Hans van Mol: Tredyffrin Township Supervisor At-Large Candidate Profile

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA — With the 2025 municipal election growing ever close, voters need to be informed of who will be on their ballots Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Below is a candidate profile for Hans van Mol, who is running to become a Tredyffrin Township Supervisor At-Large:

Name: Hans van Mol
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Location/Town: Paoli
Party: Democrat
Campaign Website: http://bit.ly/m/hans4pa
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram: @hans4pa

How do you plan to address the needs of the township and its residents while keeping taxes low?

My goal is to make sure residents get the most value out of every dollar the township collects. That starts with planning smarter, using our resources efficiently, and making decisions that prevent costly problems down the road.

In my role as the District Operations Director for Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, I work every day to connect residents with state programs, secure funding for local projects, and help communities navigate government effectively. That experience gives me the knowledge and relationships to deliver real results for Tredyffrin. I understand how to get things done and how to make government work for people, not the other way around.

We can also save money by being proactive: investing in infrastructure, stormwater systems, and technology before issues become emergencies. For decades, township leadership often reacted to problems only after they became expensive to fix. In recent years, we’ve started to shift toward long-term planning and more forward-thinking investment, and I want to keep building on that progress. My focus will be on continuing that work: identifying challenges early, acting responsibly, and ensuring that every investment today strengthens our community for tomorrow.

At the end of the day, this is about good stewardship: making responsible, informed decisions that improve quality of life for everyone who calls Tredyffrin home.

What are the biggest issues your constituents bring up when discussing life in the township?

The issues I hear most often are housing affordability, traffic and infrastructure, and the pace of development. People love living in Tredyffrin, but many worry it’s becoming harder to afford or navigate. Seniors tell me they’re “frozen” in their homes because they can’t afford to move, while younger families struggle to find a way in.

A lot of that comes down to planning. For too long, development decisions were made reactively, one parcel or variance at a time. That approach doesn’t protect our long-term interests. We need a clear, forward-looking plan that guides growth responsibly, protects our neighborhoods and open space, and ensures that new housing options allow every generation to call Tredyffrin home. We can welcome new residents and maintain our character at the same time, but only if we plan for it intentionally.

Stormwater management has been a major focus of the current board, and that work needs to continue. We’ve made a good start with new infrastructure investments and planning, but it’s a challenge that takes consistent attention and effort. The same goes for roads and potholes. Regular maintenance isn’t flashy, but it’s one of the clearest signs that local government is working for the people who live here.

Finally, we need to make sure that every corner of our township receives the same care and attention. Every street deserves safety, investment, and respect. That’s how we build trust and make sure Tredyffrin works for everyone who calls it home.

How can the township work to reduce crime?

Tredyffrin remains one of the safest communities in Pennsylvania, thanks to a highly professional police department, strong community partnerships, and the township’s continued investment in public safety. The 2024 Police Annual Report shows that crime remains very low, with a clear emphasis on community engagement, training, and accreditation through the PA Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, or PLEAC.

That success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on trust, communication, and visibility. I support continuing to fill vacancies within our police department so we can maintain strong coverage and quick response times, while also keeping our hiring standards rigorous and our expectations high. Residents deserve a department that’s well-staffed, well-trained, and deeply connected to the community it serves.

Our focus should be on maintaining the excellence that already makes Tredyffrin safe while ensuring every resident, in every neighborhood, feels heard and protected.

What can be done to make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter/bike riders, and motorists?

Safety starts with shared responsibility. Tredyffrin’s roads are used by drivers, walkers, cyclists, and now, more and more electric bike and scooter riders. These are becoming real, affordable ways for people to get around, but they need to be treated as transportation, not toys.

When I was growing up, having a bike meant freedom, but it also came with responsibility. Before I could ride through the neighborhood, I had to learn the rules of the road and how to stay safe. The same should apply now, especially when motors and higher speeds are involved. Recently, while driving home after midnight, I was stunned to see two teens challenging me for space riding e-scooters down Route 252 (a major roadway) with no helmets, no lights, and no concern for safety. These are powerful vehicles, and they need to be operated like it.

While licensing and registration are handled by the state, the township can do its part by setting clear local rules for safe operation and making sure our infrastructure supports everyone. That means better lighting, clearer markings, and practical improvements like safer crossings and calmer traffic design. Tredyffrin doesn’t have sidewalks in every neighborhood, which means we all share the same space on the road. The key is education, enforcement, and respect, making sure everyone, no matter how they travel, takes safety seriously and looks out for one another.

What can township leaders do to foster additional small business growth in Tredyffrin Township?

Small businesses thrive in communities that people actually want to spend time in. The best thing we can do for local business growth is to make Tredyffrin a place where residents and visitors feel connected and where work, recreation, and community overlap.

That means reimagining how we use some of our commercial areas, especially places like Chesterbrook that have seen changes in how people work. Encouraging mixed-use redevelopment (where offices, housing, restaurants, and shops can coexist) will help bring new life to underused spaces and create the kind of foot traffic small businesses depend on.

We should also update zoning to allow smaller, more flexible spaces that meet the needs of today’s entrepreneurs. Not every business needs 10,000 square feet; some just need 1,000 in the right location. And beyond traditional offices or retail, we can think creatively: an indoor dog park, a shared daycare space with local employers, a coffee shop with live music, or even a small event and arts venue that gives our community a place to gather. Nearby towns have shown how reimagining old industrial or office space can spark both economic growth and local pride.

We have so many great organizations, schools, and volunteer groups here, but we’re always asking the same question: Where can we host something? A dedicated, flexible event space would not only serve local businesses and nonprofits, but also strengthen the sense of community that makes Tredyffrin special. When we focus on building community first, economic growth follows naturally. If we make Tredyffrin a place where people want to be, small businesses will want to be here too.