John Mack & Dennis Fisher For Newtown Township Supervisors 2019

This Patch article is sponsored by Friends of Fisher and Mack.

Newtown Township is in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The township has a population of 19,299 and a proud heritage. In 2017, John Mack was elected to a two-year term as Newtown Township supervisor, while Dennis Fisher, also a Newtown Township supervisor, was appointed to fill a board vacancy in 2018. Now, they are seeking re-election for a full six-year term.

Patch sent Mack a few questions to find out more about his experience, priorities and upcoming events. Here were his answers:

Patch: How long have you been serving as an elected official in Newtown?

Mack: I have served as a Newtown Township Supervisor since January 2018 after being elected to fulfill a two-year term in November 2017.

Patch: What attracted you to become a Newtown Township Supervisor and how did you get started?

Mack: I have been a resident of Newtown Township for nearly a quarter of a century and my children attended Council Rock schools. After my children left home to pursue their own interests, I felt the need to get more involved in my community. I started out by becoming an elected member of my homeowners association executive board in 2014, with a goal of helping it better meet the needs of residents, especially new, younger homeowners.

To that end, I was able to spearhead several changes including upgrading our playgrounds, negotiating a community-wide trash program that saved residents money and cut down on the number of trucks in our neighborhood, and upgrading the website to better communicate with residents using modern technology (email, social media, etc.).

Then in August 2016, I read a notice in the newspaper that the Township needed to fill a seat on the Board of Supervisors due to a resignation of one of the supervisors. I decided to apply for the position. Not being an experienced follower of Newtown Township politics meant that I was unaware that it was a quixotic attempt — the Board majority chooses someone of their own party. But I impressed the minority members during the interview process and they asked me to run for office in the 2017 election. The rest is history as they say! I received the most votes of any candidate — Republican or Democrat — for supervisor going back to 2007!

Patch: If you had to sum up your mission as Township Supervisor to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

1. Transparency
2. Integrity
3. Experience
4. Communication
5. Honesty
6. Openness

I think six words is better than five! I’m known to “color outside the box.”

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your position as Newtown Township Supervisor?

Mack: For a newly elected supervisor without any previous experience in government, it was quite challenging to learn quickly what I needed to know to make intelligent decisions regarding important matters before the Board.

On average, I spend 30 to 50 hours per month on official business related to my position. Less than 15 percent of that time is spent attending required meetings, whereas 30-40 percent of my time is spent preparing for meetings and up to 25 percent of my time is spent interacting and talking to residents about issues of concern to them. These numbers do NOT include the tens of hours each month posting information to my blog and website, writing a newsletter, creating and posting video clips from town meetings, hosting podcast interviews, and posting to my personal Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The most difficult moment I’ve faced as a supervisor is to vote to authorize the township to sue several major manufacturers of opioid medications. I am on record saying that we can’t educate doctors and patients on the effects of opioids and combat the overdose epidemic without addressing the source of the problem, which is the pharmaceutical industry.

But coming from a background in the pharmaceutical industry, I wished that other more obvious bad players were on the list of defendants, including those companies that have illegally provided kickbacks to physicians to overprescribe their opioid products. In the end, I felt that by putting pressure on drug companies through legal suits will help call attention to at least some of the bad players. This has proven to be the case.

As a result of the lawsuits by Newtown and other municipalities and governments, we now know that the 7th largest manufacturer of opioids is based right here in Newtown. Not surprisingly, however, this company is not one of the defendants being sued by Newtown.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job as Newtown Township Supervisor?

Mack: By far, the most satisfying part of my job as Supervisor is interacting with residents to keep them informed and to listen to their concerns. I do this in person, via email and via social media. If I can help solve residents’ problems, that’s just icing on the cake!

It has been very satisfying to get a great deal of unsolicited positive feedback from residents, such as:

• “Outstanding documentation of accountability. This is a very rare to see. Thank you.”

– A response to a post on Facebook documenting the time I spend per month on official supervisor activities.

• “I looked at your website. Keep up the great efforts to make Newtown a better place for all.”
• “Been living here since '96 and am so glad to see someone take leadership to connect our neck of the woods.”
• “Thank you for doing a great job keeping the residents informed.”

– Personal messages from members of Nextdoor where I often post information.

• “Great flow chart you created & posted to your blog! Thank goodness you did it since I got totally lost when the Town Solicitor tried to explain it!”

– Comment about the process of amending an Township Ordinance to allow for a combined gas station/convenience store.

• “It is amazing, but could not have happened without you, John Mack, bringing this issue to the attention of concerned residents. This could become a model for other townships to follow.”

- Comment in response to resident turnout at a Board of Supervisors meeting and engagement in public comments regarding the Township’s Pollution Reduction Plan.

Patch: How would you say your idea of “good governance” distinguishes itself from that of other elected officials?

Mack: My “BIG Idea” is openness, transparency and better communication. I strongly support an open government and strive to keep residents informed about important decisions affecting them. I do this through my website, blog, online surveys, podcasts, email newsletter and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Nextdoor. I even publish articles on Patch! All that is what distinguishes me from every other elected local official.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success in being a Newtown Township Supervisor?

Mack: The best advice I was given prior to assuming the office of Newtown Township Supervisor is to pay attention to the Township’s financial condition. At almost every Board of Supervisors meeting, I take that advice to heart and ask for details about certain expenses that the Board must approve. That helps me and the public better understand how our money is being spent.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Mack: I’m always working on something new! Currently, I am working with “The Friends of Roberts Ridge Park” which is an ad hoc group of neighbors who are interested in planting more trees in the Park. This group was formed in reaction to an article I published in the Newtown Patch that pointed out the impact the Township’s pollution reduction plan (PRP) would have on the park (“Newtown Township's Pollution Reduction Plan”). Resident comments made at a subsequent Board of Supervisors meeting convinced the Township to modify the plan, which will be even better if we can plant more trees!

The group plans to sponsor the planting of dozens of native trees in the Park and has the backing of the Newtown Environmental Advisory Council, as well as the Newtown Parks and Recreation Board.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Mack: Friends of Fisher & Mack are planning a unique fundraising event on September 15, 2019, at La Stalla Restaurant from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. There will be food, soft drinks, a cash bar and special guest speakers, including State Senator Steve Santarsiero, who will update attendees on PFAS in our local water sources and legislation designed to set standards to address the problem.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your activities as Newtown Township Supervisor?

• Email: john@johnmacknewtown.info
• Phone: (215) 808-089
• Website: https://www.johnmacknewtown.info/
• Newsletter: http://www.newtownnesupdate.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMackNewtown/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnmacknewtown (@johnmacknewtown)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JohnMackNewtown/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/johnjmack
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/johnmacknewtown/
• Scoop.It: https://www.scoop.it/u/johnmacknewtown

About Dennis Fisher:

Dennis Fisher is currently a Newtown Township Supervisor. Dennis has been active in township affairs since being appointed to the Planning Commission in 2006. He held that position until 2017 when he was elected township-wide as Auditor. Dennis served as deputy chair, vice-chair and chair of Newtown Democrats for several years, ending with numerous local victories in 2017. He and his wife Karen have lived in Newtown for 27 years. Dennis will bring his experience and knowledge of Newtown Township to the Supervisor position along with active listening skills and a heart for service.

This article was sponsored by Friends of Fisher and Mack.