Bensalem Needs 'Watchdogs,' Dem Challenger Says

Six candidates are competing for three seats on the Bensalem Township Council. 

(Patch is posting profiles of each of the candidates who responded to our questions). 

BRYAN F. ALLEN, 35, is a Democrat vying for a seat on the Republican-controlled Bensalem Township Council. 

A 24-year Bensalem resident, Allen, who graduated from Bloomsburg University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, served on the council from 2006 through 2010. He serves on the TMA Bucks board of directors, as well as the boards of Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center and Family Promise of Lower Bucks. 

Allen is a member of the Ancient order of Hibernians and is a former Bensalem Kiwanis Club member.

What best qualifies you for a term on the Bensalem Township Council?

Previous council experience and my involvement with numerous community organizations has enabled me to see what Bensalem needs and become the watchdog that this township has been sorely lacking. We’ve seen what happens with lack of oversight in our school district and now with our ever-shrinking casino tax rebate.

What do you see as the big issues facing the town?

A lack of checks and balances with one party and one group of people controlling our township and our school district for decades. This has led to complacency and corruption. Bensalem needs watchdogs to question irregularities. More specifically, the casino rebate has shrunk every year since I left council.

If elected, how would you work to handle those issues?

Open the budget and see where the money went. The township sold our water and sewer department and began drawing down the principal. This on top of receiving $11.2 million from the casino annually. They continue to cut our tax rebate while our water and sewer bills keep rising.

How should the local tax revenue generated from Parx Casino be used?

As a councilman from 2006 through 2009 I proposed and fought for the $300 tax rebate that Bensalem residents used to get. This council has reduced that rebate by 66 percent. Bensalem receives more money from the casino than ever and it is time the residents got their fair share.

The public seems to have a degree of distrust of public officials following the recent scandal involving Bensalem Township School District current and former employees. If elected, how would you work to rebuild trust?

The first thing that Bensalem needs to do to change the current climate of corruption is to install checks and balances. One party rule has led to complacency and corruption. As a councilman I will push to make budgets and expenditures more transparent and accessible to the public.

Anything else you’d like to add?

In my four years on council I fought for a fair casino tax rebate for residents and a more open, accessible government. Since I left office at the end of 2009, we’ve had exploding budgets, corruption, less transparency, and an ever-shrinking casino rebate. Bensalem needs a fresh start.