An article in last week’s Pike County Dispatch about the race for township supervisor in Shohola between write-in candidate Shirley Masuo and incumbent George Fluhr Jr. said he “has regularly presented his vision and platform for Shohola publicly.” I attend nearly every monthly supervisors meeting, and I haven’t a clue as to what Mr. Fluhr’s “vision” and “platform” constitute. He said that his platform is “to keep taxes low, improve roads as much as possible and maintain a strong police presence.” Those are noble goals, but they are not a platform. Voters want to know how he will achieve those goals, and it is the “how” about which Mr. Fluhr refuses to converse.

On the other hand, write-in candidate Masuo has presented a solid, achievable platform constituting, in part, creation of a financial management committee to draw upon the talents of Shohola citizens to assist the board in anticipating needs, setting financial goals and developing plans to attain those goals. Her platform includes programs to identify cost savings in managing the energy needs of township buildings and examine potential opportunities to lower operating costs through joint purchases and equipment-sharing with neighboring townships. Her platform includes enhancing government/citizen communications through a citizens advisory council, development of an annual state-of-the-township report and expanding the role of the township website to be the hub of essential township information.

Ms. Masuo has my write-in vote because she is a fair, open-minded person who has offered a thoughtful, reasonable and attainable platform of actions to better serve the people of Shohola. Incumbent Fluhr offers voters platitudes. For me, the choice is very, very easy.

David D. Farrington

Shohola, PA