Stoker, Wong win West Chester trustee race

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 12:01 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Residents in West Chester Twp. returned incumbents Catherine Stoker and Lee Wong to the Board of Trustees Tuesday, Nov. 3. But their wins didn’t come without a fight.

Of the total 24,741 residents who cast a ballot in West Chester this year, Wong and Stoker received 23.55 percent — or 5,826 votes — and 20.57 percent — or 5,090 votes — respectively. Candidates Randy Stanifer and Chris Xeil Lyons both received more than 4,000 votes, according to final but unofficial results from the Butler County Board of Elections.

Stoker, one of Butler County’s longest-tenured local officials was elected to her fifth term Tuesday, while Wong will be seated next year for his second term.

They’ll be joining trustee George Lang when they’re seated in January. Lang is up for election in 2011.

Both Stoker and Wong attributed the crowded race as one of the contributing factors to their victories. “It’s very similar to our race last time,” Stoker said. “I said I needed about 20 percent of the vote to win, and that’s about what I received.

“I think it’s really about voters realizing that the township was in good shape and that they don’t want the leadership to change,” she added.

In addition to the nine-person race, Wong said he believes grassroots campaigning — more specifically, knocking on thousands of doors during the past six months — made him stand out above other candidates.

“By staying in touch with the residents, and listening to them, I’m bringing their agenda and not mine,” Wong said. “I really think West Chester is headed in the right direction.”

Stoker said she hopes to use the next four years to focus more efforts on redeveloping the U.S. 42 corridor. Shovels aren’t likely to start hitting the earth on that 3.5-mile expansion in the township’s eastern portion until 2011.

Stoker and Wong also said 2010 will be a critical year for the township’s police levy, which expired nearly two years ago. While trustees have maintained services, the discussion about whether to place a levy on the ballot is expected soon; and a 2010 ballot measure is a sincere possibility.

“If you delay it for another year, you’re going to have a (financial) gap there,” Wong said. “It must be done right. You cannot over-stretch it, and that’s because safety is No. 1 for residents.”

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