Fresh Perspectives for the Board of Chosen Freeholders

By Danielle Davies
During the past eight months, a lot of people have asked me, “Why are you running for Cape May County Freeholder?”
After all, I’m not a politician.
As a mom to two kids, ages 8 and 12, I’m more comfortable with family movie nights than I am with political debates.
And yet, when I was asked to consider running, I felt an obligation to do so.
My parents raised me to be a voter. And for most of my life, I felt that while elected officials weren’t always the ones I would have selected, they were doing their best to represent me. They were doing their best to solve problems.
And I have no doubt that the current freeholder board is doing its best.
The problem is that their best doesn’t represent me, and it doesn’t represent my children. My guess is that it doesn’t represent yours, either.
According to a study done by Kids Count Data, Cape May County rates last—dead last—in the state (21 out of 21 counties) when it comes to kids’ safety and well-being. What’s worse is that it’s been a steady decline. Two years ago we were rated 14th in the state; last year we dropped to 19th.
As a mother, I find this unacceptable.
As unacceptable as it is, it doesn’t stand alone as the only indication that Cape May County is in trouble.
Our opioid epidemic is raging on without a treatment facility in sight. So far in 2017, the amount of overdoses in Cape May County has already more than doubled the amount from 2016, and we’re only in October.
Kids’ health and opioid addiction aren’t exciting. They are long, complex and life or death problems that need dedication, perseverance and a new perspective. But what they need most of all? The acknowledgement that we have a problem, and the understanding that we got here, in part, due to the lack of opportunities available for our year-round residents.
Maybe it’s because I’m on the ground floor… raising children right now in a county that comes in last in the state for kids’ safety and well-being… that I’m particularly aware of the challenges facing families right now.
Maybe it’s because I grew up here, and can see that the same tunnel vision our freeholder board has on tourism has continued to result in the same lackluster futures for so many members of our community. Instead of thinking toward the future by making much needed improvements to our infrastructure and economic development, Cape May County leadership seems to focus on immediate gratification… another great summer in the books and still… same broken bridges, same lack of treatment center, same old jobs.
I want more than this for my children, and yours. I want them to grow up feeling safe and happy, filled with excitement about their community and the opportunities they have—right here at home—in Cape May County.
Vote for a change on Nov. 7.
Ordered and paid for by the Cape May County Regular Democratic Organization, P.O. Box 104, S. Seaville, NJ 08246