Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Next-door neighbors battle it out for supervisor seat
EAST WHITELAND» A pair of next-door neighbors in the Spring Mill Farms subdivision are battling it out for a lone supervisor seat.
Democrat Scott Lambert described his relationship with Republican incumbent Rich Orlow as cordial.
“Rich is a fine neighbor and he has a good family,” Lambert said. “We have discussions--but not about politics.
“I have a different vision of the township than Rich. It’s not a personal issue.”
Orlow said that living next door to his opponent is “a little weird.”
“I don’t want to be in the position of dividing a neighborhood,” Orlow said. “It’s non-eventful for any relationships in the neighborhood. I wouldn’t let it affect me. Life will go on,”
Both candidates talked about development.
“I’m not against development but based on recent and pending growth, and the pace of growth, we have to make better plans for the future,” Lambert said. “We always ask (residents) what their biggest concern in the township is and they say that overwhelming growth and development is out of control.
Lambert also said that development has a negative effect on infrastructure and can impact school class room size.
Both men are 59 years old. Lambert is president and owner of Maxim RE Healthcare. The golfer and skier said he is qualified for the supervisor’s job due to his leadership and organizational skills developed from working as a start-up business owner in the highly competitive health care industry.
The bike rider and traveler noted his strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Orlow has served as supervisor for two years. He is a lawyer and a CPA accountant. He uses his legal and financial skills at Piazza Auto Group.
I’ll continue to listen to the residents and make informed, prudent decisions.”
The number cruncher and swimmer said he wants to “get the township’s fiscal house in order” following the last two annual township budgets that were passed with deficits.
Orlow would also like to work to revitalize the twolane Route 30 corridor.
“Let’s clean that up,” he said about the first transcontinental highway.
Orlow said he often hears from residents about the need to “manage development better.”
He said there is a need to look closer at zoning requests, although many of the projects can be developed in accordance with current zoning requirements.
Orlow has served on the planning commission, zoning hearing board, park and recreation commission, as township auditor, as treasure of the East Whiteland Township Volunteer Fire Association and as a member of the board of directors of First Resource Bank.