Next-Door Neighbors Vie for Office of East Whiteland Township Supervisor

By

Scott Lambert and Rich Orlow are next-door neighbors in East Whiteland Township. Interestingly, they’re both running for the same office. Scott Lambert, left, and Rich Orlow.

By Chris Cooper

Scott Lambert and Rich Orlow of East Whiteland are each running for Township Supervisor.

What’s interesting is that they both live in the same neighborhood. In fact, they are next-door neighbors.

Their parties and views may differ in these divisive times, but it’s refreshing to know they are cordial neighbors and will remain so, regardless of the election’s outcome.

A township supervisor serves on a board that oversees the running of a township. East Whiteland is governed by a three-member Board of Supervisors who are elected at large and serve six-year terms. Executive and legislative responsibilities include setting and enacting policies and resolutions, levying taxes, and setting budgets.

“It’s the funniest thing in the world,” said Orlow, the Republican incumbent who is finishing up a two-year term to replace an outgoing supervisor. “We don’t hang out together, but we’re certainly on good terms. When I realized he was running, it was more comical than anything. I mean, where does this happen? Two years ago, when I ran for the first time, he asked me to put my sign on his lawn.

“Obviously, not now.”

“It is somewhat odd,” said Lambert, a Democrat and first-time candidate. “Rich is a fine neighbor, and a very nice person. We both own dogs, and occasionally we get visits from each other’s pets, and that’s fine. It’s a very good, neighborly relationship, and I don’t have any issues at all.”

Indeed, if there are any issues between them, they are political and not personal. Both agree that growth and development in East Whiteland Township is a key issue that needs to be addressed. Although each sees a clear difference in how the other would deal with growth and development, it basically comes down to “slowing” versus “managing” that growth.

“I would say the area where we differ is in growth,” said Lambert, who owns Maxim Re Healthcare in Malvern. “My vision is a smaller-paced growth than Rich’s. I’m not against development, but based on the recent impending growth, we need to slow that pace down and better plan for our future.”

Lambert and his team have canvassed nearly 1,500 homes in the township.

“We always ask what their biggest concern in the township is,” he said. “The overwhelming majority feel that the growth and development is out of control and that the rapid pace of development is not taking into account the negative impact of traffic, classroom sizes, open spaces, and overall quality of life in the community.”


[uam_ad id=”66839″]


“I know he wants to limit development because there’s a lot of development that is occurring now,” said Orlow, a lawyer and Certified Public Accountant. “A number of zoning changes occurred before I was supervisor, so all the development occurring now has been in the pipeline. I don’t think it’s realistic to eliminate development – it’s just not possible.

“What I like to do is time it more. We have now probably another 500-600 housing units that are either going to be built or under construction, and that’s going to take another three to four years. So maybe in another two years that might be the time to look at other new developments to start in the pipeline. Overall, I don’t think it’s realistic to stop development; it never works. It’s much smarter to manage it.”

Orlow believes the need to return to balanced budgets and to address upcoming union negotiations are just some of the fiscal issues that may be more critical for the township at this stage.

“The bigger thing right now is fiscal,” he said. “We have some pretty serious fiscal obligations to take care of, and with my financial background as a CPA and a lawyer, I feel qualified to get it handled.”

Another of Orlow’s goals is to create and construct more paths and access ways to the popular Chester Valley Trail.

“It runs right through our township and I go there on my bike regularly, but not every neighborhood can access it safely and easily,” he said.

Open space is also on the mind of Lambert, who notes that only 11 percent of the township remains undeveloped.

“This may be our last opportunity to preserve open space,” he said, “and one of the solutions is to provide an open space referendum to the community and let them decide if this is something they want to pursue.”

As a first-time candidate for public office, Lambert has enjoyed meeting and interacting with others in the township.

“I’m running because I want to help my community maintain a vibrant and economically stable environment,” he said. “As a successful business owner, I believe I have the skills, the energy, and the passion to fulfill that need. The openness and generosity of people to listen and to discuss issues has been overwhelming. We’ve learned an awful lot, and it’s been a great experience, regardless of the outcome of this election.”

Orlow’s reason for running for re-election is that “the township needs a qualified and experienced person in the Supervisor position, and I am that person.”

But he also made it clear that he’s not a politician.

“A true politician has to be part of the party and loyal to the party and have to follow the direction of the part, and I don’t do that; I don’t believe in it,” he said. “In our country, in the political system now, nobody has a mind of their own, and nobody’s willing to compromise. It’s crazy.”

And how does he and his next-door neighbor coexist as candidates for the same office?

“People always say the two subjects never to discuss if you want to stay peaceful is religion and politics,” he said. “What will happen, will happen.”

[uam_ad id=”66605″]

Connect With Your Community

Subscribe to stay informed!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement
Creative Capital logo