Election 2025: Stacey Champion For Bensalem Council

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — Stacey Champion is running for a seat on the Bensalem Township Council in the Nov. 4 general election.

Champion, a Republican, is among the candidates vying for three, four-year terms on the five-member council. Longtime Republican Councilman Joseph Pillieri did not seek re-election.

The candidates are Republican newcomer Will Walker and Councilwomen Stacey Champion and Michelle Benitez. They are running against Democrats Joseph Wenzel Jr., Ed Tokmajian, and Jesse Sloan.

Biographical Information

• Name: Stacey Champion
• Age: 59
• Town of Residence: Bensalem Township
• Position sought: Bensalem Township Council
• Are you an incumbent? Yes
• What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Bensalem Township
• Party Affiliation: Republican
• Family: Husband Al, Married 19 years, two high-school-age children: Maura and AJ, two collies
• Education: BS, LaSalle University
• Occupation: Currently Senior Project Manager for ERP Software company; former controller (15 years Wall Street firms, 5 years Biotech firm); Accountant since 1989.

Candidate Questions

1. How do you feel about the township's future development?

Future development in our township must be undertaken with careful consideration for all stakeholders — including residents, taxpayers, business owners, and visitors. It is essential that any growth be planned thoughtfully and purposefully to preserve the suburban character that defines our community. While we are the first township north on I-95, we are not the city, nor do we aspire to become one.

2. What are your thoughts on political violence in the country?

Political violence in our nation has become an alarming trend that threatens the very foundation of our democracy. As a leader, I stand firmly for law and order and place the safety and security of our residents and visitors above all else. But leadership also requires example — ensuring that our words and actions foster respect, not resentment, unity, not division. We must all reject hatred and hostility, wherever they come from, and work together to restore civility, accountability, and trust in our communities.

3. What are the biggest challenges facing the borough?

One of the most important challenges we face as a township is ensuring the continued safety of our residents and visitors, particularly as we address the growing concerns about crime spilling over from neighboring areas such as Philadelphia.

Public safety must remain our top priority. Another major challenge is the ongoing push for high-density housing in a suburban community that saw its most significant growth between the 1950s and 1980s. Our residents value Bensalem’s suburban character and do not wish to see it transformed into an urban environment.

Finally, as developers bring forward new proposals, their projects must align with our community’s long-term vision — fostering responsible growth that benefits all while safeguarding the integrity and character of our township.