One Cranberry Township supervisor seat is up for grabs in the upcoming general election on Nov. 4.

The 6-year term will be filled by either Republican Bruce Hezlep, who currently serves as chairman, or Democratic challenger Brandon Dukes, who is vying for his term on the board.

Bruce Hezlep has been a Cranberry resident for more than 31 years and brings more than 36 years of experience in leadership, finance, technology and public safety. He currently serves as the director of public safety for Pine Township in Allegheny County and previously worked in the private sector for more than three decades with companies such as L.B. Foster, PeopleSoft, Oracle and Sage, focusing on accounting and information systems.

For the past 23 years, Hezlep has been a volunteer with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company, where he serves as assistant chief and has responded to more than 3,000 emergency calls. He has also served 12 years as a Cranberry Township supervisor.

Hezlep touted his role in advancing infrastructure projects such as the MSA Thruway, Freedom Road expansion and Route 228 corridor improvements, while also supporting public safety investments and open space preservation efforts like the Powell Farm.

Hezlep said his combination of business expertise, public safety experience and community service gives him a balanced perspective to continue leading Cranberry Township with “experience, balance and integrity.”

Brandon Dukes works as a commercial construction loan administrator, where he helps finance and oversee development projects to ensure budgets, infrastructure requirements and timelines are met. He said his work has given him firsthand experience with how commercial growth affects communities, as well as a strong understanding of responsible budgeting, project oversight and long-term planning.

Dukes is a 2023 graduate of the Community Leadership Institute of Cranberry, a program designed to provide residents with an in-depth look at township operations. Through that experience, he said he gained insight into the functions of each township department and how they work together to serve residents.

He said his professional background and local engagement have prepared him to help guide Cranberry Township’s continued growth in a way that balances development with community needs.

Hezlep: “I first ran for township supervisor because I wanted to give back to the community that has given so much to my family and me. My path to public service began through volunteering. I have been a firefighter for more than 23 years, a Rotarian, a Real Men Wear Pink ambassador, a Boy Scout leader, a Relay for Life volunteer and am involved in my church.

“These experiences helped me understand the people, values and needs of our community. Serving as a supervisor has allowed me to continue that service on a broader level by supporting public safety, managing growth responsibly and maintaining the high quality of life for which Cranberry Township is known. I’m running for reelection to continue that work and ensure Cranberry remains a safe, vibrant and family-focused community for future generations.”

Dukes: “I am a big believer in public service, always have been, but I never took on the full aspect of running for public office. There was always something holding me back. But this year, I made the decision to run for supervisor and bring much needed change — a new era — to Cranberry Township leadership. Also, I was tired of sitting in traffic for long periods of time and instead of constantly complaining, I decided to run to make changes that I want to see made in Cranberry. Cranberry has grown rapidly over the past few years, but that growth has outpaced our current roadway infrastructure, which also is a direct cause of over development.

“I’m running to help ease the gridlock we see on our roadways, to ensure development occurs more responsibly and that residents — not special interests and corporate developers — have the strongest voice in how our community grows.”

Hezlep: “If reelected, my goals are to continue managing Cranberry Township’s growth responsibly while maintaining the high level of services our residents expect. Some critics claim Cranberry is growing too fast, but the facts tell a different story. Our growth rate has averaged just 1.7% annually over the last 18 years, which is steady, planned, and sustainable, not out of control. While we can’t deny property owners the right to sell or develop their land, we can ensure that growth happens in a way that aligns with our community’s long-term vision and balances development with open space, infrastructure and quality of life.

“I’ll continue to strengthen public safety, supporting our police, fire and EMS agencies with the staffing, facilities, and technology they need to meet future demands. I’ll also advocate for traffic and infrastructure improvements, including key projects along state roads like Freedom Road, Route 228, Glen Eden and Franklin Road to keep our roadways safe and efficient. Above all, my goal is to keep Cranberry Township financially strong, safe and family-friendly, ensuring it remains one of Pennsylvania’s most desirable and well-planned communities for generations to come.”

Dukes: “Ease gridlock via updated roadway infrastructure. Manage the rapid growth in Cranberry in a smarter way and avoid any rushed development. Affordability — keep housing options affordable and diverse in order to avoid our residents from being priced out of Cranberry.”

