Candidate Profile 2021: David Oxley, Newtown Township Supervisor

NEWTOWN, PA — David Oxley, a current member of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, is a Democrat running for the position of Newtown Township Supervisor.

Oxley, who also works as a wealth advisor, was elected to the Board in 2020. Building up the local economy and taxes toward better infrastructure will be some of the main priorities of Oxley if elected. He is running alongside fellow Democrat Elen Snyder.

The two will be running against Republicans Kyle Davis and Andrea Ahern.

The general election will take place on Nov. 2.

Here's Oxley's profile, as filled out by the candidate:

Age (as of Election Day)

38

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Danielle, my wife, and I have four children ranging in age from 3 to 15.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Graduated from University of Hartford in 2006 with a BA in Politics and Government

Occupation

Wealth Advisor

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I was appointed the Board of Newtown Township Supervisors and currently serve as a member of the Bucks County Community College Authority as well as the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority.

Campaign website

www.oxleyfornewtown.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to make a difference in the community my family and I call home. My education and financial business experience give me the perspective and tools to attract new businesses to Newtown. An influx of the right kinds of businesses broadens our tax base and brings vitality to our community. I’m also running for Supervisor because I believe participating in local government gives me the opportunity to serve my neighbors and to support programs that will benefit our community. I want Newtown Township to continue to build its reputation as a great place for living, dining, shopping, and a great place to raise your family and retire. Our community is growing and changing in a good way; I want to be in a position to encourage inclusion and diversity. When I deal with any Township issue, my focus is on whether the proposed change will enhance our community, make it more family-friendly, expand its appeal to visitors and residents alike, and make Newtown an even better place to live and work.

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

My first priority is to get the Township back on sound financial footing. When Lockheed Martin left in 2015, the Township lost significant revenue. The Republican majority on the Board of Supervisors ignored this shortfall; instead of making a tough decision to raise taxes to replace the lost revenue, they depleted the Reserve Fund to pay staff and fund municipal services, bringing the Township to the brink of bankruptcy. I am committed to creating responsible financial plans that invest in our community and its police, fire and public works department while keeping Newtown Township taxes among the lowest in Bucks County.

When I became a Supervisor in 2020, I knew that a long-term financial plan was necessary for us to regroup. I reached out to other Townships across Pennsylvania to get ideas and recommendations on consulting resources to guide the Board in our budget process. I brought in a municipal consulting firm with whom the Board of Supervisors and the Finance Committee developed recommendations which we are implementing now. I have a strong financial background and my expertise was a driving force in getting us to address today’s situation and plan for tomorrow. We now have a fiscally-responsible roadmap for the future.

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

This election is about leadership, being able to make difficult decisions and planning for the future. First, let me say that I believe my opponent, Kyle Davis, also cares deeply about our outstanding community. We do, however, greatly differ on what the solutions are to the issues confronting the Township as well as our vision of Newtown’s future. Between the two of us, I am the only one with a clearly defined vision and a multiyear financial plan to get Newtown on a stable financial footing and to ensure our roads are properly maintained, our police and fire services are fully funded, and our parks and recreation assets can be sustained.

When confronted with dwindling tax revenues my opponent consistently supported reduced government services and using reserve funds, even to the point of placing the Township at grave financial risk. In my opinion being a fiscally responsible steward of public resources doesn’t mean continuing to embrace tired political anti-tax rhetoric. To the contrary, it means making difficult decisions to fund critical programs and make investments in programs that will help Newtown prosper. That is why I supported a modest tax increase. Newtown Township continues to have one of the lowest property taxes in the County.

I believe citizens have a responsibility to support and fund critical municipal departments. Police and firefighters protect lives and property of all residents. Public works not only repair our roads but maintain parks and ball fields for our kids. The Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide range of programs that serve the Newtown community and beyond. We must ensure that these departments are funded so that they can be fully staffed, able to afford the necessary equipment, be funded to invest in training, and continue to offer and expand community programming.

