Position sought: Moon Township supervisor

E-mail address: amgribben@moontwp.com

Phone: 412-580-9396

Address: 117 Beacon Hill Drive

Family: Wife, Christianne; son, Zachary, 10; daughter, Kathryn, 7

Education: Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, Purdue University

Occupation: Plant manager at SMS Millcraft for 17 years

Related experience: I have managed people – hourly, salary and professionals my whole career. I currently manage a plant with 40 hourly USWA workers and eight staff. I have experience with both capital spending and maintenance budgets exceeding $ 10 million annually. I believe that the township should be managed like a business in the private sector as much as possible.

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? Moon Township is a great place to raise children, due in part to its great parks programs, MASA, Moon Little League and the schools. I believe that if you live
in a community and take advantage of its resources, like the parks or the library, that you should give back to the community. This office is a way for me to accomplish that.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? There are several important issues that I will work on if elected; however, an updated gas and oil drilling ordinance that will include Marcellus Shale drilling is a
priority. Marcellus Shale drilling has been going on all around Moon Township for several years. It is a matter of time before it starts in Moon.

I believe we need to get our ordinances updated before a gas company approaches Moon Township for a permit. I am attending a speaker series on Marcellus Shale drilling so that I can be prepared to make the necessary revisions to our existing gas and oil drilling ordinances.

Other important issues to me are the completion of the Moon Park renovation in addition to continued support of police, firemen and Moon library.

What sets you apart from the other candidates? I have been a Moon Township resident since 1995. I have two young children who are involved in local sports, parks and recreation activities, our library and public schools.

I have a background in business, budgets and managing people. Through this business I have an understanding of project management and engineering which is a major part of everyday business in the township. I am involved as a coach with my children and I am concerned about keeping our township a safe, friendly, nice place to live. Plus, I have been serving the residents of Moon Township as a township supervisor for the past two years.

What's your favorite thing about the community? Moon Township is a great place to live. We are perfectly situated to be convenient to the airport and the city and all it has to offer.

Plus the amenities of the township have such a broad appeal. From our great schools to our local library and including our acres of parks and numerous recreational activities, we really offer something for everyone. Plus, residents are friendly and always willing to participate in fundraising events from car washes to formal charity events.

During my door-to-door campaigning I had an opportunity to talk with hundreds of residents, and it confirmed my feelings of how friendly and welcoming the people of Moon Township are.

What is the biggest problem facing the community? When I was first elected, I attended the Local Government Academy and learned the problems facing other communities in our area, such as a lack of volunteer fire protection, severely limited budget funds for the police force and the inability to afford road maintenance. Fortunately, our township is not facing any of these critical issues.

I believe that traffic is a growing concern and will become a larger issue as the township continues to develop. Improvement of existing intersections such as the Thorn Run interchange and the intersection of Beaver Grade and Montour Run are being discussed. I will continue to make traffic and road improvements a priority.