MADISON TOWNSHIP — The competition is fierce in Madison Township between five candidates vying for two seats on the Board of Trustees.
Township voters will decide between incumbent candidates Daniel Fletcher and Kelley Harris, and challengers James Houser, David Spain and Catherine Swank. Of the five candidates, only two will be elected on Nov. 7.
Each of the five candidates were given questions to answer by email. Some questions are different based on whether the candidate is an incumbent or a challenger. Answers have been lightly edited for style and clarity.
Here are their answers:
• Tell me a little about yourself – where you grew up, went to school, where you live now, about your family, etc.
Dan Fletcher: I grew up here in Richland County north of Mansfield in the small village of Olivesburg and moved to the Madison area in 1973 where I attended Madison High School and have lived in this area ever since. I am 60 years of age, father of three sons and a daughter, grandfather and great grandfather of eight. I’m the owner of ar-ti-san Contractors, Inc., a successful construction company in the Madison area since 1989. I live and have a vested interest at 1261 Lucas Rd in Madison Twp. and have lived there for over 22 years. I am a member of St. Mary’s Church and play the guitar and sing in their music ministry folk group.
Kelley Harris: I grew up in Madison and have lived in this area for my entire life. I attended Temple Christian School for grades 1 through 7 and Madison Jr. and high school for grades 8 through 12. I still live in Madison today with my wife Katherine Harris who is pregnant with our firstborn son.
James Houser: I have been a resident of Madison Twp for over 40 years. I am married with 3 children, and 5 grandchildren. I am a 1971 graduate of Galion High School. I am a Certified Police Officer, a Certified Firefighter, and an Armed Services Veteran. Retired from Public Employee Retirement System with 30+ years of service.
David Spain: Born and lived in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and later moved to Mansfield. Served four years in the United States Air Force. Graduated from The Ohio State University, class of 1973. Retired from the Mansfield Fire Department after 26 years of service. Previous Madison Township Trustee, supposedly the longest serving trustee ever with a total so far of 22 years. I am a widower, 75 years old, live alone, and my children live in the Columbus area.
Catherine Swank: I am a lifelong resident of the Madison Community and graduated from Madison High School. Having obtained a BA from Ohio State and a MA from Ashland, I taught 32 years in the Madison Local Schools retiring in 2004. I am a Past President of the Madison Local Education Association and served as Madison Township Trustee from January 2000 to December 2007, and I am currently a paramedic with the Madison Township Fire Department which I joined in 1996. I am a widow.
• As an incumbent, what are you most proud of about your past service as a trustee?
Dan Fletcher: Improving the financial status of Madison Twp. Applied for and received over $280,000 in grants and zero percent interest loans for infrastructure repairs. Worked in cooperation with our Fire Department to obtain nearly $350,000 in grants for EMS and Fire Fighting equipment. Coordinated the resurfacing of over 32 miles of roads in Madison Twp. Worked with fellow Trustees and other government official in a cooperative manner to move Madison Twp. forward.
Kelley Harris: I always try to do the best for the township and to pick what I’m most proud of would be the repair of Madison’s roads. I know that we still receive a lot of complaints about road repair but compared to what they were when I was first elected they have improved significantly.
• Why do you want to be a Madison Township trustee?
James Houser: I believe that Madison Twp needs a dedicated Trustee that has the time to serve and knowledge of the various aspects of Twp government (Zoning and State Law). God #1, Family #2, Job #3 This would be my job!
David Spain: I think the three current Madison Township trustees are making, and have made, senseless and misleading decisions, especially with regard to the resurfacing of the township’s roads, even to the extent of being corrupt. For example, spending $121,000 of taxpayer road resurfacing money for an unneeded, deceptive and disastrous chip and seal program in 2014, and for failure to spot-test the asphalt used in the current year-to-year repaving programs.
Catherine Swank: During my tenure as trustee, I brought professionalism and knowledge of Ohio Revised Code, State Employee Relation Board regulations, formal contract negotiations and sound finance and budget practices to the office. Some of my major accomplishments during this time were making the South Illinois Railroad bridge a reality, building our first township hall, and many improvements to the road and fire departments including much needed equipment purchases. I would like the chance to serve the community that I love again and see what new things we can accomplish to make it an even better place to live.
