The Harris Township Board of Supervisors interviewed four possible replacements for former supervisor Christopher Lee, but the position remains open for the time being.
All four current supervisors agreed that each candidate would make an excellent addition to the board – so much so that they were unable to agree on which candidate was the best choice. The supervisors needed a 3-1 vote to approve the temporary supervisor, but they were split down the middle each time.
“We have a good group of applicants here, and they bring a wide range of experience serving in different volunteer capacities,” said board chairman Nigel Wilson. “This is not an easy decision for the four of us to make.”
A temporary seat on the board is open because former supervisor Christopher Lee formally resigned earlier this month. Lee is being held in federal custody while awaiting trial for felony child molestation allegations, which supervisor Paul Rittenhouse said “has brought shame to this township.”
One candidate for the open position, Frank Harden, actually ran against Lee in the last election and lost by only 36 votes. The supervisors took note of the fact that he had strong voter support, and also appreciated his service on the boards of various nonprofit agencies.
“I’ve had the luxury of raising children and living in this township, and I think its time to give back to maintain that lifestyle for the next generation,” Harden said.
Another candidate, Bruce Lord, regularly attends township meetings as an audience member and had previously served on several township committees. The supervisors, especially Wilson, thought his experience in township government made him a strong candidate.
“I don’t think I’d be involved in local government if I lived anywhere else, but this place is a delight and I want to help keep it that way,” Lord said.
Candidate Randy Ploog has been involved with numerous area charitable organizations, including the Boalsburg Heritage Museum and the Boalsburg Village Conservancy. He said he planned to run for the Harris Township board of supervisors after retirement, but saw the open seat as a perfect chance to give back sooner than he’d originally planned.
“I lived in a number of other places previously, but I’ve never experienced the sense of community I’ve felt here, which is a big part of why I want to be involved,” Ploog said.
The supervisors felt that Karl Colyer’s professional experience in finance and wealth management would make him a great asset for the board, but they were torn about the fact that he doesn’t plan to run in the board of supervisors election once the temporary term is up.
Supervisor Charles Graham felt it would help keep the board impartial and nonpolitical, while fellow supervisor Dennis Hameister thought the learning curve is too steep for someone who only plans to be on the board a short time.
“I’ve believed in public service all my life, and I thought this would be an opportunity for me to serve Harris Township,” Colyer said.
Township manager Amy Farkas says the board has until March 9 to reach a consensus, after which point a township vacancy board has 15 days to make a tie-breaking vote. The temporary position will last until the end of the year, after which point an election will fill the remaining four years of Lee’s term.
Though the supervisors already have four strong candidates on their hands, they agreed they would still be willing to hear from any other citizens interested in the open seat. Any registered voter who has lived in the township for at least one year is eligible to apply.
“If someone else is interested, please step forward,” Graham said.
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