Election 2023: Montgomery Township Incumbent, Challenger Make Their Cases

Dan Sokil | The Reporter•

Montgomery Township voters will have a choice to make at the ballot box on Nov. 7.

Incumbent Democrat Tanya Bamford will square off against Republican Jatin Patel, the winner of a three-man primary race, for a six-year term on the township board of supervisors.

Both candidates were sent the same questions, and below are their answers:

Bamford

Tanya Bamford. (Credit: submitted)

Describe your background and qualifications for a position on Montgomery Township’s board of supervisors.

I was first elected to the Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors in 2017 and have been serving as a Supervisor since January 2018. From 2020 through 2022, I proudly served as the Chair of the Board. I am currently seeking re-election for a second term.

As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I have served as the Board Liaison to numerous Township boards and commissions, collaborating closely with volunteers and staff on the Public Safety Committee, Community & Recreation Center Committee, Shade Tree Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, the Human Relations Commission, and our Municipal Sewer Authority.

Outside of my experience serving on the Board of Supervisors, I have been actively engaged in our community serving on the Boards of organizations including the Foundation Board for Montgomery County Community College, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County, and on the Board of Directors for the North Wales Area Library.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from West Virginia University. Professionally, I am employed as the Managing Director of R/A Marketing, a full-service marketing firm serving the remodeling industry. My husband Steve and I have lived in the Township for more than 20 years. Together, we have two sons, Nick and Jake, who are both currently enrolled in college.

Why are you running for a position on Montgomery Township’s Board of Supervisors?

I am seeking re-election to the Board of Supervisors to build on the successes we have experienced over the last six years.

Throughout my term, I have provided effective financial oversight, ensuring that our tax dollars are used wisely. I am proud to share that in recognition of the Township’s sound financial management, budgetary performance, and stable financial position, the Township earned the AAA rating from S&P Global in 2021.

Moreover, while Chair, I made it a priority to increase visibility into Township finances with the publication of the first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) which earned two prestigious awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in 2021 and 2022.

Improving Township communication to make information more readily accessible for constituents has been another priority for me. Since 2018, the Township has developed a robust social media program and recently earned a statewide Citizen Communication award from PSATS in recognition of our commitment to communication, engagement, and transparency.

During my tenure, the Township also improved accessibility to our action meetings with the upgrade of the AV equipment which has enabled our meetings to be live-streamed online with real-time closed-captioning. We also now record the meetings and post them to our YouTube channel–another huge improvement in transparency.

Investing in technology has aided many of these improvements. Another investment along these lines was the recent upgrade of the Township’s GIS system. The new system creates efficiencies for both staff and the community in accessing geographic-based data. A great example of this technology at work is the interactive Find Your Voting Location application on the Township website that helps you find your polling location simply by clicking on your place of residence on the map.

It has been incredibly rewarding helping move the Township forward in providing best-in-class services, facilities, and resources for our constituents. There is still much more work to be done, which is why I would like to continue to serve in this capacity for another term.

What would your goals and priorities be for your term on the board?

In 2022, the Township updated its Comprehensive Plan. I am proud of the work that went into that update, which included surveys and feedback gathered at sessions with residents and businesses alike, as well as input from the Montgomery County Planning Commission. In the Comprehensive Plan, we outline our objectives for Montgomery Township over the next ten years – after which it will need to be updated again.

If you are a resident of Montgomery Township and you’re reading this, I encourage you to peruse the Comprehensive Plan which is available on MontgomeryTwp.org. It’s chock full of helpful information about Montgomery Township–and also includes data on neighboring municipalities as a basis for comparison.

To summarize, priorities for the township over the next decade include:

• Continue to provide clear and open communication between Township government and the community

• Responsible land development

• Protecting open space and natural resources

• Providing diverse and affordable housing options to meet the needs of all households

• Economic development to support and further expand our tax base

• Maintaining and developing additional parks and recreation facilities for both active and passive use

• Ensuring the safety of people using our streets and sidewalks

• Improving pedestrian access to all parts of the Township

• Maintenance and management of stormwater and sewer facilities

Local government–and its elected officials — should reflect the values and priorities of the communities they represent. The priorities outlined above were provided by members of the Montgomery Township community. When I am re-elected, I will continue to work toward achieving these objectives so that Montgomery Township fulfills its mission to enhance the quality of life, vitality of our neighborhoods, and opportunities for businesses by striving for excellence and value in all services provided by the Township.

Your campaign website, social media pages, and/or anywhere else our readers can find you.

Website: www.TanyaBamford.com
Facebook: Bamford4Supervisor/
Instagram: Bamford4supervisor/

Patel

Jatin Patel. (Credit: submitted)

Describe your background and qualifications for a position on Montgomery Township’s board of supervisors.

As a township resident for 17 years, I am very familiar with Montgomery Township. I graduated with an MBA, an MS (Polymer Science), and a BS (Chemistry) from India.

I am a successful small business owner, a community leader & work at one of the top 10 health care companies. I will bring my experience as an entrepreneur, community volunteer and global work experience to Montgomery Township board to resolve complex issues.

Why are you running for a position on Montgomery Township’s Board of Supervisors?

I am running for Board because I believe the current board needs to refocus on priorities involving public safety/services while using taxpayer money wisely and respectfully. Fiscal responsibility is very important to the community, important to me as well, and will challenge any tax increase.

What would your goals and priorities be for your term on the board?

Meet with citizens and not force citizens to seek information out on their own regarding important township matters.

Apply fiscal prudence to both sides of the Township budget — income and expenditure.

Work with the police and fire departments to ensure they have the tools and support to keep our community safe.

Your campaign website, social media pages, and/or anywhere else our readers can find you.

Website: www.jatinpatelforall.com

Facebook: Jatin Patel 4 Montgomery Township Supervisor

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