Washington Township supervisor race contested
Larry Kriley’s seat on the Washington Township board of supervisors is up for reelection in the May 20 primary election. Challenging Kriley for his seat is soon-to-retire Karns City Area School District teacher John Damico.
Both candidates are vying for a six-year term on the board.
Kriley, the incumbent, has served on the board of supervisors for at least 12 years, with Kriley saying he’s served for “approximately 14 years.”
“I was motivated to run because I wanted to be more involved in my community,” Kriley told the Butler Eagle. “Having lived here for over 30 years, I felt a strong commitment to contribute to the well-being of Washington Township and its residents.”
Among his accomplishments during that time, Kriley cites working with fellow supervisors to secure grants for road repairs.
“There are additional projects in progress, and I believe we have made steady progress in maintaining our infrastructure,” Kriley said.
Aside from serving as a township supervisor, Kriley is retired, and previously worked for 22 years at AK Steel. He also served for a time in the U.S. Army.
Generations of students at the Karns City Area School District grew up having Damico as a mathematics teacher, a position he has held at the district for 32 years. After this school year, Damico is moving on to a new phase in his life.
“I plan on retiring from teaching this June and working my farm in North Washington,” Damico said.
During his time as a teacher, Damico has served as both vice president and president of the Karns City Education Association, the school’s teachers union. In addition, he spent 34 years in the U.S. Army Reserves before retiring in 2021.
“I am running for Washington Township supervisor to get more involved in our community and to make Washington Township great again,” Damico said. “I am in support of making our community a beautiful place to live in, by making improvements to our physical community and hearing from our constituency on how to improve it any way we can.”
He said his experience in both education and military service has prepared him well for serving as a township supervisor.
“During my employment as a teacher and a service member, I have been in charge of managing people and projects and have been responsible for the efficient implementation of policies and procedures.”
Kriley: “If reelected, my goal is to continue to upkeep and improve the township and relationships within our community while keeping taxes low. I am able to do the regular maintenance of our equipment, keeping costs in house and lower than outsourcing. I am at the beck and call of the community when any needs arise to get issues taken care of quickly and timely. I hope to continue relationships and listen to the needs of our township residents while keeping roads safe for our community and school buses. I will focus on sustaining the progress we’ve made and addressing ongoing needs to ensure the township remains strong.”
Damico: “I would like to improve the roads and infrastructure and get more involvement from all our constituents to improve our township.”
Kriley: “Unfunded mandates place financial strain on the township. I will advocate for fair funding from higher levels of government to alleviate this burden.
“We are having trouble getting people to volunteer as firefighters. I will explore community outreach programs and incentives to encourage more participation.
“More work is needed on our roads. I will continue to apply for grants and prioritize infrastructure funding to address this issue effectively.”
Damico: “Drainage systems along our roads, improving our roads and beautifying the township are my main objectives if I should be elected.”
Kriley: “Washington Township is a worthwhile place to live, work and spend money due to its tight-knit community of hardworking residents and a company-friendly environment.
“Our township is the home to multiple small businesses, our local fire department, rodeo grounds and the fire hall, which brings outside visitors and funds to our township. The township offers a quality of life that attracts people to start businesses here.
“To keep it that way, I will maintain close contact with residents, ensure good road conditions and work to keep taxes low. I will also continue efforts to improve safety and infrastructure.”
Damico: “The people of Washington Township are the biggest asset we have. The rural atmosphere and high morals of the constituents makes this a great place to live and to raise a family.”
More election coverage can be found here.
