SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Social media has changed the way political debates happen across the country, and South Whitehall Township is no exception.
Two Republican incumbents, Jacob Roth and Diane Kelly, seeking seats on the township Boad of Commissioners have engaged in many Facebook exchanges with local business owner and former commissioner Ben Long.
- Debates in the South Whitehall commissioners race have taken place on the candidates' Facebook pages
- The posts have primarily debated candidate Ben Long's positions and campaign style
- Republican incumbents Diane Kelly and Jacob Roth have endorsed township Public Safety Commission member Chris Peischl for the seat that is currently occupied by Commissioner Brad Osborne, who is not running for re-election
The candidates have debated many topics, such as whether Long voted for a water fee increase, whether a mailer from Long about Roth was fair and Long's position on a proposed housing development at Parkview Inn & Conference Center site.
The four Republicans are vying for three spots on their party's ballot.
Kelly and Roth have endorsed township Public Safety Commission member Chris Peischl for the seat now occupied by Commissioner Brad Osborne, who is not running for re-election.
They say they have similar priorities and visions for the township.
Former commissioner Thomas Johns will be the only candidate on the Democratic primary ballot.
Roth, Kelly and Peischl are endorsed by resident groups South Whitehall Concerned Citizens and South Whitehall for Integrity and Transparency.
The primary is on Tuesday, May 16.
Water fee increase
In a Facebook post dated May 2, Kelly said she received a copy of a letter that Reps. Mackenzie and Mako sent to Republicans in South Whitehall.
The letter said Long “delivered a no-tax increase, no-water/sewer fee increase budget.”
Kelly said that Long voted to raise water taxes at the commissioners' Dec. 15, 2021, meeting. Meeting minutes confirm that.
In response, Long acknowledged he voted to raise the water tax and said that it was an “honest mistake.”
Mailer about Roth
Long sent out a mailer comparing himself to Roth, saying Roth recently graduated from high school, does not pay property taxes and voted to raise water and sewer fees on local residents.
Roth said the mailer was misleading: he graduated from high school in 2020 and just graduated from Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College. He said while it is true that he does not pay property taxes because he lives with his family, many other South Whitehall residents do not own property.
Roth also pointed out Long’s vote to raise water fees. Long said in an interview that the endorsement letter and the mailer about Roth were sent out within the same day, so there was no time to correct his mistake.
“It doesn't change the intention behind any of it, which was to state that, in my opinion, Jacob Roth, who doesn't pay water or sewer bills himself, doesn't pay taxes himself, shouldn't be making those sorts of decisions,” Long said.
Roth said in an interview that he disagrees with how Long is campaigning.
“That type of campaigning, mudslinging in attempt to tear other candidates down falsely and unfairly, I believe, has no place in South Whitehall,” Roth said.
“I think that as candidates, we owe it to the residents to speak the truth and to treat each other with respect and not tear each other down with lies.”
Long said in an interview that the mailer was “nothing personal.”
“From what I've been told he's very bright, very articulate, and he's got a bright future,” Long said. “But I do feel that the residents deserve to know that as far as the facts are, that I do bring more experience to the table, and more real world practical experience.”
Long’s position on the Parkview Inn development
In a Facebook post dated May 9, Long said his supporters “have been visited by [his] opposition who have claimed that [he] supported the ‘Parkview Inn’ apartment development."
However, as a commissioner he voted against it.
“It's sad when politicians desperate to hold on to their power turn to lies, but that seems exactly like what's happening with my opponents,” Long said in the post.
The Parkview Inn apartment development, called Premier Center Luxury Apartments, was proposed at the site of Parkview Inn & Conference Center near Routes 22 and 309. Commissioners voted to deny the plan in June 2021.
Both Roth and Kelly said they have not lied about Long’s vote against the development.
“I have not and would not disparage a fellow candidate… It’s concerning that someone would make those kinds of accusations,” Kelly said.
In response to that post and an automated text message Long sent out linking to it, Kelly made a post outlining Long’s involvement with the development.
Before Long was appointed to the board of commissioners, he made comments on NextDoor in response to a post about the proposed development, asking residents if they would “prefer an old run down motel” and saying the township should recognize the legal rights of developers.
“If you don’t want development, don’t live in a developed suburban area. It’s really that simple,” Long said in a comment. “We as the general public don’t get to tell developers how to develop their property. As of now, we still live in a capitalist society.”
Long said in an interview that his point was to make a generic statement about how some type of development should replace the motel. He said he had not seen the specific development plan that the Planning Commission recommended for denial earlier that year, so he was not advocating for that plan specifically.
“Now, could I have said it in a more politically correct way? Absolutely,” Long said. “But the Parkview hotel is an eyesore. That's a drain on our community. And something eventually should go there that will benefit everybody.”
Long said his main regret is making comments on social media, “where things can easily get taken out of context.” He said that's why he hasn't engaged in social media debates during the campaign.
Long has responded to comments on his posts by inviting the commenter to call him or speak to him in person. He also has deleted comments from his posts.
