Incumbents face newcomers for Hempfield supervisor seats

Issues within Hempfield will come to a head next week at the ballot box when a pair of challengers face two incumbents for seats on the township’s board of supervisors.

Democrats Scott Graham, 51, and Daniel Kremer, 67, are vying for seats held by Tom Logan, 63, and Doug Weimer, 49 — Republicans who are running a joint campaign.

“I have talked to a lot of people over the last four or five years, because I’ve done a lot of work on campaigns. And, after listening to the people and what’s going on, I decided it’s time for a change,” said Kremer, who is making his first run for public office.

He won 45% of Democratic vote in the May primary. His campaign platform has focused on solving stormwater runoff issues and holding elected officials accountable.

Graham won 52% of Democratic votes in the primary and also is a first-time candidate. His campaign has focused on the township’s fire departments, which have been a hot topic for months as they prepared for a review by New Jersey-based Insurance Services Office Inc., or ISO. That rating factors into the cost of homeowner’s insurance.

Hempfield’s fire service was a main topic during the primary, when candidates tried to determine the best way to solve a dwindling number of volunteers while ensuring stations are able to respond to calls for service.

Graham also stresses growth and green space. The township is looking at two properties — Walden Court and a property of Route 136 — to build parks. Graham, however, would like to see improvements made to existing parks.

Logan is serving his second term on the board. He holds the treasurer position. His focus is on a “balanced budget, controlled growth and making sure that we are being fiscally sound and conservative,” he said.

Logan and Weimer, who previously served as board secretary, chairman and treasurer, said they are working to avoid property tax increases — which have not increased for 29 years. Weimer said he has urged the Hempfield Area School Board to stop their tax assessment appeal program, which reassesses properties based on a set differential. That topic dominated discussion of school board candidates during the primary.

“I hope that a new school board of directors will be easier to convince that the targeting of properties for tax reassessments is a negative project in regards to attracting new businesses and development,” Weimer said. “Our board has been working to convince them, the current school board, to stop it.”