Three candidates are seeking the Republican Party nomination for one six-year term as a supervisor in Franklin Township in the May 16 primary election.

Business owners Joe Schubert and Mark Thomas are challenging incumbent Robert Thompson for the nomination.

Joe Schubert

Schubert said he was born and raised in Prospect, started an excavation business two years ago and operates a small farm where he raises beef cattle and grows hay and grain.

“I decided to run because I’d like to start taking a more active role in the community that I live and work (in),” Schubert said. “My goal if elected is to bring an open mind and willingness to listen to help fix problems within the township, as well as looking into past township actions to improve policy in the future.”

He said the top issue in the township is the recent passing of a zoning ordinance that he believes has the potential to restrict residents in the rural township. He said he would like to reevaluate ordinances and change parts that residents don't agree with.

Keeping taxes low is another top issue, Schubert said.

“I would like to keep our small, quite rural community the same way it’s been since I was a kid growing up here,” Schubert said.

Mark Thomas

Thomas, a former township supervisor, said that during the 34 years he has owned Mark Thomas Trucking and Excavating he has built hundreds of roads to state specifications and recently completed site work for a new building at Butler County Community College. His company is working on a project for the Karns City Area School District.

He said he is qualified for the supervisor position because he has a strong work ethic, leadership, management and financial skills, and is willing to listen to people to help solve problems.

In addition, he said he has experience managing large projects, bidding, bonding, state specification issues, employees and taxes.

If he is elected, Thomas said his goal is to revert to zoning regulations that were in place in 2018 before supervisors changed the zoning of the majority of the township from agricultural/residential to residential without public meetings.

He said another goal is to repeal rules and regulations that supervisors enacted last year that are similar to those imposed by homeowner associations.

“If the residents want more resident controls we can work on real solutions, not just adopt boiler plate regulation from some other area,” Thomas said.

As an example, he said the township has a 60-decibel noise limit, but lawn mowers and farm tractors don't comply with the limit.

Thomas said he wants to increase transparency in township business, keep taxes as low as possible, record township meetings so residents can watch them on social media, try to fix road issues in Acorn Woods and help all residents resolve issues as politely and quickly as possible.

Thompson, an incumbent, did not respond to the Eagle’s election questionnaire.