Five Republicans and one Democrat have filed paperwork to compete for two six-year terms on the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors.

All but one, incumbent Don Bishop, would be newcomers to the board. Supervisor Mike Bowman, whose term also expires at the end of the year, did not file a petition this week to appear on the May 21 primary ballot.

Three of the candidates -- Republicans Bob Yanover and Kathleen Phan and Democrat Larry Crumling -- are affiliated with a group that calls itself Operation Take Back Springettsbury Township.

The other candidates are John Bumsted and Mark Swomley, both Republicans.

David Trott, a retired township police officer, founded Operation Take Back last year with the goal of finding candidates to run against long-time supervisors Bowman and Bishop.

Phan, Yanover and Crumling also have the support of Julie Landis, a

current supervisor who said the board lacks transparency and common sense. Landis said township spending is out of control but endorsed by a good ol' boy network.

The group held a press conference Monday morning to announce its candidates.

Phan said she got involved in local politics after receiving a "nasty letter" from the township informing Phan's family that the camper sitting on their Silver Spur Drive property violated a township ordinance.

Phan, 43, said she started attending supervisors' meetings and was "flabbergasted" by what she saw and heard. Springettsbury Township, she said, is run by a good ol' boy network that applies different standards to different people.

Phan, a senior business system analyst for WellSpan, said she also has concerns about the township's finances. For example, she said, a multi-million dollar project to build a new fire station could have been downsized.

Yanover, 68, is a retired developer who substitute teaches at York County Technical High School. He said he believes township government is inefficient. He described attending a year of meetings where simple questions have been repeatedly directed to the township's engineer and solicitor, each of whom charges for services by the hour.

Yanover said he would work to address issues in a timely manner and expedite the process for homeowners seeking township approval for small projects -- like a new shed or home remodeling.

"The board of supervisors should be the steering device that aims the township in the direction they should be going," he said. "Unfortunately, over the past several years the road has not been that direct."

Swomley, 56, is a member of the township's planning commission and a businessman who said he'd like to help the township maintain its business base. He said he would also work to address a number of "failed intersections" and other transportation needs in the township.

"I think overall that our people at the township do a great job," Swomley said. "There are always things that can be addressed to be made better."

Bumsted, 63, is a former police officer and York Township manager who said he believes his experience in local government would be an asset to Springettsbury Township.

As a supervisor, Bumsted said he would advocate for "less government."

"I think this is a very good township. I think it's been run very well over the years," he said. "I would like to see that type of leadership continue."

Crumling, the third Operation Take Back candidate, is running as a Democrat. He said he decided to jump into the race after working for six months as the president of a local condo association to gain township approval for a gate on a private road.

As a supervisor, Crumling, 66, said he would work to cut down on the money the township spends on solicitor fees.

"Not everything requires a legal opinion," he said.

-- Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.