Commissioner John Matthew Smith - Hampden Township

Commissioner John Matthew Smith - Hampden Township Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Commissioner John Matthew Smith - Hampden Township, Community Service, 3703 Leyland Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA.

Hampden Township’s “Run to Remember” on Memorial Day was an amazing event honoring the men and women who served our coun...
05/28/2026

Hampden Township’s “Run to Remember” on Memorial Day was an amazing event honoring the men and women who served our country, while also proving that some of us are better at public service than speed. Huge thanks to the Hampden Township Veterans Recognition Committee, the volunteers, organizers, participants, and everyone who came out to support the run. Photos include Fire Chief Landon Churchill and you know who rounding a corner. The picture where I cut off Landon and forced him into the grass has been successfully deleted.

All kidding aside, it was a wonderful event for a very important purpose. Proud to be part of it.

Take a second to let this letter to the editor sink in.
05/11/2026

Take a second to let this letter to the editor sink in.

Yesterday I stood on a stage in front of more than a thousand people with the other founders of the Race for Hope and we...
05/04/2026

Yesterday I stood on a stage in front of more than a thousand people with the other founders of the Race for Hope and we presented a check for $43 million. When I was first asked to help start the race nearly 29 years ago, I hesitated because I only commit to things where I think I can actually move the needle. Back then, I thought that meant we’d have a cure by now. I was wrong, and looking back, pretty naive. But the lack of a cure hasn’t stopped me, but rather, it’s changed how I measure the needle. Yesterday, looking out into the crowd, I didn’t see a number or a milestone, Republicans or Democrats, I saw faces and the kids fighting brain tumors and their parents carrying fear no one should ever have to carry. Just families trying to hold it together on the worst journey. And I also saw hope. And if this race gives people strength, makes them feel less alone, or helps them keep going one more day, then that’s moving the needle. It’s a little overwhelming to realize how many people are counting on that hope, but giving up isn’t an option for me or the parents. My involvement has been quieter the past few years as I’ve taken on other fights, walkability in Hampden, pushing back on data centers, serving as Commissioner and now running for state committee. But it’s all the same. It’s about making things better in ways that hopefully matter. I’ve learned that real change doesn’t come from force, it comes from appealing to the better angels of people, especially those with power. That’s how you move things forward in a real way. That’s probably my superpower, and I’m going to keep using it, fighting for people facing brain tumors, for safer streets, to make sure our community gets its fair share, and young adults can find housing to start families. As long as I can move the needle, even just a little, you can count on me.

04/26/2026

Yesterday at Touch-A-Truck, someone I’ve known for nearly 10 years suggested I do something for political credit. That’s not how I operate! I don’t make decisions based on what’s politically convenient, that mindset is exactly why Washington is broken. I make decisions based on what I believe is right for Hampden Township. The past three months have been incredibly busy, but some of the most personally rewarding I’ve experienced since my youngest son was born. During these three months, I’ve been pushing for more walking trails, better crosswalk signage, and smarter growth, while standing firm on a strong data center ordinance and pressing Hampden to address the odor issues at the Roth treatment plant. All of this matters, and I believe we can improve Hampden’s trajectory in short order. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you.

This afternoon I came across dozens of mutual-aid utility trucks staged at the hotel on Technology Parkway. You know thi...
01/23/2026

This afternoon I came across dozens of mutual-aid utility trucks staged at the hotel on Technology Parkway. You know things are getting real when you see something like this. Some of the crews are from as far away as Florida, already in place and ready to respond. It’s a strong reminder of both the scale of what’s coming and the level of coordination happening behind the scenes. Stay safe!

I want to explain why Hampden needs a data center ordinance, and why getting this right matters to the future of our tow...
01/11/2026

I want to explain why Hampden needs a data center ordinance, and why getting this right matters to the future of our township and to life in Hampden. Here’s something I initially didn't realize and still many people don’t know: right now, without a Hampden-specific ordinance regarding data centers, a developer can legally place one almost anywhere in the township. Because data centers are relatively new to Pennsylvania, there are no clear rules that define where these facilities belong or how their impacts should be managed.

A neighboring municipality enthusiastically jumped on the data-center bandwagon, promising jobs, tax revenue, and economic development without proper due diligence. This community will soon face unintended consequences: constant industrial noise, enormous power demand, water-use concerns, land-use conflicts, and impacts on nearby neighborhoods and property values. Citizens of this municipality are already saying, “We should have slowed down and asked more questions.”

To protect Hampden, since early September, I’ve been working with environmentalists, land-use attorneys, engineers, several Hampden residents and HEAT (Hampden Environmental Advisory Team), to understand what data centers actually means in our community. Last Monday, I finally presented a draft data center ordinance to the township manager so the formal review and public process can begin. I want to be very clear: this is not a vote, and this is not a finished product; it's a work in progress. The goal is to get something on the table so residents have time to read it, digest it, ask questions, and provide feedback. What’s in this draft does not have to be the final version. I want and expect community input before anything moves forward.

