- Three Hanover Township, Northampton County, board of supervisor seats are on the ballot for November
- Six candidates are running for the seats — two with six-year-terms and one with a two-year term
- The race has heated up over warehouse development and campaign donations
HANOVER TWP., Pa. — The race for control of the board of supervisors in Hanover Township, Northampton County has ignited in recent months over development and transparency issues.
Six candidates are vying for three open seats — two with six-year terms and one with a two-year term.
With three seats open on the five-member board, the results in November will determine whether party control remains with the current Republican majority on the board or shifts to Democratic control.
One major issue at stake is what happens next with a controversial warehouse development proposal off Airport Road.
The six-year seats are being sought by two Republicans: incumbent John "Jack" Nagle and Township Manager Jay Finnigan; and two Democrats: incumbent Susan A. Lawless and Jean E. Versteeg.
Candidates for the two-year seat are Republican incumbent Barry Check and Democratic challenger Stephen Gross.
Sarah Cepin, a Democrat, and Republican candidate Paul Burke are on the ballot for township auditor.
Warehouse development in the spotlight
A top concern in the township is warehouse development — specifically a project proposed for a large lot of farmland off Airport Road.
The township has been in talks with Majestic Realty for several years over the property, but the discussion advanced in July on a plan to build a more-than-300-acre development.
Majestic, a Los-Angeles-based developer, needed a zoning/text amendment to construct a “master-planned” flex site with several buildings at 4300 Airport Road. The proposed zoning change would have allowed Majestic to put a warehouse there.
The proposal has become a major campaign issue since the primary, drawing criticism from a large number of residents and some sitting supervisors.
It’s sparked coordinated protests and a 400-plus member Facebook group, Hanover Township Residents against Warehouse Development, dedicated to stopping it.
"We are in a healthy position and we can balance things to make sure the decisions we are making are in the resident's best health, while still making sure we are helping the local economy and developing smartly."Stephen Gross, Democratic candidate
In an Oct. 12 meeting, the board of supervisors voted 3-2 against the change, as nearly 300 residents wearing red shirts filled the township's community center to protest the warehouse.
Incumbents Check and Lawless voted against the text amendment and Nagle voted in favor of the change.
Campaign donations questioned
In recent weeks, as candidates are knocking on doors and meeting one-on-one with voters, the drama surrounding development has increased.
Residents have taken to the anti-warehouse Facebook page to air grievances and share where the six candidates stand on development among other issues.
One of the posts drew attention to the candidate and current township manager Jay Finnigan's campaign donations — notably from David Jaindl, Gregory Gulick and Arcadia Development.
The individuals and businesses that have donated to Finnigan's campaign have proposed developments in the works, including a Wawa at Highland Avenue (Jaindl), an apartment complex on Highland Road (Gulick) and the Gateway warehouse project (Arcadia Development).
Finnigan responded to the concerns in a lengthy post via Facebook on Oct. 2.
"In my 27 years in Hanover Township, I've developed many strong businesses and personal friendships with Township residents, Lehigh [Valley] residents, developers, entrepreneurs, contractors and people I've come in contact with," the post reads.
"The fact that you omitted is that I did the right thing and acknowledged those contributions on @JayFinnigan for Supervisor on my Facebook page that I received these donations. Never mind the honesty [of] listing them appropriately. I have nothing to hide. I am honest and transparent."
Finnigan has been township manager since 2006. Prior to that, he was a member of the board of supervisors from 2000-06 — including stints as vice chairman from 2001-02 and chairman from 2003-06.
He also served on the 200th Anniversary Committee, chief fundraiser from 1997 through 1998 and the recreation advisory board from 1998-2000.
"Trying to paint me as an advocate of warehouses while performing my job responsibilities as directed by the Board of Supervisors is inaccurate."Jay Finnigan, Republican candidate and Hanover Township manager
He touted his endorsements by current Township Supervisors John Diacogiannis and Michael Predeville, along with four former supervisors.
"If anyone knows my leadership and the fact that I’m the most qualified candidate, it’s these individuals who built this community [what] it is today," he said.
"My character speaks for itself. My opponents have chosen to spread lies and make unfounded accusations. Trying to paint me as an advocate of warehouses while performing my job responsibilities as directed by the Board of Supervisors is inaccurate."
'Vote for three'
Among Finnigan's strongest critics is Democrat Susan Lawless, who is running for a second term in a six-year seat.
Lawless said the Lehigh Valley has been battling with warehouse proliferation for several years and that Finnigan "largely controlled" the township's agenda as its manager.
She pointed to a zoning change that she said was "quietly shepherded through the Board of Supervisors" last November.
"That paved the way to turn the hotel on Gateway Drive and 512 into a big box warehouse," she said. "This was done without a public hearing and over the objection of the Planning Commission.
"As Township Manager, Finnigan largely controls the agenda and I believe he should be called to account [on Nov. 7] for his role in this shameful zoning change. [Republican] candidate Jack Nagle voted in favor of the zoning change. I voted against granting it."
Lawless, a civil litigation attorney, said she was concerned about the size and height of the proposed buildings when she voted against the Majestic text amendment on Oct. 12.
A resident of the township since 2001, Lawless previously held roles as the chairwoman and vice chairwoman of the township Planning Commission between 2008 and 2018.
