Four candidates from three parties are battling for two seats on the Center Township Board of Supervisors in the upcoming general election on Nov. 4.

Incumbent Robert Sloan will not be running for reelection, while Republican Alan Smallwood is looking to secure another term. Republican Mark Lauer, Democrat Tom Schiebel and Libertarian Derek Scott are also looking to assume one of the board’s two open seats.

Mark Lauer

Lauer is a lifelong county resident who has lived in Center Township for 36 years. He is running for election as a Republican.

He has a 35-year career in public service in the township, including 18 years as director of municipal services. He also served as a firefighter, paramedic and fire chief.

He said he’s held many leadership roles throughout his career that will benefit him if he is elected.

Tom Schiebel

Schiebel is a previous supervisor who served as chairman from 2010 to 2012. He is running for election as a Democrat.

He said he has held many positions, such as on the zoning hearing board and planning commission, including as chair. He is an employee of the Butler Country Club where he is in charge of clubhouse maintenance.

He said all of the experience just adds to his qualifications for supervisor.

Derek Scott

Scott is a lifelong Butler County resident who has lived in Center Township for around 5 years. He is running as a Libertarian.

He said he is a machinist by trade, which makes him precise and calculated in all aspects of his life. He currently works as a quality control technician for a ceramics company in Saxonburg.

He said he examines everything closely and takes action to correct where things have gone wrong — traits he will apply to the supervisor position.

Alan Smallwood

Smallwood is a lifelong resident of Center Township and a supervisor for 12 years. He is running for reelection as a Republican.

He is a self-employed excavating contractor with broad experience in excavating and pipeline work, as well as purchasing supplies and equipment. During his time as supervisor, he did repairs in-house on the roads department’s equipment to hold off on purchasing new equipment.

He said he has also worked with the other four supervisors to obtain grants for different projects in the township.

Lauer said he watched the continued reduction and deterioration of the township’s public services by the current board before he decided that it was time to offer assistance to Center Township residents.

Schiebel said he believes Center Township is already a great place to live, but believes it could be even better with some new direction.

Scott said there is a need in government for an advocate for the citizens, especially on a local level, as he believes government officials routinely raise taxes and overregulate.

Smallwood said he decided to run after not being physically able to do all Center Township work. He said he feels passing on his knowledge from his background and experiences is an obvious fit in helping the township.

Lauer said his priority is getting Center Township’s roads and service back to the level that the residents pay for. He said too much taxpayer money is being “hoarded” and should be given back if not used.

Schiebel said the present board of supervisors just banks money while there are still projects, like roads, that need work. He believes the supervisors need to shift focus and look into ways to give back to residents.

Scott said he would look to eliminate wasteful spending and repeal unnecessary restrictions on property. He said it would be a priority to identify and stop corruption on a local level.

Smallwood said his focus would be on keeping costs low by maintaining what the township has. He said it is important for residents to understand the work, seen or otherwise, that supervisors do.

Lauer said his top three priorities are roads and infrastructure in the township, the safety of residents and ensuring continued economic growth.

Schiebel said as taxes remain stagnant in the township, he would look into a tax reduction. He said the township has too big of a reserve and a constantly growing list of new employers, and therefore new revenue streams, to supplement.

He also said there is no reason for Center Township to have the reserve it has when many residents are on fixed incomes or otherwise struggling financially.

Lastly, Schiebel said he wants to reduce supervisor benefits, as Center Township is one of a few municipalities that offer full medical coverage to supervisors. He said all five current supervisors are accepting benefits, costing the township roughly $150,000 a year. He said he would refuse any health benefits offered.

Scott said he believes one of the biggest examples of wasteful spending in the township is the $150,000 spent on benefits for supervisors and their immediate families. He said he will waive all medical coverage and fight to change the coverage offered to the supervisors.

He also said that streamlining the township’s ordinances would be a priority, as it consists of 19 chapters and 101 articles. He said anything overreaching will be repealed in the process.

Scott also said citizens that voice their concerns are routinely met with “seemingly uncaring” supervisors. He said this demoralizes residents and deters them from speaking out in the future. He said he will prioritize projects that improve the lives of citizens.

Smallwood said he would avoid raising taxes, even though costs are rising, by focusing on grants and doing in-house work whenever possible.

He said he would continue to follow the township’s plan to keep up on the care and maintenance of roads.

Lastly, he said he hopes to make residents understand supervisors do more than two meetings a month. He said supervisors are on call at all hours and put in time throughout the week to answer phone calls, meet with residents and staff of the township, handle legal matters and more.

Lauer said he believes Clearview Mall is at a turning point and that its future is bright. He said he would be willing to provide any assistance he could as a supervisor.

Schiebel said, while he was originally a proponent of demolishing the mall, it has since morphed into a source of revenue and jobs in the township. He said it will never be what it once was, but he will do anything he can to support the mall and its occupants.

Scott said he wants local businesses to succeed and finds support important, but would not use taxpayer money to “prop up” any businesses. He said he believes businesses should succeed or fail through their own decisions and practices.

Smallwood said, while he has his own personal opinions, the mall is privately owned and not under the control of Center Township. He said the decline of the mall was for the same reason as many: online shopping.

Lauer said sharing services with neighboring municipalities has been a priority, and he would look for new ways to work with them to keep costs down for everyone.

Schiebel said streamlining comes as a result of offering the best equipment and work environment possible. He said he would look to update the township’s maintenance building, which was “state of the art” when it was built in 2011.

Scott said it is important to fully plan projects and make sure the funding is available before starting. He said efficiency is crucial to successful infrastructure projects and that there cannot be any cases of roadwork coming to a halt.

Smallwood said areas such as Duffy Road and north of the Clearview Mall are areas that may grow, as Dollar General recently opened a new location in the latter. He said the township will need to follow its comprehensive plan as a blueprint, as it is geared toward supporting local businesses.