Today’s Reasons To Vote For Diane And Steve

The following letters appeared in the Courier Times yesterday (here, here, and here)…

Why haven't Republican Bucks County Commis- sioners Charley Martin and Jim Cawley, both up for re-election, gone on record expressing concern about the Draft Bucks County Regional Traffic Study recently published by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) for state Reps. Dave Steil and Scott Petri's Regional Traffic Task Force?

The commissioners were copied on a Sept. 19 letter from citizen watchdog group RRTS to the DVRPC, which stated this about the study: "The strategic and peculiar placement of the roundabout [at the intersection of Stoopville and Washington Crossing roads exacerbates the serious safety and quality-of-life issues that exist on Stoopville and Lindenhurst roads, as it will encourage even higher volumes of traffic, especially commercial traffic, to travel these roads at even greater speeds."

The placement of this roundabout will cause Stoopville Road to function more like a main artery, and arterial highway Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) to function more like a minor road. This opposes the principles of highway planning.

The commissioners share responsibility for the DVRPC's study because Commissioner Martin represents the county on the DVRPC's board, and the Bucks County Planning Commission (an agency the commissioners are responsible for) provided technical assistance for the study.

In my book, Charlie Martin and fellow commissioner Jim Cawley's silence speaks volumes. This lifelong Republican won't support them on Nov. 6. I'll vote for Democrat Commissioner candidates Steve Santarsiero and Diane Marseglia who spoke out against the study at last week's League of Women Voters candidates forum.

I applaud Santarsiero, who was quoted in an Oct. 22 Courier Times article saying, "It's troubling that the draft report proposes the realignment of Stoopville and Washington Crossing roads. If that were to happen, it would turn Stoopville into a major artery and would spur development in the Stoopville Road corridor, which would lead to more traffic in that area and onto Lower Makefield's roads."

Todd Herman
Newtown, PA


The government purchasing open space or development rights from farmers is not the answer to every negative environmental issue facing this county. Yes, I consider it a worthy program. But, some of us in the older and most densely populated areas of Lower Bucks believe some taxpayer dollars are being given to well-connected landowners for property already precluded from development.

Consider the benign approach of Republican Commissioners Martin and Cawley to the recent story, "County's water worst in the nation." They said at a recent debate that water pollution is a primary concern of the state Department of Environmental Protection. They choose not to acknowledge that the Bucks County Department of Health acts as the initial responder and follow-up investigator of Clean Stream Law violations for the DEP.

The commissioners can and should be more proactive through their own health department in our quest to clean up our lakes, streams, and the river.

Mike Slipp
Bristol Township, PA


The Oct. 18 county commissioner debate was informative and engaging, except for the actions of Jim Cawley.

Cawley lowered the level of political discourse with his actions, primarily occurring while his opponents were speaking, patting Jay Russell, Constitution Party candidate, on the back, engaging in one-on-one conversations with him, and constantly cracking jokes. This resulted in a rebuke from the moderator.

Cawley should remember that he has never been elected to any public office. He should learn to take the voters and the issues more seriously, or else he runs the risk of extending his string of electoral defeats.

Jeanne Bray
Lower Makefield, PA

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