Chamber Forum Candidates Meet Public, Tell Why To Vote for Them

SWAINTON – The Middle Township Chamber of Commerce held a Meet the Candidates event at the Sand Barrens Country Club Oct. 19. Candidates for Township Committee, School Board, House of Representatives and the freeholder board attended.
The forum was organized in a manner that allowed each candidate a brief statement before opening up the floor for a limited number of questions.
House of Representatives
Four candidates presented themselves for the House seat including incumbent Frank LoBiondo, seeking re-election to a seat he first occupied in 1995.
Democrat David Cole, a former senior advisor on technology in the Obama White House, spoke of his experience in the Obama presidential campaign, his technology background, and his first-hand experience growing a small business.
Cole is a Gloucester County resident. In the two-minute introduction allowed under the forum’s structure, Cole tried to highlight his South Jersey heritage.
He spoke of his belief that government supported low-interest financing was critical to economic development in the district. Cole is on record as being a supporter of low-interest student loans as well.
Republican LoBiondo made clear his intention to run on his record.
“I believe in results,” he said and seemed content to allow the voters to decide if the results he has achieved warrant being returned to Washington.
LoBiondo highlighted two recent efforts in his introduction: elimination of the Garden State Parkway traffic lights and his willingness to take on his party to seek relief for district victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Libertarian candidate, John Ordille, faced the need to explain what electing a Libertarian would mean. His short message, “It would mean getting the government off your back.”
As a Libertarian, Ordille is a critic of the many ways government intervenes in public life. A vote for a Libertarian candidate is a way to “tell Washington to get out of our lives.”
He spoke of his opposition to high levels of public debt and his commitment to personal freedom.
Gabriel Brian Franco, running under For Political Revolution, espouses many of the positions made popular during the recent campaign of Bernie Sanders.
A lawyer, Franco spoke of growing up in an immigrant household which fostered values of hard work and respect for individual rights.
A law group he founded in 2015 works to ensure access to the ballot box for all who are qualified to vote.
His message was one focused on ending what he sees as corruption in Washington and ending the role that lobbyists and special interests have on government policy.
Those in attendance showed no interest in questioning the candidates, appearing to favor the county and local races.
Freeholders
Two incumbent Freeholders, Republicans Gerald Thornton, who serves as director, and E. Marie Hayes squared off against Democratic candidates Daniel Kurkowski and John Amenhauser.
Kurkowski, an attorney in private practice, is a resident of Cape May, a Drexel University graduate, and a former prosecutor.
Amenhauser is also an attorney. He grew up in the Erma section of Lower Township and went to Lower Regional High School.
As Democrats seeking seats on a Republican-dominated board, both candidates stressed the value of bi-partisan representation on the board and the dangers of “one-party rule.”
Several themes ran through their opening statements and response to questions. Both stressed the need for greater investment in economic development, both decried the $37-million price for a new county jail, and both pointed to statistics that showed the county among the highest in the state for unemployment.
“While our opponents talk of economic development efforts at the county airport,” said Kurkowski, “it is clear the county is not doing enough on economic development.”
He added his view that “The county is also not doing enough to resolve the drug problem.”
The thrust of the argument presented by the Democratic challengers was that problems of drug abuse, mental health care, and chronic unemployment are rooted in a stubbornly seasonal economy. It is one that does not provide year-around economic opportunity for its citizens. That results in a shrinking population as more individuals, especially young individuals, elect to leave the county, they believe. They place blame on a freeholder board with “safe” Republican seats that do not do enough in support of economic development, and that builds jails rather than treatment programs.
The Republican candidates stressed their record of accomplishments. Both defended the decision to build the jail, defended the economic development efforts already underway, spoke of new programs in place to help with intervention and treatment for drug addiction, and argued that many of the problems the county faces are national problems without easy solutions.
Thornton spoke of his long service on the board where he was made director in 2012. He is an Air Force veteran with 12 years of active duty service. That background allowed him special pride in seeing to fruition his project for a county Veterans Cemetery.
Hayes spent 29 years in law enforcement as a member of the County Prosecutor’s Office, ending as Captain of Detectives for Major Crimes. She expressed special pride in her work with the sexual assault and child abuse unit. Hayes was selected to attend the FBI National Academy, a prestigious designation within law enforcement.
Hayes talked about work with the “nationally recognized” county zoo and said she hoped to make dredging a priority if reelected.
On the issue of the jail, Thornton said he knew it would provoke “partisan attacks” but it was the right decision.
