Election 2023: Democrat Michael Bateman For Buckingham Twp. Supervisor

Candidates running in the Nov. 7 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Democrat Michael Bateman is seeking election to the Buckingham Township Board of Supervisors. Two candidates - Democrat Michael Bateman and Republican Jon Forest - are vying for one open seat on the board of supervisors.

Biographical Information

Name: Michael Bateman

Age: 38
Town of residence: Buckingham
Position sought: Township supervisor
Are you an incumbent? No
Party affiliation: Democratic
Family: Wife, Becca, 2 Kids: Maisie (6) and Royce (3)
Education: B.A. in Political Science from UCLA
Occupation: Small Business Owner- Green Coast Pet

Questions

Why are you running?

I am running to be the next township supervisor in Buckingham because I see many things that should be addressed by our township that are being ignored by our supervisors. I have always told my kids that if they see something worth fighting for, then fight for it. Mother Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” By making some small but very important updates to the way Buckingham interacts with its residents, many good things can come from it. The bottom line is that Buckingham has become complacent and has been managed by the same people for over a decade, (two of the three supervisors for 20 years). Buckingham has changed over those years, and so must our leadership.

What are the top issues facing the township and how do you plan to address them?

Buckingham is facing a few key issues that are easy and free to change. None of these will cost taxpayers money or would result in increased taxes.
1. Transparency: Buckingham is one of the few townships that does not stream any of its meetings and relies on residents combing through minutes to know what’s going on. Not streaming meetings leads to two major issues. The first is that people simply do not know what’s going on. The second, and most important, it limits our residents’ abilities to have their voices heard. There are many reasons folks may not be able to attend a meeting in person - they may be disabled, they may have kids and not have a babysitter, or they may be out of town- and I think willfully keeping residents’ voices at bay undermines the democratic process. People deserve to have their voices heard, and by streaming, anyone can participate.
2. Municipal Contracts: Buckingham’s two largest and most visible municipal contracts have not been sent to bid in decades. Knight Engineering is our township engineering firm, and Craig Smith is our township solicitor. Since these contracts were signed decades ago, there has not been any review to make sure these firms are still the right firms for Buckingham despite our growth and community changes. We also need to ensure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely. In my experience, the competitive bidding process is critical to getting the best value for our tax dollars. We need to make sure Buckingham has fiscally responsible municipal contracts.
3. Parks: While our three parks look beautiful and make for a gorgeous walk, when you use them more frequently you notice the lack of improvements and upkeep. Only one of our three parks has a place to refill water bottles despite hundreds of kids playing sports at each of these parks every week. Hansell Park doesn’t have a toddler playground, only one for “children ages 5-12”. At Bush Park the sandbox is nearly destroyed around the edges and lacks any shade. There is also a gaping hole in the playground where a spring rider once lived which is a massive hazard for running kids. We can address these concerns with grants that are available through the state. It has been over 5 years since Buckingham received a grant for park improvements.
4. Better Communication with Residents: Currently Buckingham does not have an active Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter) account or a comprehensive email or phone database. This makes it nearly impossible for the township to get a message out to the community in a fast, reliable, and inexpensive way. Instead, the township sends communications out to each and every house via snail mail. This costs our taxpayers $8,000 every time they want to send out a communication. We continue to interact with our residents like its 2003, not 2023. We need to get with the times and embrace technology. This technology can be used effectively to post meeting agendas and minutes, communicate township events and blast messages in an emergency. Every other local township uses them, except Buckingham. There are other examples of improvements that need to happen: simplifying our permit process for small home projects like decks, patios and walkways; doing a better job of building an intentional community; and staying on top of fixing our local roads. Buckingham is a beautiful place, there is no doubt. But it is not a place that needs no improvements.

What background/knowledge will you bring to the table?

First and foremost, I am an active listener, a concerned resident and someone who strives to include all people without judgment. Being a native Pennsylvanian (born and raised in Norristown and Collegeville), I am keenly aware of things that are important to us here in PA. I have a degree in Political Science from UCLA. I also launched my own business which I started as a PowerPoint slide six years ago. I have turned the business into one of the most notable brands in the “Independent Pet” category. We have placement in over 3,000 retail stores across the country. This shows my ability to have a vision, to work hard, to successfully collaborate with all types of people, and to think cost - efficiently.