Macungie Borough Council Candidate Christopher T. Becker

Editor's note: Four candidates are running for two four-year seats on Macungie Borough Council. Each was asked the same questions, and Patch brings them to you in alphabetical order today.

Republican Christopher T. Becker is running for his first term on the Macungie Borough Council. He and his wife, Annette, reside at 404 E. Main St,,  and have 5 children – three daughters and two sons – ages 27 to 34, and eight grandchildren.  They have lived in the borough since 1996.

Becker, 53, has been a member of the Macungie Zoning Hearing Board since 1998, and its Chairman since 2009. He is also a member of the Macungie sidewalk ordinance committee, Macungie Historical Society and Grace Lutheran Church where he is the vice president of the church council. He's also a member of the Civil War Round Table.

For 30 years, he has been employed at R. L. Reppert, Inc. in Emmaus, where he works as a project manager and estimator.

Why are you running for Macungie Borough Council?  “I am running for this position to offer residents of Macungie Borough a new choice,” Becker answered.  He also believes “the current council has become sidetracked with many legal issues that are affecting the quality of their performance. These issues have effectively stopped and/or hindered the continuity and cohesiveness of this council.”

“If elected,” said Becker, “I vow to uphold a standard of excellence and will encourage the rest of the Borough Council to honor that as well.”

What do you feel is the biggest issue in Macungie?  The biggest in Macungie, according to Becker, is the budget and financing.  He feels council needs to do a better job when looking at the budget.

Because of his experience at R.L.Reppert, Becker said, he is well suited for working within the budget guidelines.  His experience as a project manager has given him the ability to work with people and to several manage multi-million dollar projects simultaneously.  Also, his experience as an estimator has taught him to develop budgets and to be fiscally responsible.

A secondary issue, Becker said, is “the cohesiveness of the current council. It's not working well. Council members need to support each other and work together after a decision has been made about an issue.”

How do you feel about Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget and what it will do for education?  “I would like to see him do what is right,” said Becker, “and to bring our budget back in line…Education is going to suffer, there is no way out.”  He also said government must work within the budget, and feels some cuts should be deeper. “We cannot leave this debt to our children and grandchildren,” he added.

What are your plans for Macungie?  Becker wants “to bring some civility and cohesiveness to the council.  They need to work together better than they are now.”

He would like to see Main Street addressed – perhaps a beautification project, parking issues, and lower the speed limit through the borough.