Upper Providence Township Candidates Square Off

For a majority of Tuesday night’s Meet the Candidates Night for the open seat on the Upper Providence Township Board of Supervisors, Democrat George Faris and Republican Lisa Mossie came across as identical candidates when it came to issues concerning township residents.

The event, sponsored by the Oaks Neighborhood Association and attended by roughly 75 people, heard Faris and Mossie tackle the issues of traffic, development, open space and open meetings as both candidates supported each other’s opinions most times.

As for the other few minutes, however, Mossie made reference in her opening statement about a flier sent out to residents linking her to the Tea Party and a question later in the hour by a resident asking Faris about the flier sparked the only disagreement between the two the entire night.

“I tried to focus my campaign on the positive and it’s unfortunate that national politics were brought into local politics,” Mossie said while holding the campaign flier that linked her to a Tea Party event she attended in April 2010. “My life is an open book and I make no excuses or apologies.”

When asked later about the flier, Faris responded, “It’s important to know about both candidates. Draw your own conclusion.”

When a follow up question asked Faris if he heard anything during the debate that linked Mossie “to the radical Tea Party agenda,” Faris said his issue with the Tea Party is with governance and that “my agenda is to approach each situation with an open mind. I don’t take a hard line.”

In what moderator Gil Zimmerman called a first for Upper Providence Township, most of Tuesday night’s Meet the Candidates event centered on issues concerning the Oaks section of the township.

Both Faris and Mossie praised the Oaks Neighborhood Association for its work on dealing with issues—in particular traffic on Route 422, development on Egypt Road and ongoing plans for Brower Avenue.

When asked what the single most important issue facing the township, both candidates didn’t hesitate and said it was traffic.

“Traffic congestion has impacted everyone’s quality of life,” said Mossie. “It’s sucking up your time. We counted cars and popped in a stop light, but there has to be a better solution than that.”

Faris agreed: “Traffic is the number one issue. We need to look at issues like why will there be six lanes on Egypt Road. Transportation planning has to be addressed.”

Both candidates also stated opposition for any plans for a toll on Route 422.

“It’s criminal to put it on the back of the commuters,” Faris said.

“No,” was Mossie’s one-word response when asked about tolling.

Development was also an important issue for residents, with Brower Avenue residents asking both candidates what can be done.

“My biggest fear is that no one is listening. I want action,” a resident said.

“It all begins with an acknowledgment of good faith. I know what you are dealing with,” Mossie said. “It’s a matter of open communication and I just think we can improve the relationship between the township and the people. There’s an easy way of communicating.”

“It’s critically important for the supervisors to listen,” Faris added. “I am blown away by the work the Oaks Association has done on this issue.”

Both candidates also mostly agreed on issues like the township’s Master Plan, open space, increased truck traffic on Egypt Road, the Sunshine Laws, working with the other two supervisors currently on the board and working with state legislatures, the role of the local post office and whether township employees should be paying some of their health insurance.

The agreement on many issues prompted one resident to ask, “What do you disagree on?” drawing laughter from the audience.

One thing both candidates did disagree on was when they told residents why they should be elected on Nov. 8.

“I am not a career politician,” said Mossie. “I have lived in Oaks for 15 years while all his career has been in Vermont. He moved here in 2007 and doesn’t have a stake in this community like I do.”

“I chose to move here five years ago for the quality of life and I am no less dedicated than anyone in this room,” said Faris. “One of the advantages I have here is that I come with fresh eyes.”