Jim Brunell Wants to Connect with Citizens as Supervisor

Jim Brunell of Upper Macungie Township feels that he's willing to listen to the community as a member of the Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors.

"I feel that we've lost touch with the public," Brunell said. "We have to be willing to listen to the community. Our current leadership has lost connection with the people they serve."

Brunell is running against incumbent Upper Macungie Supervisor chairman Edward Earley in the May 21 Republican primary.

Brunell says the township has been spending money at a reckless rate.

"The current trend of spending is at a rate I don’t think we can sustain without an increase in taxes. We were recently assessed a 100 percent increase. We are taking in more revenue, yet our rainy day fund continues to decrease. [Supervisors] are unable to listen to the residents. They are angered when asked to answer the tough questions.  Decisions are made prior to input from the public," Brunell said. 

Brunell noted some of the financial matters the township is currently tackling.

He noted that the Fogelsville Dam may take more than $1 million to mitigate, as the state either wants it fixed or removed.

Brunell pointed out that the now-defunct Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department pension fund is under-funded by an estimated $700,000 and that the new Upper Macungie Police Department will have unexpected financial demands.

"We must have monies in reserve to deal with these issues," he said. "Our rainy day fund went from $8 million down to $3 million.

Brunell, a fixture at monthly supervisor meetings, has never held public office.  But, the 47-year-old township resident feels his experience in the private sector will serve him well as a supervisor.

"I have been managing operations for a control based contracting corporation, which primarily works in the public sector," he said. "Having project and corporate profit and loss responsibility as well as HR management responsibility has sharpened the skills required for this position. I can learn the municipal end of things."

The winner of the May 21 Republican primary will face Democrat Chris Casey.