- A seat on the Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors is up for election on Nov. 7
- The candidates are Democrat Jeff Fleischaker, an attorney, and Republican Greg Wheeler, an emergency medicine doctor
- Fleischaker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Wheeler defeated another Republican candidate, Doug Gernerd
UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — The governing body of Upper Macungie Township has a seat up for election on Nov. 7.
Two candidates are running for a seat on the Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors: Democrat Jeff Fleischaker, an attorney, and Republican Greg Wheeler, an emergency medicine doctor.
The board has three members.
The two sitting members of the board, Chairman Sunny Ghai and former Chairman James Brunnell, have clashed at several public meetings.
Board Vice Chairwoman Kathy Rader, a former longtime employee of the township, is not seeking re-election. She previously often sided with Brunnell in the disputes.
Fleischaker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Wheeler defeated Republican opponent Doug Gernerd.
Upper Macungie is among the fastest-growing municipalities in the state. At public meetings, residents often have expressed concern about the impact of developments such as warehouses and large housing complexes.
The Board of Supervisors has the final authority in whether to approve development plans, though they are legally limited in what they can and can’t deny.
The township is rewriting its zoning laws, but former Township Planning and Zoning Administrative Specialist John Toner III has said it is not legal to directly limit warehouse development through zoning and SALDO revisions.
The deadline to register to vote in the election is Oct. 23.
Here's a look at the candidates:
Greg Wheeler
Wheeler is an emergency medicine doctor with Locum Tenens. He has resided in Upper Macungie for 15 years and has raised his three children in the township.
“It’s a wonderful community, a great place to raise a family,” Wheeler said. “So, because of that, I just want to contribute back to the community and make sure that we're having good leadership that keeps us safe and prosperous.”
Wheeler said one of his main priorities as supervisor would be to make sure township police, fire and EMS departments have enough resources.
“Being an emergency room doctor, I understand the need for our emergency services to have the resources that they need to function,” Wheeler said.
“I would like to work to help divert some of that traffic so that the roads are not so busy, and just meet any other needs to keep our township competitive with other townships so that we have continued growth."Greg Wheeler, candidate for the Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors
On his campaign website, Wheeler also cited as top priorities promoting a free market to help small businesses thrive, limited government to promote individual liberty and fiscal responsibility.
Wheeler said he thinks the current board is doing a “fair job” in its handling of warehouse development, but he would like to see more balance in development in the township.
“There's a lot of truck traffic," Wheeler said. "I would like to work to help divert some of that traffic so that the roads are not so busy, and just meet any other needs to keep our township competitive with other townships so that we have continued growth."
He also said he would like to see more farmland preservation, potentially through state grants.
When asked about the tension between Ghai and Brunnell, Wheeler said a key component of his career is teamwork.
“That's what got the job done and what's best for patients,” Wheeler said. “I think that's what's going to be what's going to help us as a township as a board of supervisors, seeing that we're a team with the job of improving our community and the safety and welfare of the citizens.”
Jeff Fleischaker
Fleischaker is an attorney at Engel, Wiener, Bergstein & Fleischaker in Allentown, focusing on real estate law. He has resided in the township for 16 years and has raised his three children in Upper Macungie.
He is vice chairman of the township Zoning Hearing Board and solicitor for the Lower Milford Zoning Hearing Board. He also has represented many developers and landowners on zoning and planning matters.
Fleischaker said being involved in three parts of land use planning has given him “pretty good insight as to what issues arise.”
“So I'm trying to use all three of those perspectives to help rewrite and better our zoning ordinance, not just from a technical perspective, but trying to envision a better future,” he said.
Fleischaker is involved in the current rewrite of the township zoning laws. He said the township ordinances require a shift away from encouraging industrial development to focusing on potential denser neighborhoods and downtown regions.
“That's sort of what I'm envisioning the supervisor's role to be, is looking at the ordinances we have and trying to make sure that they are adapting to the new realities,” Fleischaker said.
"I think that when the new zoning ordinance is drafted and presented to the community, they'll understand that we as a group have heard that concern and are working our best toward addressing it.”Jeff Fleischaker, candidate for the Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors
Fleischaker said the Zoning Hearing Board has worked to make sure new warehouse developments have conditions to limit truck traffic and environmental impacts.
But he emphasized that the board has to follow the law and the ordinance rewrite is important for people to get involved in.
“I wish more people understood it,” Fleischaker said. “But I think that when the new zoning ordinance is drafted and presented to the community, they'll understand that we as a group have heard that concern and are working our best toward addressing it.”
As for the tension between Ghai and Brunnell, Fleischaker said he thinks he could bring a “reasonable voice” to the meetings.
“I think that they are two strong personalities that don't always see eye-to-eye, and I think I am, by training and by life, someone who bridges those gaps pretty well,” he said.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified who Greg Wheeler works for. He is an emergency doctor with Locum Tenens.
