Meet Mike Thompson, An Incumbent Abington Township Commissioner Who Seeks Reelection

ABINGTON, PA — As Patch continues its pre-election coverage, take the time to learn about incumbent Abington Township Commissioner Mike Thompson, who seeks reelection to his post on Tuesday.

See below Thompson's responses to a Patch questionnaire.

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife- Denise, son- Greyson, daughter- Ava. Married 17 years, resided in North Hills for all of that 17 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors of Architecture

Occupation

Architect

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Incumbent Commissioner- elected 2017

Campaign website

neighbors4mike.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To continue to foster a safe, inclusive, and prosperous neighborhood for my kids and all kids, as well as all residents of North Hills and Ardsley.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Supporting small business which was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, we need to study our business centers and understand the characteristics that make them distinct, whether that be walkability, small town charm, access to transit, and we need to leverage those to attract both new business and new customers to Abington.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My planning background uniquely positions me to take the lead on topics such as the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning and Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance revisions, stormwater management issues, and building code issues. As a member of the state's Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council, I am uniquely positioned to weigh in on controversial matters regarding our building codes.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am the incumbent this time around.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Sustainability- how do we continue to provide a safe, clean, and equitable environment in Abington. This can occur in many ways, such as green construction incentivization in the zoning and land development codes, to consideration of equitable housing policies that benefit all of the residents of Abington.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've been able to get AquaPA to commit to adding PFAS filtration to the North Hills well, which is a work in progress. We were also able to shut down an illicit massage parlor in a residential neighborhood within the ward that we suspect was engaged in human trafficking.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"You can keep some of the people happy all of the time, all of the people happy some of the time, but you can never keep all of the people happy all of the time." There will always be those that we disagree with, but the goal is to continue forward and do the right thing.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love being your commissioner- there is an enormous sense of reward when it comes to helping residents that are encountering difficult situations that require one-on-one support, which brings me sincere gratification. I hope to continue to be a servant leader for Ward 6 for 4 more years.