Skip to main content

Chester County Press

Candidates for the Board of Supervisors for New Garden Township

10/30/2013 06:17AM ● By Acl
The following are candidates for three board positions, for a six-year term: 

Richard Ayotte (Republican)

Age: 39

Residence: The Estates of Harrogate

Family: Wife Liana, and three children, ages 5, 3 and two months

Volunteer/municipality experience:  Served as vice president of Estates of Harrogate Homeowners Association.

Occupation: Director of a medical pratice in Wilmington

Key Issues: "What got me involved were some of the zoning issues related to PREIT (the planned deveopment on Gap-Newport Pike known as White Clay Point) as well as the Hollow Point deveopment. I became interested in budgetary issues, and began to look into where our tax dollars go. Six years ago, our budget was under $8 million. Last year, it was almost $16 million. We have spent $5 million on our airport, and meanwhile, our police force works in a trailer."

Why should people vote for you? "A lot of it has to do with budget issues. I worked in corporate America for several years, and had to see where every dollar went to. During my career, I've been very good at finding deficiencies. If our budget doubles again, people are not going to be happy. For the 12,000 people in the township, do they want an airport, or do they want police?  The overall tax burden for the township is huge, and it is going to make people think twice about wanting to move here." 

***

Mike Donovan (Democrat)

Age45

ResidenceSomerset Lake

FamilyWife Karen, and two children, 4 and 7

Volunteer/municipality experienceHas attended several Board of Supervisors meetings. Served as past president of homeowners' association in Delaware. 

OccupationIT Department, Kennett Consolidated School District

Key Issues  "My platform is that I want to be a part of the community. I've done a lot of that thus far, from the standpoint of being involved in the school system. I want to make a difference within the community and the township, to make it a better place for all of us."

Why should people vote for you? "I have a wonderful personality. I am outgoing, energetic, and I like to problem solve, and get out in the public and understand what their feelings are about what we're doing." 

***

Randy T. Geouque (Republican)

Age: 46

Residence: Laurel Heights

Family: Wife Suzanne, and two daughters, 13 and 11.

Volunteer/municipality experience: Regular attendance at Board of Supervisors' meetings for past year-and-a-half. Served for seven years on school board for East Side Charter School in Wilmington.

Occupation: Human Resources manager for Donegal Insurance, Lancaster County.

Key Issues: "The key issues to me are the the proper utilization of residents' tax dollars. Are we spending their money wisely? Are we being very prudent in what we're doing with it? Are we utilizing basically every penny that people are paying in taxes?"

Why should people vote for you? "I believe people should vote for me because I'm going to bring sound judgment to the board. I have over 20 years of business experience, and I bring a different perspective to the board, and I believe that I can assist them in our goals to become more fiscally responsible." 

***

Richard Zimny (Democrat)

Age: 59

Residence: The Estates of Harrogate

Family: Wife Susan, and four children, 32, 30, 23 and 21.

Volunteer/municipality experience: currently serves on the township's zoning hearing board; served on board of directors for the Estates of Harrogate; served in Midway Little League in various capacities.

Occupation: Certified public accountant.

Key Issues: "I want to maintain our budget in a way that's going to be allow us to be responsible stewards of the money, so that we don't have unusual and unexpected tax increases. I also want to see that we manage development in a way that's going to be conducive for long-term employment and keep the community rural, and also provide for some industry."

Why should people vote for you? "My expertise in managing and advising clients as a CPA will provide immense value to the township in the budget and taxation process." 

***

J. Patrick Little (Republican, unopposed)

Age: 69

ResidenceBrittany Hills

Occupation: Retired from DuPont. Full-time volunteer.

Volunteer/municipality: Has attended several township board of supervisors meetings.

Key Issues: "I believe that one of the projects that I would like to do would be to better market the township."

Why should people vote for you? "I have some good ideas. I've met the other board of supervisors, and there are things I can do to make the township better."

 

-- Richard L. Gaw