15 Candidates Make Pitch Why They’re Best

SWAINTON – The Middle Township Chamber of Commerce held its Meet the Candidates Night at the Sand Barrens Country Club Oct. 11. A large crowd showed to hear 15 candidates from races ranging from state Senate to local School Board.
The format, designed to give all the candidates equal time within the boundaries of a limited evening program did not lend itself to substantive discussion of issues. Candidates had two minutes for an opening statement and one minute to respond to a maximum of four questions.
The total of six minutes per candidate, along with the need for some non-incumbents to introduce their background relative to the office being sought, left little remaining time for details on topics.  Frequently, the red card signaled the end of time while a candidate was beginning to get below the surface of an issue.
What the gathering did do was demonstrate the concerns of this business-based body of the electorate as similar themes ran through questions all evening long.
What this segment of the public was concerned about centered on economic development, property and school taxes, opportunity for young people who see little reason to remain in the county, and most significantly the opioid crisis and the associated problems of crime, homelessness, and mental health treatment.
Candidates were presented to the audience in sequence based on the electoral contests on the ballot in November.
Senate
The race for state Senate brought incumbent Jeff Van Drew, a Democrat, and third-party candidate Anthony Sanchez to the floor with Republican candidate Mary Gruccio not able to attend.
Sanchez argued that “corruption in the state is unbelievable,” while he ran on a ticket labeled “Cannot be Bought.” He promised a crusade against the corporate dealers and political bosses that control Trenton.
Decrying the breakdown of the moral fiber of America, Sanchez based his appeal on his character. As with many of the non-incumbents, Sanchez was light on specific proposals. His statements about property taxes being too high or school funding distribution unfairly hurting Cape May County were not developed into specific remedies in his presentation.
Van Drew ran on his record. He cited the removal of lights on the parkway, the new bridge over the Egg Harbor Bay, his opposition to the gas tax hike and his negative vote on the budget because of the discrepancies in school funding. In listing these accomplishments, Van Drew said they were in part due to his willingness to work in a bipartisan way.
Van Drew called attention to improvements in medical facilities and services for veterans in the county while clearly stating that more needs to be done.
With respect to property tax relief, Van Drew said he supported a program that would require that new revenues into state coffers must be set aside for property tax relief instead of spent in some other area of government expenditure. He expressed faith that the state’s economy is entering new stages of recovery which should provide some flexibility for tax relief.
Assembly
Democrats R. Bruce Land and Robert Andrzejczak identify themselves as part of the Van Drew team and they pointed to many of the same accomplishments. Both military veterans, they stressed the “red tape” in Trenton and their ongoing fight for veterans’ benefits and services. 
On the issue of the opioid crisis in the county, Andrzejczak said he would prefer a system of legal penalties that was based on the drug being sold by dealers rather than the weight. “We know heroin is more dangerous than many other drugs so the penalties should not be the same based on amount,” he said.
Land stressed progress with veterans’ courts as a better way of dealing with the non-violent crimes committed by veterans who may be suffering from disorders that make reentry into society very difficult for them.
The Republican candidates for Assembly are Cumberland County Freeholder James Sauro and Downe Township Mayor Robert Campbell. 
The two stressed their long, local government experience, something their democratic opponents do not have.
 “We are not getting what we should in Cape May and Cumberland counties,” Sauro said. He argued that it is local political leaders, freeholders, and mayors who understand what’s needed and can take that understanding to Trenton.
Sauro was somewhat dismissive of his opponent’s reliance on projections of better revenue streams as an answer to property tax relief. “We have to make the economy get better, not hope that it will,” he said. “If we cut spending the way we should, we would have some money and could advertise the state properly to businesses,” he added.
Campbell responded to a question about his primary legislative objective by turning to the issue of Route 55. “This is not just important in terms of congestion and summer tourists.  It is our lifeline emergency evacuation point,” he said.
On the opioid crisis, all agreed that more and better treatment facilities are needed. “We need money,” said Sauro. “We also need to make insurance companies pay for treatment,” he added.
Land agreed that money was at the heart of the issue, but all of the agreement that more funding was needed did not lead any candidate to specific proposals for how to get added appropriations.
A theme Campbell returned to frequently was that “government is too complicated.” He argued for simpler processes and forms for seniors applying for government services. Andrzejczak spoke again about the red tape in Trenton.
Incumbents Land and Andrzejczak did not list a top legislative priority, choosing instead to talk about the “many things going on.”  For them, the full agenda in Trenton presented numerous points at which to seek to address issues important to the district.
Freeholders
Incumbent Freeholders Will Morey and Jeffrey Pierson, both Republicans, are facing off against newcomers Danielle Davies and Gregory Wall, Democrats.
Freeholder candidates found the questions they were asked very much focused on opioid addiction, economic opportunity and building a county that can hold its youth.
For Will Morey, this translated into first engaging what you have. He spoke of the programs for unmanned aircraft at the Cape May County Airport. He cited aquaculture as a natural avenue of growth for the county. He argued that the county has been moving responsibly regarding the homeless population. Responding to one mother’s concern for out of season programs for her children, he expressed a willingness to work with municipalities on supporting their recreation programs.
Pierson frequently expressed a feeling that the public just does not know all that the freeholders are doing. He wanted to focus on the success that is happening, almost suggesting that those who felt more was needed were not fully aware of all the current freeholders do.
 “We are addressing the homeless problem through community organizations,” he said when asked if he supported a homeless shelter for the county. “Many of them don’t want a shelter,” he added.
For Pierson, the issue of recreation programs for the county youth is a municipality issue. “We support them through Open Space, but you need to take your issue there.”
Pierson spoke of the many new businesses that have opened in the county as a sign of economic revival yet he did not speak to the ties that need to exist between new business encouraged by the county and career paths for the county’s youth.
