Voters will elect four members to Evans City council on Nov. 5 from a field of seven candidates: Republicans David Spithaler, Karl Kennedy, Paul Foster and John McKinney, and Democrats Richard Reifenstein, Carolyn Parenti and Dennis Eckstein.

The Butler Eagle posed questions to the candidates.

QUESTION: Why are you running for election?

KENNEDY: Because I care for this town. I have lived in this town for 74 years, and we need to do our best for the taxpayers.

SPITHALER: I want to do what I can for the community that did good for me for 70 years. I make no promise to get elected but I do promise to do what is best for the community and you.

REIFENSTEIN: I want to do my part in introducing some new ideas for borough improvements. The future of our town will soon be in the hands of the next generation. We need to leave them something to believe in and be proud of.

FOSTER: No response.

McKINNEY: No response.

PARENTI: No response.

ECKSTEIN: No response.

QUESTION: What are your top three priorities if you win election?

KENNEDY: 1. Need to cut taxes (as) we have the second highest taxes in Butler County.

2. Control costs.

3. Continue to pave our streets and upgrade our infrastructure.

SPITHALER: 1. Balanced budget.

2. Improving the appearance of the community

3. Street repair.

REIFENSTEIN: As an historian I would like to establish and maintain our town's heritage. Evans City and many small towns used to be a stopping place for travelers. 1. Promote assets, historical and cultural 2. Enhance infrastructure and beautify existing facilities. 3. Promote new businesses and assist established ones.

FOSTER: No response.

McKINNEY: No response.

PARENTI: No response.

ECKSTEIN: No response.

QUESTION: What part should local government play in overseeing natural gas drilling activity in your municipality, including how impact fee money should be spent?

KENNEDY: We do not have any gas well drilling in our municipality.

The impact fee money should be used to upgrade our borough.

SPITHALER: Gas drilling creates jobs and revenue for local business.

Impact fee money from gas drilling should be used for improving streets and the overall appearance of the community.

A neat and friendly community brings in new residents and could increase the value of all properties.

REIFENSTEIN: In the past, Evans City was an oil boom town with wells and derricks in every backyard. Sheer numbers of wells with a promise of quick wealth left some rich and many in debt and the town an unsightly mess. Perhaps they all could have benefitted, town included, if better profit-sharing would have been done. Can we learn from our mistakes? I'd hate to take anything away from someone's prosperity, but somehow, we should all share in the earth's bounty.

FOSTER: No response.

McKINNEY: No response.

PARENTI: No response.

ECKSTEIN: No response.