He said there’s no excuse to having roads and bridges failing.

He said he decided to run after having numerous people asked him to run, primarily in hopes of improving public works in the township.

Michael Pflugh

Michael Pflugh is the fire chief of Unionville Volunteer Fire Department. He has previously worked as a paramedic and registered nurse before working on medical helicopters.

Pflugh said he has contemplated running for supervisor in the past, but was uncertain if he could due to the abnormal hours on the job. However, now that he’s “semiretired,” he said he can make it work.

He said being a lifelong resident of Center Township, alongside his work at Unionville Fire Company, allows him to know the ins and outs about the township’s operation.

Angiolieri: Firstly, I would try to continue to be a good steward of township finances and making the best decisions for residents’ health, safety and welfare.

I would also continue to support the Unionville Fire Company and its EMS program, as safety always comes first.

Finally, I have some ideas partially in motion for a community park, but that’s a future goal.

Corlew: My goals for the township are focused around growth while maintaining a semirural living area.

I would also aim to do everything we can do to bring the mall to be a full place to support our community.

I would also like to offer posted available hours as another way of being available to the community.

Flatt: I remember prior growth of the township and the burden it placed on our infrastructure. I believe we may be going through a second period now, with at least two ongoing housing developments. When you have growth, needs will show up that you wouldn’t be able to see in the past.

I want to make certain that township residents remain safe on their roadways, their homes and their taxes remain as low as we have been able to keep them. The money we received from taxes was sufficient to be able to do the things that were necessary for a local government to do.

Lauer: If elected, my first goal would be to hopefully take charge of the public works department and help to steer the ship. Hopefully, with my experience, we can get it back on track. Center Township has roads deemed unsafe, and I find that unacceptable.

Pflugh: I would focus on revitalizing business. The mall was a strong business front in Center Township, and I believe we can have strong business again. I would also focus on the EMS crisis and look out for taxpayer money along the way. I would use my experience to promote safety in the community.

Angiolieri: My biggest issue would be financial planning for the future, as there is so much that could be done for the township and its residents. I would take a close look at the budget and apply for applicable grants.

I would also promote the future development of both residential and commercial parcels. I would look to extend water and sewer lines to as much of the township as feasible, as well as analyze ordinances and ensuring they are up to date with current standards.

Finally, I would aim to bring the township up to speed on current technology, such as geographic information systems, to maintain accurate visual accounting of infrastructure, permits and anything else you’d want to know as a resident or employee. I think an updated interactive website would be a benefit as well.

Corlew: The Clearview Mall is a major issue. I would also aim to support businesses in the township, as well as making sure our regulations fit. These would be what I make myself available for, and I would work to make sure things fit for the good of the community.

Flatt: The number one issue, for me, is the cost of paving. It’s taken a big chunk in the past few years, and we just need to make a good plan for staying ahead of paving and maintenance.

Secondly, it’s getting more and more difficult to get the volunteers to adequately staff our volunteer fire departments. You can’t raise enough money with bake sales to purchase new trucks and other expensive equipment.

Finally, I want to make sure we have the plans to adequately replace the equipment we use to serve the community, such as trucks. It should be replaced on a regular and timely basis and will make sure our public works department has the tools it needs to do their job successfully.

Lauer: My biggest issue is the road situation and the lack of vision I see in the public works department.

Otherwise, I believe we could reduce taxpayer spending as the current board is sitting on a bunch of money. It is my belief that if you’re not using the money, you need to give it back. They spent $250,000 in legal fees getting involved with the BASA sale just to get nothing. I would also refuse the health benefits offered.

Pflugh: There’s a lack of business coming in due to decreases in population and not enough places to build. If we want to get business back in the township, we need to get the population back.

Secondly, I would take a look at the ongoing EMS crisis and ways we could get more comprehensive coverage. Butler Ambulance does a fantastic job, but they are crunched. I think there may be ways the fire department can do more to help.

Finally, I think we could always be more aware of spending. I think the current supervisors are doing a great job at this, but I feel I could help take it a step further.

Angiolieri: Plans are progressing for a connector to “the 422 cloverleaf at Moraine Point.” This would be a huge benefit as it could improve access to the township and open us up to future growth.

There is also potential for the extension of Holyoke Road to Route 8, which would alleviate traffic on side roads like Pine Drive.

Corlew: Our ongoing developments are moving forward, but we need to be keeping an eye out for needed changes and opportunities to continue the growth in the township.

Flatt: Center Township is already a marvelous place to live, and I welcome those people. It’s a good place to live. When residents move here, that creates more taxpayers, therefore more revenue to enable us to do things we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

Lauer: Growth in Center Township is likely to continue, as long as we’re wise about how it’s done. There’s zoning and a comprehensive plan to follow and make changes if necessary. We just need to be ahead of the growth and protect our folks that don’t want it. Growth is good, as long as it’s healthy.

Pflugh: I would look to assist anyone wanting to develop property in the township, as it’s difficult to get permits and make sure your zoning is in order. We need to make sure it isn’t impossible for someone to develop property here.

Angiolieri: I would allow and promote business that wants to invest in our community. I’m also open to ideas for the Clearview Mall that would bring viable jobs to the township, outside of retail.

Corlew: There are plans in the works right now for the mall, including new business and plans inside. I would try being available and open to necessary changes to support that development and all future development that fits the community.

Flatt: We already have a history of helping them in any way they ask. It’s not up to local government to come up with ideas for private businesses, but we need to stand ready to assist them if regulations are limiting them from doing business. I would like to review the codified ordinance book to ensure it’s meeting require concepts for 2026 and beyond.

Lauer: Over the years, we’ve failed the Clearview Mall. I think the township could promote growth there by offering a property discount, a tax benefit or some type of incentive for new businesses. I think there’s opportunities for the mall outside of retail, such as a space for medical offices.

Pflugh: If we can get a solid start with a good business at the mall, that would go a long way to bringing more businesses in. I would look to jump-start the mall, as that would jump-start business across the township as a whole.