Bill Gager keeps on running

Will oppose incumbent Jeff Dexter

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS, PA — Bill Gager is running again for supervisor in Damascus Township.

After serving on the township council for 18 years, 16 of them as chair, Gager is not letting the loss of an election or two deter him from trying again.

When he lost the primary election in 2007 for supervisor to Chuck Grady, he forged a write-in campaign. He received 197 write-in votes to Grady’s 553 votes.

But that didn’t stop him. Attending almost every township monthly meeting since 2007, Gager kept his name in the public eye.

Next, in the race for supervisor last year, he ran for the two-year supervisor’s position and lost. Not to be deterred, he fought for and won the Republican primary for the six-year supervisor term to face incumbent supervisor Jeff Dexter, the Democratic candidate.

“I’ve been in the job of supervisor for 16 years and know all the organizations and individuals in state government and non-state agencies that bring a lot of programs to the township,” he said. “I’ve had the experience of leading the township successfully over that time.”

Gager said that his experience gives him an advantage over his opponent.

Dexter, who returned to his native Damascus after serving for several years as director of construction for the Arizona State Park System, was appointed to fill the interim position of supervisor that was vacated by Fred Haase in 2007. When he ran on his own merits for the supervisor position for 2008, he won.

“I have served four years on the township council, two as chairman,” Dexter said. “Retired with over 30 years’ experience as a park and construction manager, I was responsible for preparing and managing budgets, supervising personnel, providing public services and overseeing $30 million in construction.”

During his tenure as the chairman of the township board, Dexter helped put in place several projects that will save money and make the operations of the township more efficient.

“The town treasurer is now working at the township building and can devote her full attention to township affairs,” Dexter said. “By researching the Internet and comparison shopping, she has realized significant costs savings.”

For the first time, expenditures for equipment repairs have been lowered significantly, he said. “I have encouraged NEPA to include northern Wayne County townships for a grant for petitions requiring Verizon to provide high speed Internet services,” he said.

As supervisor, Dexter said he has attended many workshops on the effects of shale gas development on local government.