Election 2025: Joe Van Houten For Doylestown Township Supervisor

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.

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Four candidates are running for two open, six-year seats on the Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors. In this election, voters will decide between Democrats Christina Maida and Dan Wood, the only incumbent in the race, and Republicans Colleen Brofy Brennan and Joe Van Houten.

Biological Information

Name: Joe Van Houten
Age: 57
Town of residence: Doylestown Township
Position sought: Supervisor
What Towns Does Your Position Cover: Doylestown Township
Party Affiliation: Republican
Family: My wife, Diane, and I have three adult children and six grandchildren. We currently live in Doylestown Township with our dog, Finnigan.
Education: 1990 BS in Business Management and Finance from Rutgers University, Beta Gamma Sigma (International Business Honor Society).
Occupation: CEO and President of HKS Global Resources; a buying agency providing services to the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Exchanges.

Questions:

1. Why are you running for supervisor? If elected, what will you bring to the table?

Local government should never be about red versus blue — it should be about you. Every family, every taxpayer, every neighbor who calls Doylestown home deserves leaders who serve the entire community, not just one political side. I am running for supervisor to serve our entire community — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — because what unites us as neighbors is far more important than what divides us as voters. To that end, I pledge to leave politics at the door when walking into the Township Building. My focus is on practical issues that affect everyone equally — keeping taxes fair, supporting our police and first responders, maintaining safe roads, and protecting the quality of life that makes Doylestown such a special place to live.

With more than 25 years serving on Doylestown Township boards and committees, I bring first-hand experience that will let me hit the ground running on day one as your supervisor. I currently serve as Chairman of the Doylestown Township Municipal Authority and the Public Water and Sewer Advisory Board, and I have also chaired the UCC Board of Appeals. Alongside that public service, I have built a successful 30-year career in the private sector, including 18 years as a business owner.

Experience, commitment, and fiscal responsibility matter when managing our community’s tax dollars. My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive — focused on relationships, accountability, and results. As your supervisor, I will apply that experience and balanced perspective to keep Doylestown well-run, transparent, and focused on the needs of all residents.

2. What are your top issues and how do you plan to address them?

One of my top issues is bringing a fiscally responsible approach to governing the township. The other involves implementing a long-term plan for expanding public sewers where needed, and assuring residents have access to clean, reliable drinking water at a reasonable price.

Township Supervisors have a fiduciary responsibility to all residents when deciding how to spend hard-earned tax dollars. No different than balancing a family or business budget, I believe budgeting is a continuous, disciplined process. The first priority is always to fund our police, fire, and emergency responders, followed by maintaining essential staff, equipment, and infrastructure. Next comes meeting long-term obligations such as pensions, debt reduction, and reserves for future needs. Only after those needs are met should we consider discretionary spending.

My goal is to limit tax increases by focusing on efficiency — trimming unnecessary costs so we can invest more in what residents truly need. I will also carefully evaluate grant projects that require matching funds and review existing commitments, such as the Ready for 100 initiative, to ensure they remain fiscally sound. Collaborating with fellow supervisors and department heads, I will promote forward planning and self-funding major expenses wherever possible. Responsible budgeting should mean doing more with what we have — not settling for less.

With less than half of Township residents having access to public sewers and water, many still rely on private wells and on-lot septic systems. When functioning properly, both provide reliable and cost-effective means of basic necessities. However, septic systems do not last forever, and many residents lack the required space to expand or install a new system. Private wells can pose their own unique challenges. My time volunteering on both the Public Water and Sewer Advisory Board and as Chairman of the Municipal Authority have been focused on developing a long-term plan for expanding public sewers where needed, and assuring residents have access to clean, reliable drinking water at a reasonable price. To that end, as a Supervisor I will continue to advocate for keeping ownership of our public water system and against selling to any entity looking to profit from providing basic needs for our residents. I will also focus on practicing fiscal responsibility while maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure as needed, funding our first responders, and ensuring proper financial reserves are kept, which are all important tenets needed to help maintain the quality of life we have grown to expect from Doylestown Township.

3. What are your ideas for improving Doylestown Township?

Doylestown Township does not need to be red or blue. It needs to be well run. It needs leaders who listen, and who understand that innovative ideas are not owned by any one party. When voting this November, residents are not choosing colors — they are choosing character, balance, and commitment to all residents. Every family, every taxpayer, every neighbor who calls Doylestown home deserves leaders who serve the entire community, not just one political side. I am running to represent all residents of Doylestown Township. I pledge to leave politics at the door when walking into the Township Building. My focus is on practical issues that affect everyone equally — keeping taxes fair, supporting our police and first responders, maintaining safe roads, and protecting the quality of life that makes Doylestown such a special place to live. I would be honored to serve our entire community — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — because what unites us as neighbors is far more important than what divides us as voters.