Three people are running for two six-year supervisor seats in Center Township in the Nov. 7 general election. Two are incumbents seeking reelection, and one is a former supervisor who wants to return to the board.

Flatt took office in the early 2000s for 12 years, then took two years off before running successfully for supervisor and serving six more years. He decided not to run again during the last election cycle.

Flatt said he always has enjoyed being a supervisor and took time off from the office as his version of a term limit. He said he likes working with a board of supervisors to take on challenges that arise in the township, including road maintenance.

“There are challenges and changes to the way we fund our care of the roads,” Flatt said, “and I think it would be helpful to have someone with experience to say how we take care of the roads and how we pay to take care of the roads.”

As supervisor, Flatt said he would research new policies developed by federal and state governments to ensure the township is compliant with the policies. He also said he wants to help support the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company.

“I've always been willing to put the effort in to understand things like stormwater regulations,” Flatt said. “Unionville has been a remarkable fire company, but even they are challenged with numbers.”

Flatt said that during his time as supervisor, the board completed several projects he is proud of, including erecting a new building that could hold up to a two-year supply of road salt; replacing traffic signals with LED lights, which resulted in a 90% savings in cost; and completing road projects that have helped reduce the number of vehicle crashes.

“I enjoy being part of a board, with the give-and-take relationship so we can come to a consensus where we can do what's best,” Flatt said. “I enjoy working with the other board members and cooperating together to achieve solutions to the problems that come up.”

Latuska first took a seat as township supervisor in 1998, and aside from a two-year break in the 2010s when he decided not to run in an election cycle, he has been on the board ever since.

A retired physical therapist, Latuska said he is running for reelection because he is concerned about the financial state of the township and wants to be “careful about the amount of money” the township is allocating to Unionville Volunteer Fire Company.

“I believe the volunteer department should receive our support, but we're not a bank,” Latuska said. “We've got our priorities, the roads, infrastructure, things we need to allocate our money for.”

Latuska said the township has given more than $2 million to the company over 20 years, and he would like the department to submit a certified audit of how the money is being spent to the supervisors. He added that he would like Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Department to receive some of the money the township generates through its fire tax, because the department covers part of Center Township.

Latuska said he also wants to be reelected to continue the initiatives he helped shape with the supervisors, including a consistent tax rate and good road infrastructure.

“For the most part, we're maintaining our roads and infrastructure,” he said. “We haven't raised taxes for many, many years. I'm proud of that.”

He said he enjoys serving as a supervisor and always has been open with residents about his intentions, which he cites as his greatest achievement as supervisor.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the community all these years, whatever the outcome,” Latuska said. “I've always tried to be open and transparent with the residents here in the township.”

Phil Wulff

Wulff is running for a third term as supervisor, having first been elected to the position in 2011.

The lifelong township resident owns Wulff Electric and has been a member of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company for nearly 50 years. He said he is running for reelection because he enjoys the township and wants to see it grow.

“I have been involved in some grants here pretty heavily over the years,” Wulff said. “I've got some other projects. I want to continue on that stuff to try to get some more grant money into the township to save the taxpayer money.”

Wulff said supervisors need to pay constant attention to township roads, which are the subject of many requests for grant funding. He said the annual paving projects are a constant need, but they also provide opportunities for the township to save money.

“Working with some of the gas and oil companies, we recovered some money on paving and repairs,” Wulff said. “The next grant is we have a bridge that needs to be replaced. Going to be working on trying to get some grant money to take care of that also.”

Wulff said he wants to support the Unionville VFC’s EMS training initiative, which has been helping firefighters obtain certification to provide medical attention on emergency calls.

He also said selling the former township municipal building is one of his favorite accomplishments as a supervisor, and he hopes to continue serving township residents by helping to save them money.

“It kept us from spending a lot of money on bringing the old office up to handicap accessible specifications,” Wulff said of getting a new township building. “I want to keep working for the good of the community, controlled growth in the neighborhoods here.”