Langhorne Times caught up with the two locals vying for your votes on Nov. 7 to be the next supervisor of Middletown Township
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
On Nov. 7, the power rests in your hands, Langhorne, as you decide who will lead Middletown Township as the next supervisor. Running for the Democrats is Mike Ksiazek, while Kevin Glasson represents the Republicans.
Born and raised in Middletown Township, Ksiazek lived in a few different areas before returning home, putting down roots with his family around the corner from his childhood house. Together with his wife, who works as a dietician, he is raising three children, ages 9, 6 and 4, who he said keep him busy with everything from soccer practice to piano lessons.
Ksiazek attended Bloomsburg University, followed by law school at Sussex, where he graduated from in 2004. Now an attorney at Stark and Stark, he represents both individuals and families during what he called some of the lowest points in their lives. During medical crises and other struggles, he said he helps them put the pieces back together.
As far as his interest in politics, he explained how it stemmed from his career. Both are public serviced-based and involve helping people on a daily basis. As he approached middle age, Ksiazek began to feel a further sense of responsibility to give back.
“I want to leave the world a little better than I found it for the next generation,” he said.
Though he admitted he’s not “super political,” as he learned more about the role of a township supervisor, he fell in love with the idea of helping people solve their issues on a tangible level.
“If someone tells me their trash didn’t get picked up, I can do something about it,” he said. “It’s exciting.”
Despite this being his first time running for political office, he has a number of issues he plans to address if elected. According to Ksiazek, the first thing on his agenda would be to fix the community’s perception of the government. Right now, he said the government and community are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
“The residents aren’t in the loop,” he said.
The key thing for him is having more transparency and including residents in the decision-making process. He explained how the board of supervisors should function more like Congress, and be representatives of the residents.
“They should carry out the interests of the people who put them there,” he said.
For example, Ksiazek would implement a more open process when it came to the hiring of lawyers and other officials who have a large role in the community. He explained how it should run more like a business, not behind closed doors, with the job given to the most qualified candidate.
A second key issue for Ksiazek is high taxes. According to him, Middletown Township had the largest tax increase in its history a few years ago. Going back to transparency, he believes residents should know what their hard-earned money is being spent on.
“Taxes are a sacred thing,” he said.
If elected, he would take a hard look at the budget “on day one” to see where excessive spending can be cut. While he understands he can’t repeal taxes since funding is still needed for a good police force among other necessities, he does believe a number of nonessential things can be cut.
Also on the agenda for Ksiazek are the township’s economic issues concerning the Oxford Valley Mall. According to him, opinions of the mall are currently not very high. Stores are closing, and not much is being done to reinvest in the property. Ksiazek wants to take a few cues from King of Prussia, whose mall had a “complete renaissance,” a project the area’s board of supervisors took a role in cultivating.
“There’s no reason Middletown Township can’t be the same way,” he said. “People are ready for a rebirth of the area.”
Finally, if elected, Ksiazek would address the issue of open space. According to him there is a lot of it, but it’s quickly disappearing.
“There’s always a developer waiting in the wings when a farmer decides he doesn’t want his land anymore.”
So why vote for Ksiazek?
He plans to be a representative of the residents.
“I’m not a lifelong politician. I have nothing personal to gain from running for township supervisor,” Ksiazek said. “I care about the lifelong future of the township my kids will grow up in.”
As for his Republican opponent, Kevin Glasson was born and raised in Levittown as one of 12 siblings, though he has called Middletown Township home for the past 28 years. A year after graduating from Bucks County Technical School in 1982, Glasson opened his first company, McIntyre Plumbing and Heating, and has been in business for 34 years. In addition, he has been a firefighter in Levittown for 28 years.
Glasson is happily married, recently celebrating his 27th wedding anniversary, with two children. His son Kevin, 22, earned his degree in journalism this year from Temple University, and his daughter Erica, 19, is a sophomore at Temple.
This is Glasson’s first time running for supervisor, but he’s no stranger to campaigning for political office. In 2010, he ran as the Republican candidate for an open seat in the state House of Representatives. Though his Democratic opponent, Tina Davis, came out victorious, he explained how he lost by a small margin of approximately 200 votes. As to why he decided to run for township supervisor, his reasoning is simple.
“Community service has been in my blood since I was 16,” he said of when he became a local firefighter.
If elected, one of the key issues Glasson will address is taxes, which he said is always a hot button topic. While he believes the existing board of supervisors has done a good job at holding the line on taxes, he wants to find a way to cut them, even if it’s by a small amount. He explained how a big tax cut would most likely be impossible, since a large portion goes toward necessary township functions. For example, 75 cents of every tax dollar goes toward the school board. Still, he would take a look at the budget to find areas of unnecessary or excessive spending.
“It’s a tough order to fill but I will try to give a tax break to the residents,” he said.
Next on Glasson’s agenda if elected would be a collaborative meeting with police, fire and EMS to ensure they have proper funding and resources to maintain township safety. With the growing opioid epidemic, he wants them to have the best training possible.
“They need the manpower to overcome what we have on the streets,” he said.
The final topic Glasson has been addressing throughout his campaign is the preservation and development of Stone Meadows Farm. Over the past several months, he reflected on the numerous conversations he has had with committee members working to save the farm. If elected, he plans to assist the group with either all or a large portion of the funds needed to maintain the space.
“The taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for it,” he said.
So why vote for Glasson?
“I’ve been a Middletown guy for 27 years,” he said. “I’m very active in the community where I raised my family. I want to be there to help the neighborhood and community.” ••
Polling places are subject to change. Polls are open Election Day 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information on the election and to find your polling place, visit buckscounty.org/government/CommunityServices/BoardofElections/PollingPlaces.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
