I am running for Township Commissioner to lead Lower Macungie in a clear and positive direction. I’m ready to lead with fresh energy, smart growth thinking, and fiscal accountability. 

Being a lifelong business owner and having already served in local government, I bring to the table an unmatched set of qualifications. Uniquely, I would be the youngest member on the board, but also have the most business and government experience. 

If elected to the Township Board of Commissioners, I would follow a similar path to past successes in business and local government.

During my 13 years on Emmaus Borough Council, I established a reputation for creating efficient government– cutting a combined total of nearly $2,500,000 out of the annual budget, without reducing any services.   

To do this, I took the time needed to understand the process and systematically worked towards finding a better way.  

This included: 

• Purchasing new equipment for the public works department that made their jobs safer, faster, and more efficient, saving hundreds of hours worked each year.
• Rethinking department needs and challenging the “this is how we have always done it” mentality. 
• Negotiating better contracts that had the taxpayers’ best interests in mind, but also made sure employees’ needs were taken care of to keep morale high and motivated.
• Updating requirements and fees developers pay to be sure tax payers are not subsidizing their profits.
• Working with the public utilities to update our infrastructure so residents would have more reliable and efficient services, and have more providers to choose from, reducing overall resident costs.
• Joining with surrounding municipalities to improve economies of scale for equipment purchases and bidding of services 

If elected, my aim is to continue this measured and steady process of finding efficiency wherever needed and possible.

In 2006, under my leadership, Emmaus became the first Lehigh Valley municipality to make its meetings available on local TV and the Boro website, and then eventually on YouTube. This was a huge step forward in making local government more accessible and transparent.   

If elected to the Board of Commissioners, I would continue to make the Township Government more accessible and transparent. 

Preserving land in a built-out community like Emmaus is not an easy task.  However, I successfully preserved multiple plots, including important green space along South Mountain. Additionally, whenever the opportunity arose, I expanded our trail system, adding miles of new trails, including the popular South Mountain Gateway Trail and Orchid Lane Trail. Worth noting, all trails were added at zero out-of-pocket cost to the Borough.   

There are few projects that could transform the identity and liveability of the Township more than the Greenway Master Plan. The Greenway will provide alternative transportation options, pedestrian connectivity, preserve natural areas and wildlife habitat, and provide recreational opportunities for residents in all corners of the Township and beyond. If elected, finding ways to move this project forward will be a top priority. 

Operating efficiently and caring for the environment aren’t usually mentioned in the same sentence, but should go more hand-in-hand. In a joint effort with Upper Milford Township, the Borough invested in a salt brining system for our roads.  While salting roads in the winter is inherently bad for the environment, it’s also a necessity for modern living. Through this investment, salt brining uses ~70% less salt, yet is equally, if not more effective. It also saves significant taxpayer money by reducing employee hours and incurring no overtime wages.

If elected, finding ways to be a better steward of the land, while also saving the taxpayer money will be an easy win for everyone.

There are few contributions to a neighborhood that do more for safety and increasing property value than well-maintained sidewalks and connecting paths. Yet they are almost always the first big-ticket item a developer requests a waiver for. During my time on Borough Council, and currently as the Township Planning Commission Chairperson, I strictly adhere to the existing zoning plans, which call for sidewalks and walking paths for new developments.  

If elected, I would strive for connectivity between neighborhoods and township owned land, with the goal of connecting to the Greenway Master Plan. I would also push developers to do more than just the minimum requirement.

Being a Township Commissioner is a volunteer position with a very small financial stipend.  A select group of residents take on this role every 4 years because they want their community to continue thriving. Just like others before me, I am your neighbor, who pays the same taxes, shares the same friends, and struggles with many of the same concerns, like traffic issues or unwanted warehouses.

One of the best ways to do this position effectively is to get to know your neighbors, the neighborhoods they live in, and the things that affect them on a daily basis.

Something I did during my time in Emmaus was if I had to vote on something and had any uncertainty, I visited the neighborhoods and talked to the residents. Even if we felt differently about the final result, both they and I could be certain I did the work needed to make an informed decision.  

As a business owner, I know what it means to work diligently towards a goal, create new ideas, and to never rest on yesterday’s accomplishments. The name many of you know me by, “Wesley Works,” is one I earned for that very reason.

A vote for Wesley Barrett is a vote for fresh energy, smart growth thinking, fiscal accountability and doing the work needed to keep the Township thriving.