LEAGUE OF WOMEN (LWV) VOTERS GUIDE
Delaware Gazette Voter Guide
After spending 12 years as a township employee, Knapp ran successfully for a trustee position in 2011, deciding that township residents deserved someone who would serve as an advocate for their wishes. Knapp was reelected twice in 2015 and 2021, and she hopes voters will grant her a fourth term when they submit their ballots next month.
“The township has been running smoothly over the past four years, for the first time since 2006,” Knapp told The Gazette. “Our staff, our three current elected trustees, and the fiscal officer work well together and with other governmental entities, and we are accomplishing so much. I’d love to keep this positive momentum going.”
Knapp said she believes it’s important to have at least one person in administration who has experience, knows what will work through trial and error, and “most importantly, what our residents want the most, and whether actions we take will be met with approval.”
“That one person is me, and the combination of this with the energy and enthusiasm of the younger staff and officials really works well,” she added, noting she’s “one of the rare candidates whose campaign isn’t funded by developers, regardless of how powerful they are.”
During her last term, when she was out for two years, Knapp claimed “big developers” funded two prior trustees’ campaigns and “pushed through” a special zoning plan that included no input from residents and resulted in “undesirable changes in land use, disguised as opportunities,” which she said she recognized immediately while in office.
“The result has been hasty, high-density overdevelopment, including hundreds of apartments, industrial uses in commercial areas, and commercial development directly adjacent to residences,” Knapp said. “During my current term, I put a moratorium on that plan.”
She added, “Over the past four years, I’ve been able to counteract dozens of ideas that would have been bad for our residents. And I continue to do so, including objecting to the complete rewriting of our zoning resolution currently being considered by our board, a concept from the last board which, under the guise of ‘greater efficiency,’ will actually result in higher densities, lower setbacks, unintended consequences, and other undesirable effects.”
Knapp enjoys using her experience to help solve issues brought forth by residents, and with new “situations” developing every week, she said it makes for an interesting role.
“I especially enjoy listening to them, explaining how the township works and why we take certain actions, as well as getting their input,” she said. “I like improving their lives and opportunities for more outdoor recreation. I also enjoy helping to foster a sense of unity for our residents with our community activities and events.”
In particular, Knapp said the playground at North Road Park is “amazing and unique” and represents one of her favorite accomplishments since serving as a trustee. Knapp helped select the layout and design while also playing a role in the equipment chosen for the playground, which she said will keep kids of all ages engaged.
Knapp also noted she singlehandedly fought for six years for change, resulting in fiscal transparency to the township after years of its finances being kept secret. According to Knapp, that effort included revealing $1.5 million spent on a contractor with suspicious invoices and the township zoning inspector being charged with felony theft.
“My experience and knowledge about all aspects of the township is, in my opinion, very valuable,” she said. “I’ve attended over 2,500 township meetings of different boards, possibly a world record, which helps immensely with my decision-making. I’m the only trustee with 27 years of township zoning experience, which is a subject that is difficult to quickly understand and apply.”
She added, “I’m also not a rubber-stamper, and I’m not afraid to tell developers ‘no’ or to go against the grain when it’s the right thing to do for our residents.”
Knapp went on to state, “A vote for Lisa Knapp is a vote for experience, dedication, problem solving, and the ability to think outside the box. If you want a representative who is fair, always puts residents first, and sticks up for you, vote for me.”