Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Note: All supervisor and tax collector candidates responded to this questionnaire. Auditor candidates did not reply.
SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES
Please provide your name, age, town where you live and current occupation.
Nathan Caldwell: Nathan Caldwell. Age 30. Mckee. Freedom Township Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Timothy James: Timothy James, age 61, East Freedom, retired. I was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in January 2021 to fill the seat on the passing of long-time Supervisor Daniel “Butch” Giarth. I was elected for a two-year term in November 2021.
Please describe your family.
Caldwell: Wife, Brianna, three children.
James: My wife, Dana, two children, one granddaughter and one grandson due in July.
What in your background permits you to effectively represent this area?
Caldwell: I have lived in Freedom Township my entire life. I have been with the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company since I was 14 and have worked for the township since 2016. I was elected Township Auditor in 2021and was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in October 2022 to fill the seat left vacant when long-time Supervisor Maureen Hamor stepped down due to moving from the area. I have gotten to know many of the residents and understand their concerns.
James: I’ve been a resident of Freedom Township for more than 30 years. It was a great place to raise my children. I’ve been in the fire service for 43 years, the past 20 years with the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company where I am currently the Deputy Chief and Treasurer.
What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of this area?
Caldwell: We need more and better job opportunities in the area.
James: Maintaining their standard of living as the price of everything seems to be going up.
What do you expect to accomplish in the upcoming term if you are elected?
Caldwell: I want to get to know the needs and concerns of all Freedom Township residents and help resolve any issues they have.
James: I am going to continue to work with my fellow supervisors to make the best decisions for today, and the future of Freedom Township.
What is the biggest problem facing this area right now?
Caldwell: I feel the biggest problem facing this area is lack of growth. When businesses come to the township it provides economic growth and increased tax revenue.
James: Drugs and crime have been on the rise, and the state of the economy is escalating the problem.
How will you help to solve that problem?
Caldwell: There hasn’t been a lot of new business coming into the township and I plan to find out what the issues may be with that and find a way to fix it.
James: I will do everything possible to avoid a tax increase. We must maintain and give our full support to our police department and make sure they have the resources needed to protect our community. We sit right off Interstate-99 and that makes us an easy target for criminal activity. Our police have done a tremendous job protecting our community from people who come here to commit crimes, and it is very important that we give them everything they need to continue to do that.
Why are you running?
Caldwell: I am running for supervisor to help maintain the great township we have now and to bring a new and younger perspective to perhaps bring new things to Freedom Township.
James: I love this township. I’ve raised two children here and I want to do what I can to help this community thrive and continue to be a place where people want to live. I want to help make sure that Freedom Township remains a safe and affordable place to raise a family.
TAX COLLECTOR CANDIDATES
Please provide your name, age, town where you live and current occupation.
Kim Bender: Kim Bender, 58. East Freedom. Office Manager for Katrina Builders Inc. Assistant Secretary for Freedom Township, current Freedom Township Tax Collector.
Shanel Krebs: My name is Shanel (Himes) Krebs. I am 35 years old and I have lived in the Cove for the majority of my life. I chose to stay home with my daughters through the pandemic, but this year decided to get certified to be a substitute teacher. I currently work part time substituting at Spring Cove, Williamsburg, and Claysburg Kimmel School Districts.
Please describe your family.
Bender: Husband, Ed..
Krebs: My husband and I moved back to the area in 2012 to work for our family’s business and are now residents of East Freedom, where we live with our two daughters.
What in your background permits you to effectively represent this area?
Bender: I have 40 years’ experience working in business.
Krebs: Previously, I worked for my family’s natural gas drilling company, Himes Diversified/CellarTech, for 8 years. As the company grew, I transitioned from working in the field to managing the office and business needs. These responsibilities ranged greatly from human resources, accounting, and project management to vehicle licensing, travel permits, fleet management, etc. The company was sold to a corporate company, who I continued to work for through 2019.
What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of this area?
Bender: People are struggling to pay their taxes because of the lack of well-paying jobs in the area.
Krebs: No answer
What do you expect to accomplish in the upcoming term if you are elected?
Bender: To give quality service to the residents of Freedom Township and be available to taxpayers to answer any questions or concerns they may have by returning phone calls or replying to emails promptly.
Krebs: No answer
What is the biggest problem facing this area right now?
Bender: I think some people may have difficulties paying their taxes because of financial hardship.
Krebs: No answer
How will you help to solve that problem?
Bender: Unfortunately, that is beyond the powers of any Tax Collector. We are bound by law to follow the policies as written.
Krebs: No answer
Why are you running?
Bender: Taxpayers want to know the person handling their money is focused on the job. I am running because I want to continue providing the high level of service the taxpayers of Freedom Township want and deserve.
Krebs: The position of Freedom Township Tax Collector would make good use of the skills I developed over those years, while also allowing me to continue substitute teaching, and most importantly, being a part time stay at home mom.
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