Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Spring Township Board of Supervisors in the Nov. 4 election.
Democratic candidates Lauren Robertson and Zach Zeoli and Republican candidates Jay Vaughan and Patti Smith are running for two six-year terms on the board.
The candidates were asked to respond to the following questions.
Question 1: What makes you an ideal representative of this area?
Question 2: What needs improvement in your municipality?
Zach Zeoli
Zach Zeoli
Party: Democrat.
Age: 37.
Occupation: Zeoli is an IT manager.
Response 1: I’ve been a West Lawn resident since moving here from Allentown after meeting my wife 10 years ago. My wife and I are happy to be raising our two kids (and dog) in Spring Township and enjoy all the great things about our community. I’ve always felt driven to serve the communities I am a part of — from the township residents when I worked as an EMT with Western Berks, to serving as an elder at my church, to enlisting for six years with the National Guard including one deployment. I am now hopeful to serve the Spring Township community as a supervisor.
My current role as an IT manager has taught me the importance of leading a department, working as a team, helping solve problems and coming up with creative solutions. Our township has people of all ages and varying perspectives. Not everyone has the same needs, but everyone deserves a chance to be heard. I hope to be an approachable representative and learn what challenges our neighbors feel need to be improved upon and what they see as successes.
Response 2: There are so many great things about living in Spring Township like low taxes, decent public water and a great school district. I would like to focus on scooter safety, which can start with an awareness campaign but also explore safety and helmet laws that match what is required for bicycles. I would also love to improve our parks and recreation system — make it accessible to children of all abilities and more convenient for everyone. I would also like to work with our library and promote its use for our neighbors. They have many amazing programs most people aren’t aware of, like a “Library of Things” where objects like tools, games and even kitchen supplies can be borrowed.
I would also like the township to work with PennDOT to evaluate traffic lights at prominent intersections in the community. We could also partner with nearby townships that may want to partner with us to keep privatization out of public water and keep our prices low.
Lauren Robertson
Lauren Robertson
Party: Democrat.
Age: 33.
Occupation: Robertson is a central booking clerk for the Berks County Sheriff’s Office.
Response 1: I believe what makes me an ideal representative of my community is my deep connection to Spring Township and my commitment to seeing it thrive — not just today, but for future generations to come. As someone who has grown up in Spring Township, lived here for over 26 years and is now raising a family of my own here, I understand the values that matter most to the residents: fiscal responsibility, environmental sustainability, public safety, affordable housing and transparent leadership.
Furthermore, as a working mom and wife, not only can I relate to the average resident, but I deeply and genuinely care about what happens here. I am not running to push a personal agenda. I am running because my unwavering interest in government and passion for people has led me here. I am here to listen to the residents of my community, find commonsense solutions and lead with integrity. With a focus on ensuring local government works for everyone and not just a few, I am committed to working hard for the good people of Spring Township.
Response 2: Spring Township is a great place to live. Living here means having access to a fantastic school district, parks and recreation, and much more. But just like any community, there is always room for improvement.
One of the biggest issues Spring Township faces is traffic congestion and road infrastructure. As the population in the township continues to grow, we need more focus on handling the subsequent increased traffic. In the same vein, Spring Township needs to ensure responsible mixed-use development, as it relates to growth and traffic congestion. Additionally, I would like to see the township be a leader in resisting the privatization of public sector services and resources as a means of protecting our residents from rising costs. Last, but certainly not least, there is great room for improvement on green initiatives such as waste and recycling, energy efficiency and stormwater management.
Jay Vaughan and Patti Smith did not provide responses.