Hezlep: “Cranberry Township’s most significant challenges are growth, traffic and addressing unfunded mandates, which are also its most important opportunities. With thoughtful planning, respect for the law and property rights, community collaboration, hands-on leadership in infrastructure and disciplined budgeting, we can ensure Cranberry remains safe, vibrant and one of the most desirable places to live in Pennsylvania.

Managing growth responsibly — a long-term comprehensive plan guides Cranberry Township’s steady 1.7% annual growth, developed in collaboration with residents to ensure innovative and sustainable development. That plan includes a mix of housing options, from single-family homes to townhomes and apartments, to provide opportunities for young people, families and older adults to live in our community. We respect Pennsylvania’s strict land-use laws and the rights of property owners, working within those boundaries to manage growth responsibly while protecting our community’s quality of life.

“Traffic and transportation infrastructure — nearly 1 million vehicles pass through Cranberry each week, and we’ve met that challenge through real-time traffic signal coordination, adaptive technology and significant projects like Freedom Road, which I personally advocated for in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., These investments keep Cranberry moving safely and efficiently.

“Addressing unfunded mandates — Cranberry faces growing state and federal unfunded mandates, including stormwater and wastewater requirements, as well as public safety regulations, without additional funding. Through disciplined budgeting and long-term planning, we’ve met these obligations without raising general fund taxes for 15 years, maintaining our AAA bond rating and strong financial health.”

Dukes: “Traffic gridlock — replace some traffic lights with traffic circles to ease congestion/gridlock. We have a few already in Cranberry. An update on roadway infrastructure to keep up with the current, rapid growth in Cranberry. Rework the traffic light system across Cranberry to better ensure lesser wait times.

Overdevelopment — as said previously, avoid any rushed development in the township and be sure the residents are informed and involved in those decisions. Not only can this cause congestion on our roadways but also flooding in some of our residential neighborhoods after rainfall.

“Flooding and stormwater drainage — strengthen drainage standards and modernize older systems. This is a direct result of too much development at one time as a lot of forestry is removed and when it rains, and since the water from the rainfall is not absorbed on the hard surface, it causes outdated drainage systems to overflow and cause flooding in our residential neighborhoods, outside and inside of homes.”

Hezlep: “Cranberry Township has long emphasized smart, balanced growth that preserves our community’s character while supporting responsible development. My goal is to continue that approach by encouraging new housing and business opportunities that strengthen our economy while protecting the open spaces that make Cranberry special.

“To date, the township has preserved over 3,000 acres of open space and our ordinances require developers to dedicate land for greenways and parks, keeping growth steady, sustainable and well-planned. The Powell Farm is a perfect example of preserving our heritage while preparing for the future. While we can’t prevent property owners from developing their land, we can, and do, guide growth thoughtfully to maintain the high quality of life Cranberry Township is known for.”

Dukes: “Balancing development and open space can be attained via smart oversight from the township. If I feel a certain piece of land’s open space will be threatened by a commercially developed project and is met with mass protest from the residents, I will vote against such a proposal if it were to come in front of the board. But for any and all future proposals to build in Cranberry that are very popular and much needed, then I will be sure to do my due diligence as a supervisor and make sure the development abides by all regulations set forth by township planning and zoning ordinances, no environmental harm and that the residents’ way of life wont be negatively impacted.

“I also want to make sure that any current and future development does not look out of place in Cranberry when completed. Sometimes, a new development plan or business can be an eyesore for residents if not appropriately planned out.”

Hezlep: “Public safety and infrastructure are the foundation of Cranberry Township’s success. As an active volunteer firefighter for over 23 years, I understand firsthand what it takes to keep our community safe and our services effective. My goal is to ensure our police, fire, and public works departments have the resources, training and technology they need, while maintaining the long-term sustainability of our volunteer fire company. By planning and investing wisely, we’ll keep Cranberry Township strong, safe and well-prepared for the future.”

Dukes: “Cranberry is a low crime area in the southwestern Pennsylvania region, which is why it is important to keep our public safety funded in order to maintain that status. On the other hand, there have been a lot of fires in Cranberry in the past year alone, so that is another reason to keep public safety funded in the township.

“Same standards can be said for our public works department. They do a phenomenal job clearing the roads from snowfall but may need additional funding to continue to do so, especially if the forecast calls for harsher winters, and to keep our current roadways maintained and smooth. Our public safety and public works teams are vital to Cranberry’s success and I will prioritize stable funding, long-term planning and support modernized equipment to keep these departments running.”