Election 2025: Mike Bateman For Buckingham Twp. Supervisor

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA ? Two candidates are vying for a six-year seat on the Buckingham Township Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Republican Paul Calderaio is facing a challenge from Democrat Mike Bateman in the general election.

Biological Information

Name: Mike Bateman
Age: 40
Town of residence: Buckingham
Position sought: Buckingham Township Supervisor
What Towns Does Your Position Cover: Buckingham Township
Party Affiliation: Democratic
Family: Wife, Becca, Children- Maisie, 8 in 3rd grade at Cold Spring Elementary, Royce, 5 in K at Cold Spring Elementary.
Education: BS from UCLA in Political Science
Occupation: National Sales Director for SmarterPaw and Small Business Owner, FrogSpit

Questions

1. Why are you running for supervisor? If elected, what will you bring to the table?

I am running for supervisor because our current supervisors no longer represent the best interests of our residents, but only their friends. The role of supervisor, if executed correctly, can have a massively positive impact on residents, making everyday life easier for everything from working together on common-sense home projects to making sure our volunteer fire companies have the resources they need to continue to recruit volunteers. I believe local government needs more people, not the same people. I will bring a commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance. Unlike my opponent ? who has repeatedly renewed major municipal contracts without public bidding ? I believe taxpayers deserve open, competitive processes. I will bring a higher standard of transparency and integrity to local government.

2. What are your top issues and how do you plan to address them?

Buckingham Township faces several long-standing issues that need immediate attention. First, there is a lack of transparency and accountability in how major municipal contracts are awarded. Our township solicitor and township engineer contracts haven?t been put out to public bid in over 20 years. Without competitive bidding, we can?t ensure we?re getting the best value or service for taxpayers. If elected, I?ll make it a priority to open these contracts to public bidding to promote fairness, oversight, and fiscal responsibility.

Second, our zoning ordinances are outdated. Many were written in the 1970s and haven?t kept pace with the growth and changing needs of Buckingham in 2025. This creates confusion, inefficiency, and limits our ability to plan effectively for the future. I will push for a comprehensive, modernized update to the zoning code to better reflect our current realities and support thoughtful development.

Finally, current regulations treat decks the same as driveways and patios by classifying them as impervious surfaces, even though decks allow water to drain through. This creates unnecessary barriers for homeowners looking to improve their properties. I support removing decks from the impervious surface list ? consistent with many neighboring townships ? to make the rules more reasonable and homeowner-friendly.

3. What are your ideas for improving Buckingham Township?

Improving Buckingham Township starts with smart, transparent governance. One of my first steps would be to put the contracts for our township solicitor and township engineer out to public bid ? something that hasn?t been done in over two decades. This will help ensure we?re getting the best value for taxpayers and working with the most qualified professionals. I also believe we need to modernize our outdated zoning ordinances, many of which were written in the 1970s. An updated code would better reflect Buckingham?s current needs and help guide thoughtful development in the years ahead. Additionally, I support removing decks from the list of impervious surfaces. Since decks allow water to pass through, they shouldn?t be regulated like solid surfaces such as driveways. This change would reduce unnecessary restrictions for homeowners and support sensible property improvements.