Meet Your Forks Township Supervisor Candidates

The Forks Township Board of Supervisors will have a big decision to make next Thursday night.

Who is going to join the board?

With the departure of Supervisor David Billings, the board must select a candidate to fill out the remainder of the five months of Billings' term this year.

So Supervisors Erik Chuss, Dan Martyak, John O'Neil and Bob Egolf asked a lot of questions of the four candidates they interviewed at Thursday's worksession, including whether the candidate would want to run for office in November's election and complete the 2014 and 2015 terms Billings has remaining.

Blandine Mballa-Fonkeu, who ran unsuccessfully for a Democratic supervisor nomination in the May 21 primary election, told the board that her financial analysis banckground would come in handy as the board tries to get through a gloomy financial forecast.

"The key word is a balanced budget," she said. "It's amazing that raising taxes will be the ultimate solution. Three years from today, we could be talking about raising taxes again. We need more in-depth analysis on how to get to a balanced budget."

Hoff, a former supervisor, is offering a short-term solution.

He just wants to fill in for the next five months and not go on as a supervisor for another two years.

Hoff, who has over 30 years in Forks government, said he would "Get started right away."

"There's no learning curve," said Hoff, who stated he would look at expenditures immediately and examine revenue streams.

"I'd get up to speed with the township manager and get into the finances," he said.

Nicholas, though, stated she is the best option because she's already running in November for a full supervisor post after serving one term already on the board a few years ago.

She said her knowledge of reading blueprints and her prior board accomplishments make her an ideal choice.

Nicholas stressed too that services, such as the police department, cannot afford to be cut since the safety of residents must always be a top priority.

"You need someone who will pick up the ball and run with it," she said. "You can't have someone who doesn't attend meetings. I attend most of them. I feel as an ex-supervisor, I'm one of the best candidates." 

Coy, a Forks resident since 1999 and assistant business manager for Colonial Intermediate IU 29, said her fiscal background would help in ensuring that cutting township services is a last resort.

The board is expected to interview Edwin Moore, Ritchy Ricci and James English before its regular meeting Thursday.

The board will then go into executive session before choosing a candidate.