The Times takes a look at the upcoming election for Lower Southampton Township Supervisor
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
It’s almost that time…the moment when communities elect the best and most qualified candidates to represent them for the next several years. On Nov. 7, two Lower Southampton Township residents are going head-to-head for your vote to be township supervisor for a six-year term — Joseph McFadden for the Republican Party and Victor Corsino for the Democratic Party.
The incumbent supervisor, McFadden is wrapping up his first six-year term. A Lower Southampton Township resident since 2004, McFadden was in the Air Force for 26 years before retiring to Bucks County to give “civilian work” a try. His wife was also active duty military for 23 years. Always the go-to guy for tech issues in the military, he began working with software and computers, and now holds a job at a large pharmaceutical-focused technology company. In his spare time, he’s also a firefighter with the Lower Southampton Fire Department.
Reflecting on his first term as supervisor, McFadden listed several major highlights, one of which occurred before he was even elected. Seven years ago, he approached the board with an idea. He wanted to create a focus group whose only concern would be the needs of local veterans. The board voted unanimously in favor, a huge victory for McFadden.
Following his lead, the township has since formed a Veterans Advisory Council, which hosts an annual 9/11 Heroes Run, informational expos and other events to make sure veterans are aware of the resources available to them.
Another highlight for McFadden was being elected to the executive committee of the Bucks County Association of Township Officers. During open dialogues with other townships, he said he’s been able to start finding solutions for common issues, especially the opioid epidemic. His main focus is education and raising awareness so parents can more quickly realize if a child or loved one is at risk. As a local firefighter, he has received countless calls regarding overdoses.
“I want families to realize behaviors before their child is lying on the bathroom floor,” he said.
If re-elected, McFadden plans to address the crisis in emergency services. He explained how there were more than 300,000 volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania in the 1970s. In recent years, that number has dropped to approximately 50,000. Right now, there are two fire companies in Lower Southampton Township, and though he said both are doing well, he wants to stay on top of things before it becomes an issue.
In addition, he wants to take care of the township’s feral cat issue. McFadden has already started speaking with the Animal Control Advisory Board about a trap and release program. Though it’s still in the early stages, he said things are looking positive and should be ready for public announcement in about six months.
So why should you vote for McFadden?
“I’ve had a deep involvement since I was out of the military and joined the community,” he said.
According to McFadden, he wants to continue the momentum he’s already started during his first term.
As for his opponent, Corsino, the Feasterville resident is no stranger to addressing the needs of a community. Born in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia, Corsino moved to Bucks County at the age of 5. Throughout his childhood, he lived near East Endfield Road, right by the Township Library of Lower Southampton when the building still belonged to a storage company.
After graduating from Penn State University, Corsino lived in Bensalem for five years with his wife, a public school teacher in Central Bucks County, before returning to his Lower Southampton roots. Now, he’s celebrating 15 years in the real estate industry while raising two children — a 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son — both students at Poquessing Middle School, who keep him busy with sports and extracurricular activities.
Ten years ago, Corsino ran for township supervisor but was unsuccessful. Still, he doesn’t see it as a bad thing. With more life experience under his belt, he called this election the perfect time to give it another shot.
“I’m giving it my all this time,” he said.
According to Corsino, his campaign will center around issues he has seen with corruption. He wants to return the township back to its people, allowing them to feel involved at all levels of the decision-making process. The key word for him is “transparency.” Overall, he plans to host fewer executive sessions and have a more open-door policy. To make this happen, he wants to use social media and various web platforms to encourage a conversation between the board of supervisors and community. On these platforms, he would provide a public notice if an important decision was to be made at the next township meeting. Residents would have time to formulate an opinion beforehand and present it in person.
A second issue Corsino plans to address if elected is the safety of local police officers. With no district justice, he explained how they have to travel as far as Penndel for hearings. To combat this, he would work to implement a video conferencing system. Also, he wants to put his real estate experience to good use and find a purpose for the old courts building. When the district justice went away, $90,000 worth of rent income went with it.
So why should you vote for Corsino?
“I think we need a second opinion,” he said.
With the board currently comprised of Republicans, Corsino wishes to see a better system of checks and balances and a representation of the other half. He also takes great pride in the community he’s called home for the majority of his life.
