Two Republican candidates are competing for a seat on the Cranberry Township board of supervisors in the May 16 primary election.

One four-year term is open. Newcomer James Parey is running against incumbent Karen Newpol for the seat.

Republican supervisors Bruce Mazzoni and John Skorupan are running unopposed in the primary election for two six-year terms.

The candidate for the four-year term who receives the most votes during the primary will proceed to the November ballot along with Mazzoni and Skorupan. No Democratic candidates are running for the seats.

Skorupan said he has been retired for more than four years from working with private companies in the electrical, construction, window and engineering industries.

He is in his 24th year as a member of the board of supervisors and is unopposed in this year’s election.

“During my time on the board, I have been a part of the growth of township population, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and the influx of corporations that have brought creative jobs and prosperity for our community,” Skorupan said.

He said he is proud that, amid this growth, taxes have remained the lowest in the area, while township services have increased.

“Of course, there are always issues that need addressed,” Skorupan said. “The major concern for our citizens is traffic.”

He said he believes many of these concerns have been addressed with the recent completion of the MSA Thruway, the widening of Freedom Road’s turnpike bridge and phases one and two.

“The final phase of the Freedom Road widening has also begun,” Skorupan said. “Future infrastructure projects will include the widening of Rochester Road under the turnpike.”

Skorupan said he has been in conversations with turnpike officials for several years to begin this project and that a preliminary design has been awarded.

“To summarize, it has always been the goal of the board to make sure Cranberry Township is a place where people want to come to work, live and play,” he said. “I know that is what has been accomplished in my 23-plus years on the board. We have accomplished that by keeping taxes low, services in all aspects of the township high and making the economic environment for companies to move here.”

Mazzoni is a chemical engineer graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, having retired from a Cranberry-based company.

He said he has volunteered more than 1,000 hours per year for the last 15 years in various township organizations.

He works with the Cranberry Township Community Chest and has been chairman of Community Days for 12 years. He also is chairman of the Project of the Year.

Mazzoni has been a Butler County Community College board member for 10 years and previously served on the Cranberry Public Library and Butler County Federated Library System boards.

“I am also one of the founding members and co-directors of the Cranberry Township Pickleball Association, which is now nearing 1,200 members starting its sixth year,” he said.

He has served as a township supervisor for three terms and is running unopposed in this year’s election.

“I was fully involved with the 25-year comprehensive plan for Cranberry,” he said. “I approved the building of Graham Park, helped usher in the Freedom Road Bridge and the expansion of Freedom Road.”

In his time as supervisor, Mazzoni said he has helped invest tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements for the township.

“Plus, I enjoy helping the community that has offered a wonderful experience for my family as they grew up,” Mazzoni said. “Both of my daughters were born here over 35 years ago, and both live here in Cranberry with their families. I want them to have the same experience my wife and I enjoyed.”

If elected, Mazzoni said he will prioritize keeping taxes low while improving home values and quality of life.

“I believe having a safe community is most important, but as important is the proper investment into infrastructure,” he said.

He said it has been an ongoing challenge to get the state involved in the expansion of the many state roads in the township.

“I am excited for the future improvement of the turnpike overpass to allow for the expansion of Rochester Road,” he said. “That took decades of effort to get their support.”

The three main issues he believes are affecting the township include road expansion and improvement, fiscal responsibility and quality of life.

Parey is a 24-year resident of Cranberry Township. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in journalism from Ohio University.

“I work as a manager at Studio 19 Dance Complex and from that bring experience with contract negotiation, real estate, payroll management and customer service,” Parey said.

As a new candidate, Parey said he can bring a fresh perspective to the role of township supervisor.

“My degree in political science has helped prepare me to navigate the political landscape,” he said, “and my experience as a manager in the private sector has honed my ability to effectively steward resources that are entrusted to me.”

Parey said he was motivated to run for the position due to public spending concerns voiced by friends and neighbors.

“As Cranberry Township supervisor, my role is to serve my constituents — to hear their concerns and to take measurable action to achieve progress,” Parey said.

If elected, Parey said he would like to see the police force expanded and road infrastructure developed to meet growing public safety and traffic needs.

“I have a vision for bringing in greater revenue to Cranberry Township by renovating the publicly owned Cranberry Highlands Golf Course banquet hall to be rented out for weddings and events,” he added.

He said he believes the three issues most affecting the township are stewardship, smart growth and a safe community.

“Growth comes at a cost,” Parey said. “There is a demand for affordable housing, but developers need to know that building in Cranberry Township means building for the community. The choices that we make now affect our quality of life for generations.”

Parey said he will fight to preserve low taxes in the township and ensure both public and school safety.

“The fact is that Allegheny (County) taxes are absolutely soaring, and people are moving out to Butler County in droves because the taxes are so much lower,” Parey said. “As Cranberry Township supervisor, I can serve in a pivotal role to maintain low taxes while diligently managing funds for those things that are essential to upholding the spirit of our community and maintaining sustainable growth.”

Newpol said she has been volunteering in the township since 1997. She retired from a career in graphic design and has held the position of township supervisor since October 2022.

“It was a natural step up after volunteering for many organizations,” Newpol said. “I enjoy helping to make the community a better place.”

Newpol is a graduate of the Community Leadership Institute of Cranberry, an elected Cranberry Township Republican committeewoman and a member of the Cranberry Township Community Chest board.

As director for the 5K CTCC Community Chase, she said she has helped raise more than $8 million for community projects. She also is president of the Sunrise Rotary Club and a recipient of the Paul Harris, Rotarian of the Year and Person of Action awards. She is a chaplain board member of the Cranberry Elks Lodge, receiving the 2021 officer of the year award, and vice president of the Cranberry Township Historical Society.

She was selected from 28 “highly qualified candidates” in 2022 to replace former supervisor Dick Hadley, who passed away that year. She is running for the remaining four-year term that he had.

As a supervisor, she said she has familiarized herself with the operations of the township, helped develop and approve the 2023 budget, aided in approving the Powell Farm donation, and taken part in a redevelopment study discussion for Routes 19 and 228.

“I have also interfaced with PennDOT and the turnpike specific to the Rochester Road tunnel under the turnpike, and I am pleased that this improvement will finally happen,” she said.

The expansion and improvement of Franklin Road will remain one of her priorities if reelected, she said, as well as overseeing the Rochester Road project and a master plan for parks and recreation in the township.

“I want to see Cranberry continue to get its triple-A rating from Moody’s,” Newpol said. “There are only 14 municipalities out of 2,560 in the state that have this highest rating they offer.”

Newpol said she believes the top three issues affecting the township are increasing the traffic capacity of its roads, public safety and community planning to meet residents’ needs.