Election 2023: Democrat Samantha Slaff For Horsham Council

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.

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Samantha Slaff is running as a Democrat for a seat on the Horsham Township Council in the Nov. 7 general election.

Slaff is running with Democrat Ellen Zschunke for two seats on the Horsham Township Council against Republicans Stephen VanHorn and Council President Mark McCouch.

Biographical Information

Name: Samantha Slaff

Age: 37

Town of residence: Horsham Township

Position sought: Horsham Township Council

Incumbent: No

What towns does the position cover: Horsham Township

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Ryan Compton (husband), Henry Compton (9 yo son), Debbie (4 yo bulldog pit mix), -Geoffrey (3 yo Great Dane lab mix), Rigatoni (2 yo pitbull), Sebastian (4 mo pit mix), Danny (3 yo bearded dragon)

Education: B.S. bioinformatics; M.S. epidemiology

Occupation: Health Economics and Outcomes Research

1. What are the top issues currently facing your position and how do you plan to address them?

I think the top issue for Horsham Township Council is a lack of representation. Republicans have controlled Horsham Township for as long as it’s been a township. Horsham Township Council has 5 seats. Currently all 5 seats are occupied by Republicans, some of whom have been on council for 20 and 30 years. Council also appoints all seats for our 12 Boards and Commissions, of which currently 63 of 70 seats across all 12 Boards and Commissions are Republicans. The township is heavily skewed and lacks the diversity and representation that reflects the make up our wonderful community.

2. Identify specific goals or ideas you have to enhance life in your position:

One of our main goals is to create a vibrant, active, and engaging community. For example, we’d love to see more activities offered through our Parks and Recreation and more community gatherings. We’d also like to prioritize responsible development. A lot of the concerns we hear from neighbors are the seemingly unending development and increase in traffic we’re seeing in Horsham. Many of these developments require zoning changes to move forward and the current Council, Zoning Hearing Board, and Planning Commission are passing these changes without concerns for the residents impacted by the developments.

3. What in your experience or background prepares you for election to office?

My role within the pharmaceutical industry is fast-paced, business-oriented, and requires working across many matrix teams. These skills will enable me to work effectively and efficiently to drive outcomes for our residents. High performance and self-motivation are a requirement for my industry and I will bring that same urgency and excellence to my role as Councilwoman.