ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — The overarching campaign issue in the race for two Anderson Township trustee seats has been Beechmont Mall, although most of the candidates say there's not much the township can do to jump-start development on the private property.

        Almost all the candidates say the township lacks a center of town, and that it desperately needs a community center that would serve senior citizens as well as other residents.

        “That is absolutely the No. 1 issue,” said Trustee Peggy Reis. She has served 12 years and is seeking to retain her seat on the board. One other seat is also up for election.

Check candidates and issues in four counties

        The mall is virtually vacant because of never-realized plans of razing it and turning it into an open-air center, and a troublesome economy.

        “It should be a destination for our residents,” said Ms. Reis. “It should be a place where residents can go and enjoy themselves in a variety of ways.”

        “We'd like to drive for something that would be a magnet and provide for a central focus for the township,” said Al Peter, a candidate running with Ms. Reis. “We would like to see a resolution of the mall issue. Everybody would like to see a theater.”

        Rome Hughes would like to see a community center built near the mall, and a raised esplanade built at the corner of Five Mile Road and Beechmont Avenue.

        “It would impart a sense of belonging,” said Mr. Hughes. “People in Anderson feel kind of separated. I would also try to bring in theaters and restaurants.”

        Thomas Luttmer said even beyond the mall, the township needs to work to keep businesses from leaving. He would also work to expand or replace the senior center with a larger one.

        “We have to figure out why businesses are leaving Anderson township,” said Mr. Luttmer. “We have to try and court the ones we have from leaving.”

        Kevin O'Brien said that while the mall is the main issue of the race, potential voters he has been talking to mention the need for a neighborhood movie theater. As far as the mall is concerned, he thinks a new board of trustees should put together a team that includes county and state officials to get its redevelopment moving.

        “The next big project is to create a center of town,” said Mr. O'Brien. “That might be a community center, a park or a themed area.”

        Jeremy Scholler also wants to work on the revitalization of the mall, and work to “bring business back to the Beechmont business strip.”

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