4 seek 2 open seats on Limerick supervisors board Kenneth W. Sperring Jr.
LIMERICK >> Two seats on the board of supervisors are open in the Nov. 5 election and four people are contending for them.
Both seats carry six-year terms.
Democrats Amy Walker and Preston Luitweiler and facing off against Republicans Kenneth W. Sperring Jr., the only incumbent in the race, and Michael J, McCloskey III, who is currently the chairman of the township’s planning commission.
What follows are taken from responses to The Mercury’s online candidate questionnaire in the order that they were received.
Amy Walker
Walker, 39, is a “communications leader with a global investment management company,” according to her responses to The Mercury’s online candidate questionnaire. She has never served in elected office.
She wrote that she decided to run after coming into contact with how the township operates.
“Many people know me from the effort to fight an industrial development proposed in the middle of a residential neighborhood. In that effort, I was struck by the lack of transparency in Limerick Township compared with neighboring municipalities, and with the condescension and hostility with which residents’ concerns were met at public meetings,” she wrote.
“I believe strongly that fresh voices and approaches are needed to ensure quality of life for residents as the township develops. I would also like to see the board promote an open space vision for Limerick that could bring economic, health, and recreational benefits,” Walker wrote.
She identified planning and land development as the most important issues facing the township.
“The board of supervisors has a critical role in land use planning and land development in the township. Land use decisions affect infrastructure, taxes, schools, and traffic. There must be a change in how the township approaches development and interacts with the community,” Walker wrote.
“Plans and agendas should be posted well in advance of board meetings, and all meetings livestreamed, recorded, and made available to those who couldn’t attend in person or watch live. Residents should not have to work so hard to influence projects that could impact them. The board needs to balance development with a more strategic open space plan and a commitment to preserving the natural, aesthetic, and historical assets of Limerick Township,” wrote Walker.
Preston Luitweiler
Luitwiler, 69, is a retired civil and environmental engineer and he has never held elected office before.
He also wrote in his responses to The Mercury’s online questionnaire that he decided to run for office after attending township meetings.
“I have been struck by the way citizens are treated when speaking up at meetings and by the perfunctory way public comment is handled. I am a registered professional engineer with degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Drexel University and professional experience that give me background and knowledge with which to evaluate issues faced by the Limerick Township Supervisor” Luitweiler wrote.
“I am retired, so I have the time to devote to serving the township. I have made a substantial investment in a home in this community, and I want to contribute to the lasting quality of life in my neighborhood and in the township as a whole,” he wrote.
In his response to the candidate questionnaire, Luitweiler wrote that “land use decisions, traffic congestion, infrastructure and storm water management are probably the most important issues facing Limerick Township. The impact of development on traffic and stormwater, on the environment, and on the quality of life of residents is often not thoroughly considered and addressed in the process of approving proposed land developments.”
He concluded that “input from the public is not valued, and information is not made readily available in time for the public to make informed comments. I would support Limerick Township posting on-line the township budget and financial statements and plans for proposed developments and major road and public works projects as soon as they are available — certainly before public meetings at which they are considered. I will advocate live-streaming supervisors meetings so that people who cannot attend in person can watch in real time or after the meetings.”
Sperring, 57, is a local business owner who has served on the board of supervisors for 18 years.
In his response, he wrote that he decided to seek reelection because “Limerick continues to be a desired destination for those who wish to raise their children as I and my wife did 20-plus years ago and now my children and grandchildren. Business owners also recognize the strength of the Limerick community and have made investments and work hard to provide the jobs ,services and goods desired by all who now call Limerick home. I am also one of these business owners and recognize the demands small business owners must undertake to make a living for our families and provide for the needs of the community. I want to be able to help continue that balance.”
“With any growing and vibrant local suburban municipality, increased traffic is the constant issue that must be addressed and the one issue that I believe is the most important to the future of this community. Limerick’s traffic issues are however not specific to the growth occurring within our township. With three 422 interchanges located within our borders, the township is burdened with increased traffic flow coming from other nearby communities seeking access to the busy 422 corridor,” Sperring wrote in response to a question about the most important issue facing Limerick
“The best approach to managing the traffic is to have a plan that works in conjunction with all local, county and state agencies and during my 18 year tenure on the Limerick board, I have supported long-term planning to not only identify
the issues, but which also set forth solutions. Over the past decade, the township has leveraged local, state and federal funds to complete safety improvements to Lewis Road; the Limerick Center and West Cherry intersection; Evergreen and Lightcap Roads; and Ridge Pike. The township has also secured a $2.1 million grant from the federal government that will soon be used for ramp improvements to the 422/Sanatoga interchange. In addition, the Limerick board has approved matching grants funds that will be used for an upgrade of the Township Line Road/Linfield Trappe Road intersection and also has authorized the design of re-alignment of Linfield Trappe/Royersford Road intersection,” Sperring wrote.
He concluded, “to assist our regional partners to secure a solution to the heavily traveled 422 corridor, Limerick actively participates with the Greater Valley Forge TMA which is leading the effort with county, state and local state elected officials on a long term solution to 422. I would love to serve the people of Limerick for another term and too continue my best efforts to serve.”
Michael J. McCloskey III
McCloskey, 47, is a small business owner who has never held elected office, but is a member of the Limerick Planning Commission.
In his response to The Mercury online questionnaire, McCloskey wrote that he decided to run for office because “as a resident and business owner in Limerick Township for 14 years I have watched Limerick shape and develop to a municipality that people want to live in. People move here for the excellent public services, education, parks and trail systems. As a member of the Limerick Township Planning Commission I worked with an amazing team to help in the implementation of the programs that make Limerick Township a great place to live and raise a family.”
He wrote that he considers the most important issue facing Limerck to be “responsible growth. As an 11 year member of the planning commission, I consistently advocated for a strict adherence to the goals of Limerick Township’s Comprehensive Plan which sets forth several key objectives in how development should be managed. An important goal of the comprehensive plan is to preserve open space and natural resources by establishing proper zoning and planning techniques.”