I understand Kyle’s vision of Newtown as the small, quaint community in which he grew up. That is not the Newtown of today or the future. We all love Newtown. That’s why Danielle and I decided to move back here where she grew up and raise our family. I want Newtown Township to continue to build its foundation as a great place to live, work, pray and play! Our community is growing and changing in a good way, which takes planning, insight and vision.

The choice between myself and Kyle is clear. I’m the one who has the necessary vision, leadership, financial skills that can help make Newtown more family-friendly, expand its appeal to visitors and residents alike, and make Newtown an even better place to live and work.

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

My opponent and I are both hold the position of Newtown Township Supervisor vying for one seat.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Before being appointed as a Supervisor I served on the Township Finance Committee and I recognized the enormous positive impact new business would bring to the Township. I will be partnering with the Township and County Planning Commissions, and the Economic Development Committee to expand our reach to aggressively recruit new business.
I believe we can offer businesses a thriving environment to relocate and grow. New businesses bring energy, jobs and revenue to our community. The Business Commons and many other commercial spaces are here and ready. And I have a plan on how to bring new business to the Township. Newtown is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

I am currently working with planning officials to develop a comprehensive plan to re-imagine and improve the Business Commons. There are so many opportunities to repurpose existing commercial space and create new business hubs. We need to make our business areas more business-friendly by adding simple amenities like sidewalks, outdoor spaces, and food shops.

Through smart planning and moderate investment, we can create desirable office spaces to attract new business to the Township. This is good for our community because it increases the tax base and helps local businesses when new workers shop and eat in our town.

I want to celebrate the diversity in our Township and to bring people together on a local level. I want to create programs and events that allow our community to gather together to learn about each other, to honor our common interests and to explore our differences with kindness and tolerance. What a gift of love these kinds of gatherings can be!

I helped organize the Garden of Reflection Vigil on 6/4/2020 after the murder of George Floyd – the turnout was unbelievable, a steady line of cars from 6pm until after 11pm, cars filled with families of all races who were horrified by this event. I want more events where we can come together to talk, and then to do good things in Newtown and in our nation. Let’s do this NOW.

I will lead the effort to find ways to initiate a forum for open discussion by having the Township partner with groups like The Peace Center and interfaith organizations. Is this government business? I say YES: it’s the people’s business, it’s our nation’s business and as Supervisor, I can make a difference by supporting this kind of initiative.

Over the past several decades, our farms have been sold off to housing developers. Although we still enjoy protected open spaces and parks, Newtown is a magnet for builders because it is such a desirable place to live: Council Rock School District is top-rated, we enjoy a thriving historic town. We have great restaurants and shops – it’s no secret why Newtown continues to grow. The challenge for the future is smart planning to maintain a balance between residential communities, the growing commercial/business areas, and the open spaces. Smart planning means fighting for the right kind of development: low-profile buildings, more housing options, open space balanced with development. Smart planning also means respecting zoning for the benefit of the community, standing strong against devious developers and their representatives.

I want Newtown Township to continue to build its foundation as a great place to live, work, pray and play! Our community is growing and changing in a good way, which takes planning, insight and vision. When I deal with any Township issue, my focus is on whether the proposed change will enhance our community, make it more family-friendly, expand its appeal to visitors and residents alike, and make Newtown an even better place to live and work.

The continuing quality of our community relies on responsible citizenry supporting essential municipal services. I believe citizens have a responsibility to support and fund critical municipal departments. Police and firefighters protect lives and property of all residents. Public Works not only repair our roads, but maintain parks and ball fields for our kids. The Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide range of programs that serve the Newtown community and beyond. We must ensure that these departments are funded so that they can be fully staffed, able to afford the necessary equipment, be funded to invest in training, and continue to offer and expand community programming.

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

My education and professional experience provides me the skills to do an outstanding job working on behalf of Newtown Citizens.