Good ordinances are built in the open, with public participation and careful consideration of long-term impacts. This effort is about protecting Hampden: our neighborhoods, our environment, our infrastructure, and our way of life. I encourage residents to stay engaged, follow the process as it unfolds, and share their thoughts as we work together to get this right.

This One’s Personal - Vote Tuesday!When I was 7 years old, I was hit by a car while crossing the street. I’ll never forg...
10/31/2025

This One’s Personal - Vote Tuesday!

When I was 7 years old, I was hit by a car while crossing the street. I’ll never forget the fear, the impact, and my skin sliding down the pavement. Decades later, a teen was killed crossing the Carlisle Pike, the same kind of tragedy that should never happen again.

East Pennsboro built a beautiful pedestrian bridge using grant money to connect both sides of their park. It’s not used every day, but it shows they care enough to plan ahead. Sadly, here in Hampden, the Carlisle Pike divides our community in half, and the grant money and right-of-way already exist to fix it. We don't need this bridge for a few events, we need it everyday.

What’s missing in Hampden is priority. I first ran for Commissioner in 2017 because I wanted safer, more walkable neighborhoods, it worked, they listened and we have three new walking trails. However, they stopped listening, so I had to run again. Because this isn’t politics for me, it’s personal.

It’s time to make Hampden safe again, for every child, every parent, and every person who just wants to cross the street and get home safely. Mark your calendar for Tues., November 4. I can't do this without you

09/02/2025

Central Pennsylvania already faces some of the worst air quality in the nation. According to the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report, the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon and Lancaster metro areas both received failing grades for particle pollution (PM2.5) and poor marks for ozone smog, (think about the traffic of 81, 83, 15, 76, 22, and 322 then the hundred of trucks in Middlesex Twp idling 24/7). These pollutants are directly tied to higher rates of asthma attacks, heart disease, strokes, and premature deaths in our communities.

Ozone (often called “smog”) forms when pollutants from vehicles and industry react in sunlight. It irritates the lungs, triggers asthma, and can send vulnerable residents, especially children and seniors to the emergency room.

PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) is even more insidious. These microscopic particles pe*****te deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing risks of chronic bronchitis, heart attacks, and even cancer.

Now, looming on the horizon, is the rapid expansion of AI and cloud data centers. While these data centers are marketed as “clean tech,” many actually rely on rows of diesel or natural gas generators to provide backup power. In Memphis, one new AI supercomputing facility instantly became the largest single source of industrial nitrogen oxide pollution in the city. These emissions, ozone-forming gases and fine particles, are the very same pollutants Central PA already struggles with.

Bringing data centers of this type to our region would add another major industrial polluter to an area already failing federal air quality standards. Without strong oversight and requirements for clean energy, we risk worsening a public health crisis that is already harming our families, schools, and neighborhoods.

Bottom line: Hampden and Central PA cannot afford to invite more sources of soot and smog. Our region needs cleaner energy, better transportation standards, and smarter planning, not massive fossil-fueled data centers that will make our dirty air even deadlier.

08/26/2025

Pennsylvania has a long history of making big promises about “new revenue streams” that never deliver for its citizens. Look no further than gambling. When it was legalized, leaders promised it would solve budget woes and ease the tax burden. Instead, we got more casinos, more problems, and no real relief for residents.

The same thing happened with natural gas. Texas and Alaska tax drilling companies through severance taxes and invest those billions back into their people. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, gave away its resources in a “free-for-all” with almost nothing to show for it. Today, we still have high tolls, high gas taxes, and a legislature constantly locked in budget battles, chasing new schemes to fill the gaps.

Now they’re dangling data centers as the next big revenue miracle. Don’t be fooled. Just like gambling and gas, the promises will flow to corporations and political action committees—not to the people of Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Hampden homeowners will be stuck with higher electric bills, more transmission lines, and new burdens, while the supposed “bonanza” never materializes. Just say no to data centers!

Having grown up in the DC area and knowing one of AOL’s founders, I witnessed firsthand how Loudoun County, Virginia man...
08/21/2025

Having grown up in the DC area and knowing one of AOL’s founders, I witnessed firsthand how Loudoun County, Virginia managed the explosive growth of data centers. Loudoun is well-run and has reaped the rewards. Pennsylvania, by contrast, is poorly managed and will never see the same benefits—nor will Hampden Township. Let me be absolutely clear: I will never, ever vote to bring a data center to Hampden Township.

Address

3703 Leyland Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA
17050

Telephone

+17174215835

Website

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