The Exeter Township Story: $107 Million Squandered, One Man Said No

Talk is cheap. Here's what David Hughes actually did when he had the chance to serve.

In 2022, David was elected Exeter Township Supervisor. Shortly after, the township sold its sewer plant for a net $107 million — a once-in-a-generation windfall. That kind of money could have secured the township's financial future for decades. David's job was straightforward: protect that money on behalf of the taxpayers who elected him.

The Spending Spree

Instead, his fellow supervisors went on a spending spree — new government buildings, wasteful projects, zero accountability. David stood alone and said no. He demanded they enforce existing ordinances before creating new spending. He warned them publicly: this path leads to insolvency.

They didn't listen. And his warnings came true.

Reserves have plummeted from $107 million to roughly $40 million. Debt went from zero to $10 million, with another $10 million in bonds planned for 2027. The township now faces potential insolvency before 2030.

David was right. The establishment was wrong.

The Establishment Strikes Back

When David refused to back down, the political establishment came after him. Over two and a half years, his fellow supervisors — guided by township solicitor J. Chadwick Schnee — tried to force him out through harassment, censures, and lawsuits funded with your tax dollars.

They filed a lawsuit claiming he violated attorney-client privilege. A judge dismissed it. They filed again with no new evidence — using taxpayer money to fund their political vendetta.

The $805,000 Question

David accepted an $805,000 settlement. But here's the part that tells you who David Hughes really is: he immediately offered to return every single penny if they would simply let him continue serving the people who elected him.

They refused. They didn't want to compensate him — they wanted to silence him.

The settlement reversed all previous censures and stated neither side was at fault. It also included unusual provisions protecting the supervisors and their immediate families from future legal action — raising serious questions about what they were so desperate to hide.

Why This Matters for the 128th District

What happened in Exeter Township isn't unique. Across Pennsylvania, local officials treat your tax dollars like Monopoly money. They spend without consequence because nobody's watching closely enough, and the rules that should keep them honest are outdated and full of loopholes.

David has lived this fight. He knows exactly how the system fails taxpayers — and he knows how to fix it. That's the experience he's bringing to Harrisburg.