• Why do you want to continue your work as a trustee?
Dan Fletcher: I want to continue and enjoy being a public servant. I feel I have much to offer Madison Twp. and the citizens of the Twp. There are other moneys and grants available for Madison Twp. USDA, OPWC, FEMA AFFG and Safe Routes to Schools grant which would provide sidewalks around our Madison School campus area, and I will pursue these funds.
Kelley Harris: I want to continue to be of service to our community as there is still more work that needs done. The Fire Dept. is getting needed additions built to station 2 and will also be needing to look to getting a new fire engine in the near future. The Road Dept. will be needing new dump trucks, and there is still more road repair that needs done. With so many more things that need to be addressed it’s all the more reason I need to continue my work for Madison Township.
• As a challenger, what would you do differently should you be elected?
James Houser: I can honestly make this my dedicated job! Work with the Department Heads and investigate and resolve taxpayers complaints. I want to keep eliminating unsafe and dangerous buildings to keep our children safe.
David Spain: I pledge to put in place an already-proven plan to keep rain water from getting into basements of houses in the Madison East neighborhoods, to adopt and here to an actual plan for the selection of roads to be paved, to eliminate high cost of health insurance for part-time Madison Township trustees and the part-time Madison Township fiscal officer, to get federal grants for two new dump trucks, to assist the Richland County Sheriff’s Office to get more deputies on the road in Madison Township, and to promptly reply to resident phone calls, among many other goals.
Catherine Swank: One of the big differences would be that I would be a full-time Trustee. I hope to set up regular hours that I would be available at the office besides just being available at meetings or by phone. It is important that citizens have face to face discussions about their concerns.
• What is the most important issue facing Madison Township that needs addressed?
Dan Fletcher: Our aging infrastructure, storm sewers and road surfaces.
Kelley Harris: The most important issue facing Madison is both infrastructure and funding for upkeep of the township as a whole. The continued need of road repair while still maintaining the equipment our road department uses comes at a high cost considering our limited funding and will need to be managed carefully.
James Houser: Money is always an issue. I would like to increase revenue without increasing taxes. I will work on bringing business and jobs back into the Twp unlike several of the previous Trustees that turned SR 39 and I-71 over to the City of Mansfield years ago.
David Spain: The incompetence of the three current Madison Township trustees. It will take me the better part of four years to get my recovery plan accomplished. I want to get back in office, clean up the current mess, and get the township back on the right track with good constituent service, and possible economic development.
Catherine Swank: There are many important issues facing the township at the present such as improving road department equipment and replacing our aging, inefficient and in adequate fire stations, but I feel that the water drainage problems throughout the township need addressed especially in the Eastview area and several in the Roseland area require immediate measures.
• Anything else you’d like to add?
Dan Fletcher: My past service as a Trustee speaks for itself. There are no other Trustees or past administration that even comes close to my accomplishments as your Trustee. I pledge to continue my hard work as your Trustee and am asking for your support and vote on November 7.
Kelley Harris: I don’t agree with all of the decisions of our Board of Trustees and as a member of the board I use my voice of opposition to occasionally give a point of view that might not otherwise be heard, but I do believe that like myself the other current Trustees do have the desire to do the best they can for the township. Speaking as a voter to voters, considering the fiscal caution Madison was left in (from previous administrations) and is still in I would be very hesitant to consider voting for Trustees from the past that may have had their part in putting us in fiscal caution.
James Houser: I have spent over 45 years in public service. My family has grown up in Madison Twp and seen the good times and the bad times. I want to be part of bringing back the good times.
David Spain: I think the best thing for Madison Township would be for the voters to remove the two current trustees, Dan Fletcher and Kelley Harris, who are trying to get re-elected to another four-year term. I think I can work with either one of the two other citizens-at-large also campaigning.
Catherine Swank: No response.