The disconnect between questions and response was centered on a vision for the county’s future. Some of those asking questions feared a continued draining of the young from the county and the perpetuation of a largely seasonal economy that lacked opportunity for young families.
The challengers in this race are both political novices and both younger than the incumbents. Danielle Davies spoke of herself as a “mom” often. She stressed her long roots in the county and wanting her children to have the same experiences she remembered. Yet she cited state statistics that show the county ranked among the worst in the state for children. Davies called for action on the opioid crisis and the lack of opportunity for the young.
Davies painted a picture very different from that of the incumbents.  She was not yet able to present specific plans for a way out of the crisis she sees, but her picture is one that calls for new ideas and perspectives. She accuses the current freeholders of “not hearing younger voices.” She calls for more training programs centered at the county’s only college, Atlantic Cape in Court House.
 Wall is younger still and at 24 his age is an obvious counterpoint to the incumbents. They are experienced businessmen with long roots in the county and a certain understanding of how they feel the county works best. Wall is only a short time away from political science courses in college.
He argues that the working class men and women of the county have not been well served. He says he is running in part to be a voice for their concerns and to encourage youth involvement in politics. Wall says that his focus is on economic opportunity to help keep the county’s youth in the county.
The incumbents present experience that the challengers do not have. The challengers present a greater sense of urgency concerning the problems facing the county.
Sheriff
Two veterans of the Sheriff’s Department are running to replace retiring Sheriff Gary Schaffer. Bob Nolan has over three decades in the department which he now serves as undersheriff. Richard Harron retired as warden of the Correctional Center, a position he came to after long service in the Corrections Division.
Both men argue that county residents don’t fully understand the role of the sheriff and the duties of the department. Nolan sees the primary duty of the department as providing security for the court system. He moved on to cite the department’s responsibility for the corrections facility and also notes the civil side of the department’s duties dealing with “foreclosures, sheriff’s sales and the like.”
Nolan talked of his wide range of experience in all aspects of the department’s functions. In listening to him, however, he is, and admits he is, first and foremost a man who comes out of the law enforcement side of the department.
Responding to issues of the opioid epidemic or the controversial arrangement the department has with federal immigration enforcement efforts; his first argument is that the department must follow the law.
He softened that response with recognition that opioid users in the corrections facility need treatment and even argues that this is one time when “we have their full attention.”
Nolan pledges that the department’s arrangement with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on immigration will never be allowed to go beyond the jail where the task is to determine if an inmate is wanted by immigration officials. “We will never go out and pull someone from their home,” he says. In fact, he argued that the county needs to “embrace its immigrants.”
Responding to a question that called the county jail “a nightmare,” Nolan said that corrections officers have very difficult jobs and that the department needs to work with them on how to do those jobs. He did not hesitate to say that he will not tolerate abusive behavior.
Harron said he wants to be a more proactive sheriff. He wants to participate in programs to educate the county’s youth about the dangers of drugs and to bring programs into the jail that include mental health professionals.
Harron complained that the training protocols he had established at the corrections facility “are all gone now” and that training hours have been drastically cut.
On the ICE arrangement, Harron agreed that it will not go beyond the jail, but he also warned the public about unnamed individuals who would start accepting federal funds to house federal prisoners at the corrections facility, a move he opposes.
On the opioid problem, Harron said we must approach it as a mental health crisis. This would be at the heart of some of the programs he wants to run at the jail. “Spend one week at the corrections facility,” he said, “and you will know clearly that the drug problem is associated with mental health issues.”
Harron warned that the county lost many immigrants essential to its economy “because of how the message was put out” when the ICE agreement was reached. He does not want to see the department used in that manner. The immigrant population should not have to fear the Sheriff’s Department.
Middle Township Committee
For the members of the Middle Township Chamber, the race for committeeman is of central importance, yet on this evening it came up a good two hours into the agenda.
In this race, Republican incumbent and past mayor, Timothy Donohue is seeking re-election to the committee. He is opposed by Democratic political newcomer Frank Toth.
Toth stressed his long roots in the county.  A long-term teacher in the county’s high school system with service on numerous committees and organizations including the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Toth believes that his experience “working with people” and dealing with complex issues will translate from the educational arena to membership on the township’s governing body.
Toth admitted to being a political novice but he does not see that as a weakness. Toth feels that he knows the township and its issues.
Although he prefaced many of his answers with phrases like “I’m the new guy here” by way of explaining that he was not familiar with the details of the issue, Toth said he would strive to keep taxes stable.
Donohue is running on his record citing consecutive years without a tax increase. He talks of what he feels is a more integrated and efficient township government. “It is not about size, it’s about efficiency and organization,” he said as he discussed success combining offices and streamlining processes in order to achieve budgets that did not call for increases in taxes.
Donohue expressed pride that the township was able to hold the line on taxes, even while bringing the police department manpower levels back to where they were prior to the 2008 recession. He did note that “this year we had a tax increase,” a not so subtle jab at the Democratic-controlled committee.
Toth points to many people he has talked to on his campaign who urged him to resist tax increases only to then discuss the new or improved services they want the township to provide. “This is difficult to reconcile,” he said. Priorities will be critical.
Donohue presents himself as a proven commodity, someone with a track record and the needed experience to tackle Middle Township’s issues.
Frank Toth admits to a lack of experience with political office, but falls back on a skill set he feels translates to the political arena.
School Board
Three candidates are running for re-election to the school board.
Dennis Roberts was at the event but his turn at the end of a long night, along with the fact that he had no opposition, made the discussion more like friendly banter with some he knew in the audience.
The other candidates who were not present were Gloria Hodges and James Norris.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.