2 seeking to fill Indiana Township supervisor's position

Two candidates are seeking a supervisor’s position in Indiana Township in the Nov. 2 election.

Democratic newcomer Jonathan Neumann will take on incumbent Michael Schurko. Both ran uncontested campaigns in the primary.

Here are their answers to questions posed by the Tribune-Review:

-

Name: Jonathan Neumann

Political party: Democratic

Age: 41

Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh; law degree University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Occupation: Small business owner.

-

If elected, what are two short-term goals?

Neumann’s first priority would be to provide remote video access to all Indiana Township public meetings.

“Currently, the township does not provide remote access or even video recordings of public meetings, making it difficult for the disabled, immune-compromised and those with work or childcare commitments to participate in local government,” Neumann said. “I will push to have all public meetings available through Zoom video and recordings of these meetings easily accessible online.”

A second goal would be to end the use of toxic coal tar in Indiana Township.

“Over the past year, municipalities across our region have taken action to curtail or ban the use of coal tar,” he said. “Indiana Township’s Board of Supervisors will not even have a public discussion about the hazards of this known carcinogen.

“I will propose an ordinance to phase out the use of coal tar in our community and ensure that our residents have the same health and environmental protections as those enjoyed by our neighbors in surrounding municipalities.”

-

If elected, what is one long-term goal?

“I will take an active role in the creation of a new comprehensive plan for Indiana Township that will promote smart, sustainable development in the decades to come,” Neumann said. “Indiana Township is a uniquely wonderful place. Nowhere else on earth will you find such natural beauty only a 20-minute drive from an emerging high-tech hub, amazing restaurants, and world-class cultural institutions.

“We need to proactively promote well-conceived projects that meet our community’s housing needs, rather than passively rubber-stamping developments that spoil the rural and natural heritage that makes Indiana Township such an attractive place to live in the first place.”

-

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process?

“One of my main inspirations for running is to create a friendly and open local government that is responsive to the needs of residents,” Neumann said. “I am already communicating with residents through email and Facebook and will continue doing so if elected.

“In addition to remote access to public meetings, I will propose that we add a Citizens Feedback form to the township website, making it easier for residents to submit their requests and suggestions in a transparent and systematic fashion.

“Finally, I will schedule in-person or virtual opportunities each month when residents can meet with me one-on-one, get to know their supervisor on a personal level and know that their voices are being heard.”

-

Name: Michael D. Schurko

Political Party: Republican

Age: Did not submit

Education: Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s in Information Science, both from the University of Pittsburgh.

Occupation: Retired CFO.

-

If elected, what are two short-term goals?

“To finish the modernization of the more restrictive township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO),” Schurko said. “This will create more desirable and environmentally sound building practices for the future.”

A second goal would be to “effectively manage the tremendous cost of future compliance with EPA-mandated and unfunded expense related to improving our sewer system and related water infrastructure within the township.”

-

If elected, what is one long-term goal?

“I would like to continue to monitor and intelligently regulate the effects of future land development,” he said. “With significant tracts of undeveloped property located in a superior school district, the township is poised for growth.

“I am committed to maintaining the wonderful environmental and aesthetic aspects of our community. Residents have told me time and again that this is their most important local issue.”

-

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process?

“Residents will continue to be informed regarding local issues via our continually improving township website,” he said. “Recently we have also started town hall meetings to discuss zoning and land development issues outside of formal public meetings.

“This process has resulted in focused discussion about projects that have narrow, but significant, impact on specific residents.”