Election Guide: Cecil Township Supervisors

Next week, voters will head to the polls to cast their votes for two open seats for Cecil's Board of Supervisors. Two incumbents, Kevin Camerson (D) and Tom Casciola (D), will be on the ballot as they campaign to retain the seats they have held in the past. The other two candidates are former Cecil supervisor Tom Secreet (D) and Elizabeth Cowden (R).

Kevin Camerson: 

Age: 49

Educational Background: Attended West Virginia University for Civil Engineering.

Experience: He has served as a Cecil Supervisor for six years.

Reason for running for supervisor: “I want to ensure a multi-use recreational area is constructed with no tax payer money. That's a big one,” Camerson said. Also listed was his plan to establish a five-year capital road improvement program, and continue with his accomplishments of the past, such as no tax increases and to monitor expenditures to ensure a fiscally sound budget.

Are you currently under lease with Range Resources or any other Marcellus Shale drilling outfit? Camerson is currently under lease with Range Resources. He was unable to recall the date of when that information was publically disclosed at a meeting, but did say the information was publically available at the Washington County Courthouse.

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale regulation at a township level? “I feel we should be able to ensure the health and safety of our township and residents. I think the co-op started by (State Rep. Jesse) White is a good way to get people working together on a common ordinance.”

Tom Casciola:

Age: 56

Educational Background: Casciola attended University of Pittsburgh and Hood College where he studied biology and chemistry.

Experience:  He has served on the board of supervisors in Cecil for 18 years.

Reason for running for supervisor: “Even after 18 years I still really enjoy it and work hard at it. It helps to have somebody up there with the new people who knows the history,” Casciola said.

Are you currently under lease with Range Resources or any other Marcellus Shale drilling outfit? No.

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale regulation at a township level? “I'm just appalled by how they are pulling more regulations and giving all the power to the (state) Department of Environmental Protection,” Casciola said. He also explained that while he supports the right for individuals to lease property to drillers, the township has to have the power to protect the rights and wellbeing of others in the township impacted by the drilling taking place.

Casciola also said he feels it would be beneficial to work with other townships in the co-op to cover the cost of an expert to deal with Marcellus Shale issues in the area.

“We can't afford it ourselves, but if we work with other townships we could,” Casciola said.

Tom Secreet:

Age: 65

Educational Background: Secreet graduated from Canon-McMillan High School before joining the Marines Corps, during which he served a year in Vietnam.   Upon returning state side he trained new recruits at Paris Island.

Experience: In addition to serving as a board supervisor in Cecil from 2008-2010, Secreet also worked as a part-time police officer in Cecil for 21 years.

Reason for running for supervisor: “There are a lot of things that can be improved on. One of the biggest things I'd like to improve is our roads. I think we can do a lot better," Secreet said.

Are you currently under lease with Range Resources or any other Marcellus Shale drilling outfit? No.

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale regulation at a township level? “Right now so much of it is regulated by the state. There's not a lot we can regulate about it other than the noise and I'd like to see that change,” Secreet said.

Secreet also said he supports the concept of impact fees.

Elizabeth Cowden:

Age:  The candidate declined to disclose her age.

Educational Background: Cowden graduated from Connecticut College for Women as well as taking post-graduate courses at Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne Real Estate Law.

“I have also taken every course and seminar available in planning and zoning,” Cowden said.

Experience:  None

Reason for running for supervisor: “I want to bring transparency and restore trust in public government. I want to be both responsible and responsive to the needs of the residents and tax payers. We can do better and we can be better,” Cowden said.

Cowden would also like to see more accountability regarding the $5 million budget the township operates, make meetings more “resident-friendly," and see that existing ordinances are being enforced.

Are you currently under lease with Range Resources or any other Marcellus Shale drilling outfit? “No, nothing here in Cecil Township,” Cowden said.

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale regulation at a township level? Cowden said she supports responsible drilling and is in agreement with the proposed enactment of impact fees being paid to affected townships. 

Editor's Note: Photos of Cowden and Secreet were not immediately available.