Cape May Chamber Hosts Council Candidates

CAPE MAY – Five individuals seeking three seats on the Cape May City Council were hosted in a candidates’ forum by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May Sept. 19.
Only one of the incumbents whose terms end in January is seeking reelection, Deputy Mayor Shaine Meier. Beatrice Pessagno and Roger Furlin chose not to seek reelection.
The other November hopefuls are John Van de Vaarst, Zack Mullock, Mark Di Santo, and Stacy Sheehan.
John Van de Vaarst
John Van de Vaarst used a theme of “working together works.” He described himself as a relative newcomer to Cape May having moved to the city 14 years ago.
Retired from 36 years in the federal government, Van de Vaarst stated goals of increased transparency in government, a focus on business development and tourism, greater fiscal responsibility and a commitment to explore innovative solutions.
The holder of a Master’s in Public Administration, Van de Vaarst cited his involvement in city governmental and civic organizations.
He noted service on the Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Green Team, responsibility as vice chair of the Master Plan Reexamination Committee and his efforts to formally establish the Lt. Andy Boyd Memorial Fund as a formal charity.
Responding to a question concerning sale or continued ownership of city property on the Promenade, Van de Vaarst acknowledged that he needs more facts to make a proper decision, but that his instincts told him the city should maintain ownership of the property. “They are not making any more land,” he said.
Van de Vaarst pledged to look for innovative ways to accomplish tasks without raising taxes.
“I will look to the future strategically,” he said. “I will also speak my mind and stand my ground when I think I am right.” Van de Vaarst said he was not aligned with any special interests in the city.
Asked if he supported a “full public hearing” concerning all of the expected costs associated with the building of a public safety building, his response drew laughter. “What fool would say no?”
Van de Vaarst went on to support the public safety building project, but argued for increased attention on the many aspects of the building that can be shared between police and fire departments. “We need a prudent design” that also “looks to the future needs of the departments.”
Stacy Sheehan
Stacy Sheehan began by stressing her family’s long association with the city. She noted that she was born and raised in Cape May, was a graduate of Cape May Elementary and Lower Cape Regional High School. 
She also placed emphasis on her family’s long history of service to the community, a service history she hoped to augment now that “I have time for service on council.”
What absorbed much of her time before this was a career in the pharmaceutical industry where she said she was involved in the manufacture and development of vaccines, including a vaccine to combat the scourge of Ebola.
Sheehan holds a Master’s Degree from Temple University. She said her background would lead her to approach municipal problems by looking to data, engaging in analysis, listening to advice and then making the best decisions in light of the evidence and the need for fiscal responsibility.
Specifically Sheehan voiced support for the beach safety efforts aimed at reducing the incidents of serious injury due to steep slopes in the surf zone.
For Sheehan this was an example of an attempt to gain better data through partnership with a local hospital. The data may then be used to convince federal and state officials to look at the potential relationship between the injuries and the beach replenishment program.
Responding to the question concerning an open public meeting on the public safety building, Sheehan humorously said “Of course I agree with everyone else.” No one was going to take a position against an open meeting. She also expressed the hope that a new building might mean the end of “paying rent” for a substation in West Cape May.
Mark Di Santo
Mark Di Santo provided a handout. He asked voters to “Vote for the Captain,” Di Santo, a yacht and charter boat captain, gave out a map which he titled the “Captain’s Concept Plan.”
Unlike others Di Santo did not spend time describing his background; rather, he jumped into the concept plan which calls for a municipal area and golf course within the city limits, 25 new HUD (Housing and Urban Development) homes along with renovation of other housing authority units, a flag memorial to the Coast Guard, and a 500-car garage located within the bounds of Lafayette Park.
Di Santo spoke of possible public/private partnerships to accomplish his plan.
As a candidate seeking extensive new development, Di Santo came out against the new public safety building saying “Developers are lying to the people.”
Favoring municipal development, Di Santo said he “strongly disagreed with current plans for redevelopment” that relied on private individuals out to enrich themselves.
Di Santo supported public involvement in any planning and decision making concerning the public safety building but for him it is a moot point since he favored closing down the project. “We need to put our money into other assets,” he said.
The question on the public safety building was also the time for candidates to make closing remarks. Di Santo did not choose to sum up his candidacy, instead appearing to rely on his concept plan as a statement of what he would do as a member of city council.
Shaine Meier
Shaine Meier is the only incumbent. As such Meier defended the record of Mayor Clarence Lear’s administration, but almost never referred to the part of his term in which he served in the administration of former Mayor Edward Mahaney.
Meier’s presentation was not on his full term in office; instead it focused on the accomplishments since January 2017, placing him firmly as a supporter of the efforts of the current council.
Remaining focused on the fact that the business chamber was hosting this event, Meier spoke to ways the city benefits when the chamber and the governing body work together. “The very first thing this new administration did in 2017 was bring the city and chamber tourist guides together,” he said.
“When business is strong, the city is strong,” Meier said.
He added remarks praising the ordinance on the council agenda the prior night that allows uniform signage at the Washington Street Mall to make clear when the stores are open.
Meier acknowledged that the current council “doesn’t always agree,” but he argued the council on which he serves has accomplished many good outcomes for the city.
Meier made special reference to the 100-plus citizens that serve on advisory boards or commissions, greatly expanding the involvement of residents in their local government.
Responding to a question, Meier spoke of the importance of the shoulder season to the city’s economy. He said the best way to grow the tourism in Cape May was through support of the city’s many non-profits like the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, Inc., the Nature Center, Cape May Stage and others.
“Cape May has a rich culture that owes much to its non-profits,” Meier argued that the city needed to continue and expand its efforts to support these organizations. He also pledged support for Eco-Tourism which he said was one the city’s growing attractions.
Meier said he supported public disclosure of detailed information on costs for the proposed public safety complex, including projects for impact on tax rates and debt levels. He pledged that the public would continue to be fully involved in all stages of the project as it moved forward.
Before closing, Meier said he would not run a negative campaign which he said limits what can be accomplished.
Zack Mullock
Zack Mullock did not share Meier’s sense of pride in the current city administration. Mullock, whose wife is expecting a child in October, said he had told his family he would not run this time around. “But several issues concerned me enough that I had to run,” he said.
Mullock painted a picture of a city in which taxes, bond debt, and utility fees are all rising while grant monies have declined and the city’s surplus is declining.
“We live in one of the best towns in the country,” he said. He gave credit to the structure zoning, planning and historic preservation that have made the city what it is. “Now, because of their hard work and success, some developers want to take advantage, with a council that seems all too eager to acquiesce.”
Local development was at the core of Mullock’s remarks. “Let me be clear,” he said, “I am not against development.” Referring to conversations with citizens Mullock launched into a series of concerns.
“I did not hear people asking for our City Hall to be sold and converted into loft apartments and retail,” he said.
“I didn’t hear people asking for three members of council to stack boards and committees with people in favor of redevelopment,” he added.
I didn’t hear people asking for a 500 space garage at over $30,000 per space subsidized by the taxpayers.”
Moving down a list of concerns, Mullock set himself up as an open opponent to the redevelopment process being embraced, as he sees it, by a bare majority of the council, accusing three members of council of “all but ignoring the other two democratically elected officials.”
Mullock referred to himself as the only business owner on the stage, and he voiced support for small business owners.
The question of the public safety building provided another avenue for attaching the transparency of the current council and administration. “There are bids there now,” he said, arguing that public involvement should have been greater from the start.
Warning that “many developers have taken notice” of Cape May, Mullock urged voters to “protect our town.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.