Meet Lower Macungie Commissioner Candidate: Brian Higgins

Lower Macungie Commissioner’s Race

Candidate: Brian Higgins 

Age: 40 

Family: Wife, 3 sons 

Political party affiliation: Republican

Tell us about your educational background: 

Monmouth University, BA Communication 

Tell us about your professional/business background: 

Senior Oncology Specialist, ProStrakan, Inc. 

Why are you running for Lower Macungie Commissioner?

The Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners must consider the needs of all of the citizens, not just those who agree with them. The practice of selective zoning to meet the needs of the few, at the expense of many, needs to end. Wasteful spending in order to justify a previous poor decision, while neglecting the needs of more significant assets, needs to stop. All conflicts of interests must be eradicated. It is time to take back the Township with inclusion for all!  

What qualifies you to serve on the township board?

7 years Lower Macungie Youth Association Board of Directors, President (2009-2011); Lower Macungie Zoning Hearing Board (2010-Present); Lower Macungie 2020 Vision Committee. 

What do you see as the board's primary role and responsibilities?

The Board must serve the needs of all of the citizens.  It must support the work done by the staff of the township and practice fiscal responsibility as it lays out the direction for the Township. 

Tell us about three major challenges facing Lower Macungie and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible): 

1. Selective re-zoning has led to overdevelopment of the open space in this township.  More input must be solicited from all those affected by such development before moving forward with any future project.  In addition, the infrastructure has not been expanded at the same pace as the growth, which has added to the challenges of traffic control and storm water management.
2. Wasteful spending on Township assets that are grossly underused by the residents while at the same time letting other, more actively used assets, decay from a failure to maintain these properties. (Camp Olympic Park vs. Quarry Park, Creamery Park, Church Lane, etc.)
3. Working to represent the needs of special interest groups, such as the PA Association of Realtors, to the detriment of the citizens of the Township.  Rezoning land that is represented by Commercial Realtors like Commissioner Ron Eichenberg, in order to make projects on those properties more valuable to the developer and realtor.  Unethical behavior must not be tolerated.

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

$1000 - $1500.  All my funding has come from my personal income.  I am willing to accept donations from residents, although I have not done so to this point. 

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

I have been endorsed by three local groups.

1. Lower Macungie Citizens for Change
2. Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie
3. Citizens for Strong Communities 

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter. 

Twitter - @higgins4lmt 

Facebook - Higgins for LMT

Website – http://higgins4lmt.com/Home_Page.html