If elected for a second term, she said she will continue to keep an eye on future development plans.
"Nothing precludes Majestic Realty or other developers from coming back to Hanover’s board of supervisors in the future to seek concessions to build warehouses on the remaining commercial parcels in the township," she said.
Lawless is running with fellow Democrats Stephen Gross and Jean Versteeg, as a slate on the 3 for Hanover platform.
The candidates’ website says they aim to strengthen fiscal responsibility in the township, improve transparency by ensuring all meetings are posted online, communicate more with residents on key issues and increase collaboration by hearing more from experts in the township on committees.
"The residents deserve representatives who state clearly where they stand and who stand shoulder to shoulder with their interests," Lawless said.
"The effort undertaken by so many of our residents to defeat this text amendment, like the effort put forth to get the community pool re-built, was tremendous.
"But it should not require such an effort to implement reasonable solutions. It takes three votes to affect change."
While the candidates have campaigned as a group, Gross said the goal is not necessarily to flip party control of the board.
“I can’t speak for Susan or Jean, but I didn’t run with party in mind at all,” Gross said. “I’m a registered Democrat, but I don’t think that really has any effect on my approach to the office.
"At the local level, issues like the pool, the community center, the parks, development, aren’t red or blue issues, but after talking with Susan and Jean after I decided to run, we had the same major concerns.”
'We don't need to sell out'
Republican Barry Check, a civil engineer, moved to Hanover Township with his family in 1991. He is running for election in the two-year seat, after he was appointed to the supervisor role in November 2022 following Jeff Warren's resignation.
Check has been a member of the township Planning Commission since 2009 and its chairman since 2017. He also was chairman of the Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
He said one of his goals is to monitor the influx of warehouses moving into the area so they are "carefully planned.”
As did Lawless, Check voted against the Majestic text amendment on Oct. 12.
“Careful planning of type, size, density, etc., will need to be addressed during the land development process," he said.
"With that proper supervision, the township will benefit from the tax revenue and continue to be fiscally stable while maintaining the quality of life that all residents expect in Hanover Township.”
Check expressed frustration about running against a candidate who is part of a slate.
“I am running an independent campaign for a two-year seat against a single opponent," he said. "However, it feels like I’m up against a group of three who always get represented together and even refused a one-on-one forum as I requested."
Gross, who is challenging Check for the two-year seat, has lived in the township for six years with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter. If elected, it would be his first time serving on a board in the township.
Gross acknowledged that Check had suggested they debate one-on-one. At the time, the candidates were tossing around ideas about a debate and could not agree on whether all six candidates should hold one debate or if there should have been two separate debates, Gross said.
Talks of having a debate were done via email with the group of six candidates.
“Barry never proposed a format or a time or a date, so I don’t think it’s accurate for him to say that I refused,” Gross said. “I did agree to the moderator’s proposal with all six candidates.”
Check expressed frustration with the mixup, alluding that there was some miscommunication with his opponent.
"Mr. Gross’s statement that I ‘never proposed a format or a time....why would I arrange anything if he did not agree to have the one on one?" he said.
Gross has been a vocal critic of the township’s method of communicating with residents regarding issues such as warehouse development and said he feels it should be advertised online or through emails.
“For example, there was a public meeting on Oct. 19 on the township budget, but it was never advertised anywhere," Gross said. "[It] wasn’t listed on the website, so the average resident had no way of knowing it happened."
He has also raised concerns about what he called a “lack of transparency” and pointed to the example of Majestic's proposed text amendment becoming public knowledge a month after it was discussed in July — and after Lawless requested it be published on the township's website.
"My core focus on running for election is transparency, collaboration, fiscal responsibility" Gross said. "The township is in a good place. It has a healthy reserve. We do not need to sell out to big box warehouses.”
Gross, 34, said he wants to see a more diversified group hold office.
"And as of right now, the youngest person on the board is 60 years old. I appreciate institutional knowledge. It's something critical to have on the board, but for a community to be at its best, you need the perspective of as many people as possible."
'Communicating with the community'
Democrat Jean Versteeg agreed with Gross on warehouse development.
"Some have suggested that the township needs the revenue from this large development to stabilize the tax base," she said. "I know that it is possible to maintain our stable fiscal position and not sell out to developers who want to build huge warehouses."
She’s resided in the township for 19 years. If elected, Versteeg said, she wants to strengthen the township’s relationship with residents.
"I believe our locally elected officials should do more than the minimum requirement when communicating with the community," she said.
"They should help people understand the process, the decisions being made and the effects those decisions will have. They should also openly listen to resident feedback and thoughts without scorn or disinterest."
Development 'inevitable'
Longtime elected official John "Jack" Nagle, a Republican, is running for a fourth term to a six-year seat.
Nagle said he wants to continue to keep the township financially healthy, as it has been for the "past thirty years."
Nagle was the sole candidate to vote for Majestic's proposed text amendment and said he believes development in the township is "inevitable."
"That being said, we have limited remaining areas for development," he noted.
Nagle said he is proud of his 18 years of service as an elected township official.
"I could not do anything without the outstanding work done by our township administrative staff, the community center staff and the Public Works crew," he said.
"It is very satisfying to me that I can aid my neighbors and help maintain their standard of living."