The current structure, designed for a maximum of 188 inmates is usually at around 240 and even hits 300 in the summer season.
He said the county was under pressure from state and federal authorities which could, if no action were taken, result in the county having to pay to house inmates in other counties at prohibitive cost.
“We could end up paying $9 million to $11 million a year to ship prisoners out in order to get back to the design-level maximum of 188 for the current facility,” Thornton said.
In just a few years that would amount to the total cost for construction of a new facility, he added.
He went on to argue that bond interest rates are low making it the right time to undertake the project. “I didn’t want to build a new jail, no one did,” he said, “but it was the right decision for the taxpayers of the county.”
While Thornton and Hayes cited the potential for economic development in the efforts underway to make the county a hub of drone testing, Kurkowski and Amenhauser repeated their call for a county economic development commission.
As Thornton spoke of growth in areas of agriculture, oyster farming, and wineries, Kurkowski and Amenhauser saw the efforts as not aggressive enough.
Kurkowski responded to a question on nursing home care by calling for expanded facilities. Thornton responded by saying the county facility is “top notch” and has available capacity. Hayes said the current trends are aimed at programs that keep people in their homes and not in facilities.
Township Committee
Three candidates are vying for Middle Township Committee.
Incumbent Democrat Mayor Michael Clark is facing ex-mayor Republican Daniel Lockwood and Independent school board member Patricia Taylor.
Taylor, a long-time Republican running as an Independent, was unable to attend the forum because of a family obligation.
Lockwood, a local business owner, became the first Republican elected to the committee in 50 years in 2010. He lost his seat to Democrat Jeffrey DeVico in the last election.
Clark, a branch manager with a local bank and a long-time volunteer fireman in the township, assumed the position of mayor when Democrats regained control of committee with DeVico’s election.
Clark and Lockwood placed emphasis on public safety and the township’s drug problems. Clark cited the opening of the Rio Grande police substation as well as the reinstatement of the police Street Crime Unit as highlights of his tenure as mayor.
Clark said it is important for the township to be friendly to new business ventures that bring jobs. He spoke of the new 7 Mile Brewery, McDonalds and Bruni’s Pizza, all in Rio Grande, as examples of small business growth.
Clark also emphasized that there was no tax increase as part of his first budget as mayor.
Lockwood spoke of his experience on committee. “I am really running for reelection,” he said.
Lockwood also saw public safety as a major issue. He has expressed pride in the work he and Timothy Donohue did when in control of the committee to bring the police department up to staffing levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.
Lockwood struck a recurring theme of planning. He criticized Clark for not having a long-range vision for the township.
He acknowledged that the most recent budget had no tax increase but pointed to previous success accomplishing the same goal when he served.
Lockwood argued that sustaining reasonable tax rates and still meeting the needs of the township requires a long-term financial plan.
“I used to look at ten things during the year as part of the preparation of the next year’s budget. That is not being done now,” he said.
Lockwood and Clark sparred over the recent departure of Township Administrator Connie Mahon. Clark argued Mahon elected to leave and the township will be seeking the best possible replacement.
Lockwood said Clark had many opportunities to keep Mahon and did not act. He also said that Clark is moving too slowly on filling the position.
Asked to rule out the eventual hiring of Michael J. Voll, a previous township mayor and Lower Township administrator, Clark deflected. “He has not applied,” Clark said.
Both candidates expressed concern over revived efforts to build group homes at Patsy’s Way in Court House. Both also argued that the heroin epidemic is a major concern. Using a phrase often heard from Police Chief Christopher Leusner, Lockwood said: “We will not arrest our way out of this.” Clark cited the new CURE partnership with The Lighthouse Church as an example of the treatment and intervention programs needed.
School Board
Three seats are up for election on the school board and three of the four candidates on the ballot attended the forum.
James Norris stressed his youth and enthusiasm, noting that his recent work as part of the Recreation Department has given him a strong desire to continue with community service.
He is a lifelong resident of the township. “I have a strong desire to serve, an ability to learn, and ability to work well with others,” he said, candidly hoping that these attributes will compensate for his lack of formal experience.
Calvin Black Sr. wants to continue his service on the board because it is important to give young people the best quality education “so they will be able to compete” when they leave school.
George DeLollis is also seeking reelection. He stressed the need for balancing costs with quality initiatives. DeLollis said that the average cost per student in Middle Township is $2,000 less than it is statewide.
Facing added security expenses, it is important to prioritize spending appropriately while maintaining the focus on quality education, he said.