The two groups of Republican candidates running for Manheim Township commissioner are envisioning the future of the fast-growing suburb north of Lancaster.

And the groups have different views.

The six candidates are competing in the May primary for three spots on the GOP ticket.

Jim Bohan, Jim Martin and Mike Flanagan, the incumbent in the group of three, have the backing of the Citizen Coalition for Effective Government, a community group.

Bohan says, "You have to have a vision as to how to meet the challenges of the future.

"The three commissioners need to be forward-thinking and creative in seeing the challenges that are coming and we have to address them without overburdening the taxpayers."

That might mean getting a developer to pay for road improvements, he said, such as the commissioners did when they approved two recent shopping center proposals, Granite Town Center off Fruitville Pike and Crossings at Conestoga Creek on Harrisburg Pike.

Rick Casselbury, Nancy Keebler, the two incumbents in the other group, and Gerry Robinson have the backing of the township's GOP committee.

Keebler says she sees the job of a commissioner to represent the wishes of residents.

"They don't want more commercial development. They don't want more shopping centers," says Keebler, who with Casselbury unsuccessfully voted against the two shopping center proposals. "They want to preserve farmland and maintain open space."

Here are the Republican candidates and their views:

• Jim Bohan, 62, is an assessment specialist for Intermediate Unit 13.

He says roads need to be improved in the township, and he thinks having developers fund improvements relieves the potential burden on taxpayers.

Other costs will be increasing, for parkland, public works, police and other township services.

The township's comprehensive plan is "nothing more than a guideline into the future," he adds.

"One size never fits all," he says.

• Rick Casselbury, 49, is the owner of Universal Athletic Club. He is running for his second term.

Development is the most pressing issue facing the township, he says.

He wanted to preserve the industrial zoning in both shopping center proposals. Commercial retail centers create lower-paying jobs and produce a lot of traffic, which will not be completely alleviated by the road improvements, he says.

Casselbury wants to maintain the character of Manheim Township, and its blend of different neighborhoods, and adhere to its comprehensive plan.

• Mike Flanagan, 57, an attorney is running for his second consecutive term. He also served a term from 1990 to 1994.

He is concerned about the viability of volunteer fire companies, which face funding and manpower challenges. He is waiting for a strategic plan being put together by emergency service people and due out in June.

The township also needs to acquire more parkland in the next four-year period. With low interest rates, Flanagan says, it's a good time to examine a new bond issue.

He also favors having developers fund improvements.

"If there are future demands on safety and parkland," he says, "that money is going to have to come from somewhere. I'd rather see it from developers than from our residents."

• Nancy Keebler, 41, is a part-time bookkeeper and homemaker. She is running for her second term.

She is concerned about how the downturn in the economy could affect the township's operating budget, and how to cope with that without raising taxes.

With regard to development, she does not support more commercial development, more shopping centers or higher-density or high-rise housing.

"I try to make my votes from the viewpoint of an average resident of Manheim Township," she says.

• James Martin, 67, is the retired Manheim Township manager.

Managing growth and development is the big issue facing the township, he says. That comes by balancing commercial and residential development.

Due to safety issues, talk of improving Fruitville Pike began before the proposal of the Granite shopping center, he says. The township was going to have to fund some of the cost. Now the developer is.

"How do you continue to grow and develop and balance those things out? If this was all residential, taxes would have to go up to cover those services," he says.

• Gerry Robinson, 57, is an attorney with offices in Harrisburg and Washington.

The township needs to strike the right balance of development and preserve the character of the township, he says.

"As a commissioner, I would definitely look at projects and developments on their own, individually, and in conjunction with the long-range plan, without preconceived notions," he says.

Another concern he has is crime. He thinks the township may have more pressure on it from that, and says he would work to help the police department in any way.

A Democrat, Doreen Kreiner, is running unopposed on that party's ticket.

Suburban race features array of signs, Web site

The Republican battle for Manheim Township commissioner is being waged with signs and a Web site.

Two opposing groups of three GOP candidates — one endorsed by the party, one endorsed by a citizens' group — are running for the three spots on the November GOP ballot.

All have signs. Two of the GOP-endorsed, Rick Casselbury and Gerry Robinson, have signs together. The third GOP-endorsed candidate, Nancy Keebler, has her own signs.

Keebler said she has opted to run her own campaign.

The Citizen Coalition for Effective Government-backed slate of Jim Bohan, Jim Martin and Mike Flanagan, has its own signs. The three candidates also are featured on the group's Web site, www.mtcoalition.com.

The Web site sharply criticizes Keebler and Casselbury in particular.


Staff writer Cindy Stauffer can be reached at cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-6024.