“My heart is in the township,” he said.
••
In addition to the election for a six-year term, Raymond Weldie (R) will run against Stacy Snyder (D) for a two-year term.
This isn’t Weldie’s first time in the world of political campaigning. This past spring, he ran for district magisterial judge before the township did away with the position. A Lower Southampton resident since 1965, his family moved to the area when he was in third grade.
After graduating from Neshaminy High School, he joined the Army for some time before becoming a local police officer for 30 years. During those three decades, he served as a patrolman and detective, graduated from the FBI National Academy and finally retired in 2009 as a lieutenant. He is also the recipient of several awards, including Officer of the Year in 1992 by A Woman’s Place, as well as two recognitions from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his high number of DUI arrests as an officer.
While on the police force, Weldie earned associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, though after retiring he decided to try his hand in a different field. After completing a master’s in elementary education, he quickly became a staple in the Neshaminy School District, where he’s remained for 10 years teaching fifth-grade math at Maple Point Elementary. Weldie and his wife of 30 years are both lifelong Feasterville residents, with two sons following in their father’s footsteps — one is about to enter the police force while the other works as a history teacher.
Throughout his campaign thus far, Weldie said he’s worked to maintain the momentum he picked up during his run for judge as he looks to fill former supervisor Patrick Irving’s two-year spot after he stepped down a few months ago.
“I want to bring pride and integrity back to the district court in Feasterville,” he said.
For him, it’s all about serving the community. At Maple Point, he created a donation program for which students collect needed items for troops in Iran, Syria and Afghanistan. Weldie explained how it caught on so much that his students are now the primary organizers — all he needs to do is bring the items to the post office.
If elected, one of the main issues he plans to address ties into the program. He wants to help local veterans, and for some time has assisted with the Lower Southampton Veterans Advisory Council. According to Weldie, he sees a need and would use his platform as supervisor to continue to help.
Another important issue Weldie would work toward is combating the growing opioid abuse problem, which he explained is deeply rooted in the community. He wants to educate residents on how to recognize common addiction behaviors in loved ones to help them “beat it before it beats them.”
Lastly, Weldie wants to focus on holding a line on taxes, keeping them at the level they’re currently at.
So why vote for Weldie?
“What’s indicative of future behavior is prior behavior,” he said.
From his continuing advancement on the police force to the education of young minds in the township, he wants voters to remember his 40 years of service to the community.
As for his Democratic opponent, Snyder boosts a strong background in both politics and leadership. Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, she made the move to Bucks County 30 years ago, spending some time in Yardley before becoming a Lower Southampton resident a little over 12 years ago. Snyder earned her undergraduate degree from the College of New Jersey (previously Trenton State), where she double majored in political science and urban studies. She also attended Rider University, where she graduated with a master’s in public administration.
Currently married with one daughter, who is attending law school at the University of Pittsburgh, Snyder owns a small business called Pin Rescue with her husband, where they restore vintage pinball machines. Prior to retiring and opening the business, Snyder worked in budgeting and planning with the state of New Jersey for 22 years.
Though this is Snyder’s first time running for any political office, she’s always had an interest in it with her educational and professional background. According to Snyder, the main issue she wishes to tackle if elected is corruption in the township. When Lower Southampton’s former public safety director and two public officials were charged with money laundering earlier this year, she explained how upset she was by the situation.
“I didn’t like what I saw,” she said.
She was also unsatisfied that the public safety director position was given to an “outsider,” when it could have gone to a local cop. With the Republicans in power for a number of years, Snyder would like to see a better balance of power and both parties represented.
“It’s time for a change,” she said.
If elected, Snyder would also work to implement more transparency in the decision-making process, looking at things department by department and finding opportunities where the public can have more involvement. She explained how there are public supervisory meetings where the community can voice their opinions, but an executive meeting takes place beforehand, which residents have no part in. If chosen as supervisor, she would include the public in all meetings.
So why vote for Snyder?
“It’s time for a change in Lower Southampton,” she said. “We need balance.” ••
To find your polling place, visit buckscounty.org/government/CommunityServices/BoardofElections/PollingPlaces or lowersouthamptontownship.org/events/election-day
