Politics & Government
Improving Community, Upping Casino Rebates Goals for Newcomer
Democrat Bhasker Patel is running for a seat on the Republican-controlled Bensalem Township Council.
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).
BHASKER PATEL, 53, is a Democrat vying for a seat on the Republican-controlled Bensalem Township Council.
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A Bensalem resident of 15 years, he has been an active member of the Bensalem Environmental Advisory Board since 2009.
A civil engineer, Patel, originally of Philadelphia, is also a joint secretary of the Asian-American Association of Senior Citizens, president of Sardar Patel Gujarati Samaj of USA and an active member and volunteer in many service organizations and nonprofits.
Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What best qualifies you for a term on the Bensalem Township Council?
I'm running to make our community a better place. I want to ensure that Bensalem becomes the best possible place to educate our children and enable our people to prosper. I understand that my position may differ from my colleagues, but I make it known publicly in a respectful manner.
What do you see as the big issues facing the town?
I see big issues and scandals in current government and increases in school taxes of almost 35 percent in several years. Also, our citizens received only $100 contribution from local Parx Casino tax revenue.
If elected, how would you work to handle those issues?
I want to make sure to increase the homeowner Parx Casino tax rebate from $100 to $300, better traffic planning, bring accountability and transparency to our township government and help to bring good-paying jobs to Bensalem.
How should the local tax revenue generated from Parx Casino be used?
(Editor's note: Candidate did not answer).
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?
(Editor's note: Candidate did not answer).
Anything else you’d like to add?
Please give me your vote on Nov. 5.
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