For the pre-election stories, The Press asked the candidates in the Municipal Election the following question:

Why should voters choose you in the Nov. 5 election?

Republican Jim Brunell and Democrat Chris Casey are each seeking the one open seat for a six-year term on the Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors.

Edward J. Earley has announced a write-in campaign for the office.

Jim Brunell

I have been managing operations for a control based contracting corporation, which primarily works in the public sector. Having project and corporate profit and loss responsibility as well as HR management responsibility has sharpened the skills required for this position.

Our current leadership has lost the connection with the people they serve. Our township has been spending recklessly. The current trend of spending is at a rate I don't think we can sustain without an increase in taxes.

We were recently assessed a 100-percent increase. We are taking in more revenue, yet our rainy day fund continues to decrease. They are unable to listen to the residents. They are angered when asked to answer the tough questions. Decisions are made prior to input from the public. We just paid the September bills and the township is at 100 percent of the budget. This fact indicates we have spent more monies than we budgeted.

We cannot continue to sustain this spending. It is time for leadership that looks out for the taxpayer. In addition, Fogelsville Dam may take several hundred thousand dollars to mitigate, the Berks Lehigh Regional Police Department pension fund is under funded at an estimated amount of over $700,000, and we have a new police department that will have unexpected financial demands.

We must have monies in reserve to deal with these issues.

Chris Casey

I will treat all my fellow residents as equals and with respect. As one of your elected supervisors, I will weigh your thoughts and concerns, regardless of color or creed, with equal weight to that of those whose interests are to profit from opportunity in our community.

If you come to a supervisors' meeting to have a concern addressed, I will not speak to you in an arrogant or condescending way.

I believe all residents deserve to be heard, not treated with disdain or be insulted as uninformed.

The government is supposed to serve the community, not dictate to it. I don't believe those in elected office are entitled to keep their jobs. The only government employment I ever held was my term of service in the United States Army as a demolition man.

The constant childlike bickering between the members of the board must end.

Upper Macungie operates under the second class township category, which is reserved for municipalities with populations under 5,000.

Now that we are over 20,000 residents, we should put a referendum on the ballot to upgrade to a first class category.

It is time for the township, and the board of supervisors, to face reality and grow up.

We are not a collection of farms governed by a few wealthy families anymore. We need someone who lives in the real world outside of government on the board, and I am that person.

Edward J. Earley

Effectively managing the commercial and residential growth in Upper Macungie Township requires knowledge of governance, financial experience and strong support for public safety.

I have proven my priorities through performance.

UMT's fiscal position is strong, homeowner taxes average 50 cents a day, our own police department protects our families.

My opponents talk much but have proven little.

Neither have ever volunteered on any township board, committee or community safety organization.

I trust the intelligence of our residents to recognize the critical difference between proven performance and the unknown on Nov. 5.