2 seek GOP nomination in West Deer supervisors race

Two Republicans are vying for one nomination in the GOP primary race for an at-large seat on the West Deer Board of Supervisors.

Incumbent Supervisor Beverly Jordan faces former Supervisor Gerry Vaerewyck in the May 18 primary. They previously served together on the board from 2016 to 2018.

No Democrats are on the primary ballot. The winner in November will serve a four-year term on the board. West Deer’s home rule charter includes a two-term limit for supervisors.

Jordan, 50, serves as the board’s vice chairwoman and said she’s seeking reelection to “finish what we started.”

Jordan is a graduate of Mars Area High School and has lived in the township for 20 years. A mother of three and active volunteer, she is vice president of the Houston, Pa.-based Back Roads Energy.

“I said you can’t complain unless you’re going to get involved,” Jordan said.

As supervisor, Jordan said she worked to decrease taxes for lower-income residents and senior citizens and protect them from future tax increases by implementing a property tax deferral program. She said she also worked to increase the road program budget to $1.4 million from $1 million and improve the health of the operating and capital reserve budgets.

“I will continue to be transparent and work effectively with all departments, residents and businesses to advance West Deer Township in a fiscally and responsible manner,” Jordan said.

Gerry Vaerewyck, 58, previously served eight years as supervisor from 2010 to 2018 and was public safety chairman.

“My focus back then was getting the EMS financially stable,” Vaerewyck said, adding the EMS now has its own designated property and building now after previously occupying land owned by the school district.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Pittsburgh Central Catholic alumnus. A township resident for more than 30 years, Vaerewyck owns and operates Vere Inc. in New Kensington.

A father of three grown sons, Vaerewyck said he feels the current board is spending “unreasonably” and not adequately supporting the township’s three fire companies.

“I think the board is not going in the right direction. They are charging youth softball teams a light usage and field fee and at the same time they are going to spend $5 million on a new municipal building,” he said.

“We need to focus on roads and infrastructure before we build a huge Taj Mahal municipal building,” Vaerewyck said. “We need to support our fire and EMS.”