Former trustee seeks a return to Fairfield Twp. board

Credit: File Photo

Credit: File Photo

Steve Morgan wants to return to a job he held for 16 years: Fairfield Twp. trustee.

The lifetime township resident admitted he was "burned out" when he lost a re-election bid in 2013. But Morgan said he's "ready to rock and roll" as he seeks to return to the board he served from 1996 to 2013.

"The way we were going was great," he said. "It was a slow process, but we wanted residents to agree with the change."

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Morgan is seeking to unseat incumbent Trustee Joe McAbee, a person he served alongside on the board for 10 years. He's also competing against township zoning board member DeeDee Ollis.

Morgan said the issues facing the community include road improvements and development but believes the township residents need to be better informed, especially when it comes to development.

"If you've got a big development going in, you should bring everybody that it affects into the room," he said. "If they've got a problem, they can ask the questions themselves before it goes forward. A lot of things are done behind a closed door."

When he was a trustee, Morgan said he was active — taking calls at all hours, and even pitching in if another snowplow driver was needed. He said he intends to dedicate even more of his time to the township if elected when he retires in a couple years, and his free time will be invested in the township.

He’s training to be a manager with Firestone, hoping to work at a store in Butler County — ideally in Fairfield Twp.

Morgan announced his intention to run for election in 2018. He was concerned with the turnover with elected officers and township staff and felt enough work wasn't getting done.

 

Morgan said anyone who served 16 years would "in burnout mode" after 16 consecutive years in office because "that's a long time to be a public servant if you do your job right."

Morgan said he told the front township office when he was previously in office to give his cellphone.

“I’ve pushed my dinner plate back many a time to go out and see what’s going on with a resident, and that’s what you’re supposed to do,” he said.

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