CENTER TWP — A former chairman is returning as a township supervisor.

Republican Ron Flatt defeated Democrat Mark Lauer in Tuesday’s election in the race for one vacant seat on the five-member board.

Flatt received nearly 57 percent of the votes cast, picking up 1,131 ballots. Lauer received 879 votes.

The term is for six years.

Flatt previously served on the board from 2002 to 2013.

“Obviously I’m very pleased the voters in Center Township elected me to serve the next six years,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working well with everyone on the board.”

Perhaps the biggest issue in the township right now is the development around the new VA Butler Healthcare center on North Duffy Road.

The township is proposing a tax-increment financing district on about 100 acres surrounding the new center. That district would take a portion of real estate taxes each year and devote them to infrastructure work with the intention of spurring other development. Township leaders have said recently that work could include a new road connecting North Duffy Road to the Route 422 interchange.

“I hope to fully educate myself on the issue of the TIF (district),” Flatt said. “I have not had access to all of the information, but I hope to evaluate it and see if it benefits the township.”

He had previously said he wants to maintain the current quality and safety of the roads in the township and “appropriately manage any proposed expansion of any type.”

Flatt said road design and construction should be kept in-house when possible, and should be coordinated between the planning commission, township engineer and the board to insure any work falls in line with the township’s comprehensive plan and ordinances.

Lauer spent 17 years as the township’s public works director. He retired in January after being placed on probation by the supervisors for unspecified reasons.

Lauer criticized the supervisors during his campaign, specifically in regards to road maintenance this past winter.

Flatt will be filling a vacant seat on the board that previously belonged to supervisor Ken Frenchak.

Last month Frenchak resigned his seat and was appointed to another seat left vacant by the death of supervisor Andrew Erie.

He will serve on that seat until the 2017 election.

Other members of the board include Ed Latuska, Alan Smallwood and Phil Wulff.