MIKE ZOWNIRIW

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." ....Edmund Burke

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Party Candidate, Mike Zowniriw, won the November 2003 election for Richland Township Supervisor in an upset victory over Republican incumbent, Patricia Keller. In an area where 500 Republican votes to 300 Democratic votes is the typical voting pattern, Mike won 780 to 702. 

He thanks one and all for their time, effort and support!! 

Power to the People!!

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS ARE HELD THE 2ND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH @ THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING, 1328 CALIFORNIA ROAD AT 7PM.

WHAT IF MIKE Z. HAD NOT BEEN

 

ELECTED…..?

 

***  We would see the Y built on open space Station Road.

***  We would see WB Homes building 100's of homes all over the Quakertown Swamp, instead of much fewer and in designated areas.

*** We would see 1000's of units going up behind the Q-Mart, instead of far, far less.

*** Mike recommended overturning the B10 age-qualified overlay allowing 22 units where previously one was allowed - it was therefore repealed. We would otherwise be seeing at least 588 units of garden-style senior apartments at Tollgate Road & Old Bethlehem Pike.

*** Mike assisted Hunters Crossing residents in having a voice with the many problems they were having in their development. First Orloff vilified Mike Z. for supporting the homeowners, then he admitted it was a good idea to meet with Homeowner's Associations, and he began meeting with them by himself. In addition, when running for office, Staats was with him. Mike's idea - they took it.

*** Mike Z. suggested a municipal golf course in an attempt to increase township income without creating a burden to township citizenry. Tamburri and Orloff scoffed at the idea at first, but later thought a feasibility study should be done. Mike Z. then rescinded his idea when he found that nearby East Rockhill Township already had a similar plan.

*** Mike Z. brought increased citizen awareness to issues pertaining to the environment, particularly the Quakertown Swamp, and he specifically opposed WB Homes' proposal to build on and adjacent to the Swamp. Mike said WB's proposal was only a good idea "in a vacuum."

*** Mike Z. behaves in a respectful caring manner with the citizenry of Richland Township, especially at township meetings, in sharp contrast to the inappropriate behaviors demonstrated by others.

*** Mike Z. is available and ready to listen to Richland citizens regardless of their party affiliation or religious beliefs.

*** Mike Z. has opposed the giving away of the Richland Township's Open Space in the case of the YMCA, which the Bucks County Planning Commission and the Quakertown Area Planning Commission also opposed. 

*** Mike Z. and Steve Tamburri did not like the idea of the township's Preservation Board spending over $5,000 for an historic sign.

*** Mike Z. has been in favor of working in a positive, friendly way with Quakertown Borough.

*** Mike Z. has remained a gentleman under the constant mean-spirited assaults and attacks from fellow-supervisors, from members of the township's boards, and the press.

*** Mike Z. openly questioned how and why Richard Woldow appears to be listening to BOS meeting tapes, when official policy is that no one can except the township secretary.

*** Mike Z. brought to the attention of the township and staff the definition of "spot zoning" - the illegal re-zoning of an area specifically to benefit one person or entity.

*** Mike Z. questioned the Township's police department, solicitor and fellow supervisors, as to the appropriateness and safety of having a convicted child molester involved with township business. They did not appear to mind.

*** Mike Z. protested the celebrating of Richard Woldow over his donating $750 to the township police department for the purchase of baseball-type cards of the policemen with Q-Mart advertising all over it.

 

 

Michael Zowniriw was born April 18, 1953 in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in the Logan section, attending St. Basil's Academy, Central High School and Penn State University, where he met his wife, Amy, in 1973. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in Art, married Amy in 1977, and then headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for a year of graduate school. In 1979, they moved back to Philadelphia, rooting themselves in the Olney section. Mike began his own contracting business, and they had two daughters. Mike and Amy became active in their neighborhood, combating unethical realtors, fighting public school overcrowding, and promoting the ethnic diversity of their community. Mike still dabbled a bit in art, having an occasional exhibit at Allen's Lane Art Center, Dirty Frank's Bar, and the Art at the Armory show. He enjoys gardening, ping-pong, pool, biking, listening to NPR, and his many pets. Pin ball is one of his favorite distractions.

     In 1999, Mike and Amy moved to Richland Township. They were "burned out" living in the city their whole lives and yearned for the sounds of crickets and tree frogs at night, and the smell of manure during the day!! They purchased an old Victorian home that is a perpetual project for Mike. His interest in his new community was immediate, sparking him to write several letters to the editor, on subjects from traffic control to business ethics. He sees the green open spaces that drew him to Upper Bucks County growing smaller, and feels compelled to take as active a role as possible to honor what is left. He is also very concerned with past dumping coming back to haunt the area. He has met many wonderful people in Richland Township who share his vision of an honest, open and unpolluted community.

Zowniriw family dog, PACO. 

Photo by Amy Zowniriw

Photo by Amy Zowniriw

Photo by Amy Zowniriw