Freeholder, Sheriff Candidates Spar

COURT HOUSE – Jobs, infrastructure and the opioid crisis were key topics at a generally genteel debate of four candidates for two seats on the Cape May County Board of Freeholders at the Historic Courthouse Oct. 26.
Republican incumbents Will Morey and Jeffery Pierson faced off against Democratic newcomers Danielle Davies and Gregory Wall in front of a capacity crowd in the historic building, in an event hosted by the League of Women Voters. The debate was also broadcast on radio and streamed live on the web.
Wall
Wall, who described himself as a millennial, said it is imperative that young people get involved in politics at every level. He grew up in Villas, is a 2011 graduate of Cape May County Technical High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Peter’s University, and a master’s degree from King’s College in London, England.
He is a Democratic committee member, and said he’s running for office “because we need to do better for the people of Cape May County.”
Davies
Davies described herself as new to politics, but not a new resident of the county. She works as a freelance writer. Her husband, a truck driver, and she said they could not imagine a better place to raise their two children than in the county.
“Unfortunately, the reality for many of our residents is the exact opposite,” saying the county ranks last in the state for child safety and well being, and low for economics.
She also brought up the opioid epidemic, suggesting it was worsened by a lack of economic opportunity. “I want more for my children, and for yours,” she said.
Pierson
Pierson, the most recent addition to the freeholder board, was appointed last year to fill a seat vacated by Kristine Gabor. He cited his military experience. He said he is a lifelong resident of the county.
“I joined the New Jersey National Guard when I was in high school, as a private, and I retired 42 years later as a brigadier general,” he said.
He also worked in the Sheriff’s Department and was a member of the Upper Township Committee before being appointed as a freeholder. “Basically, I’m happy to be here, and I’m proud to serve. God bless America.”
Morey
Morey is a partner with his brother Jack, running the Morey’s Piers organization in Wildwood. He served on school board in Wildwood Crest before being elected freeholder but said he had had little interest in politics. He wants to solve problems and improve the economy of the community.
“To do that, you have to drive change. I’m here to drive change. That’s what I’m focused on doing,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think I’m an intense collaborator.”
Sheriff Candidates
Earlier that night, candidates for sheriff – Republican Robert Nolan and Democrat Richard Harron – traded a few sharper barbs over who was better qualified to replace Sheriff Gary Schaffer, who did not seek reelection.
At one point, Nolan drew moans when he tried to suggest Harron was inaccurate, saying “There he goes again,” an apparent reference to Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential debate against incumbent Jimmy Carter.
Freeholder Debate
But in the debate for freeholder, there were few sharp disagreements on policy. The Democratic candidates stated it was time for a change in county government. They pointed out that it has been dominated by Republicans since just after the Civil War.
There were a few specific areas of dispute, but the second half of the evening unfolded more like a panel discussion of county issues than a political debate between partisan adversaries, except when statewide and national politics were raised.
Opioid Crisis
As part of the extensive talk about the county’s opioid crisis, Davies cited President Donald Trump’s statement earlier that day declaring it a national emergency, calling it one of the few times she agreed with the president.
At another point, Davies referred to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy, saying no candidate has ever spent as much time in South Jersey.
Later, Pierson spoke for Republican candidate Kim Guadagno, the lieutenant governor, saying she is well known in the county and has frequently visited.
When a question came up about what the county would seek from Trenton after Gov. Chris Christie leaves office, Pierson said he would ask her to “lift the embargo” and put more money to the southernmost part of the state. He suggested little transportation funding makes it to Cape May County.
“We get nothing. It all goes north,” he said. “Now if it’s Murphy, the first thing I’m going to do is to knock on his door and say don’t raise any damned taxes, because he’s going to tax us out of living here in New Jersey. We’re not going to be able to survive, and more people are going to leave the state. That’s a given.”
Pierson also stated he would speak against making New Jersey a “sanctuary state,” echoing a Guadagno campaign point.
Since Murphy used the term in the gubernatorial debates, Guadagno has hammered him in campaign ads accusing him of trying to shelter murderers.
Murphy, meanwhile, said as governor he would oppose any efforts to use state and local police to assist in mass deportations and protect undocumented residents who came to the United States as children, those often referred to as “dreamers.”
Davies indicated she would want to see the state spend money in Cape May County for an addiction treatment center, and for a summit on infrastructure for local improvements.
Each candidate focused on addiction, calling for more work in the communities and better responses at every level.
“We can’t arrest our way out of this problem,” Davies said. She praised the County Prosecutor’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department but suggested more youth programs. “These can be things that can work to prevent opioid abuse in the first place.”
Wall and Davies spoke about infrastructure, citing issues with the toll bridges between the barrier islands, which are in poor condition, and decrying the lack of planning for replacement.
“I don’t think there’s an easy answer to the infrastructure problem. But the problem is that it’s been a problem for a long time,” said Davies.
“These bridges are 70 years old. So from 70 years ago, there should have been a plan in place to start saving,” she said.
Morey said the county is planning for maintenance, repair, and replacement of the bridges, and that most of the county bridges are in good shape.
The issue is the toll bridges of the Cape May County Bridge Commission, which were built about 70 years ago with federal help. He suggested that a relatively small investment each year could soon mean enough money to fund a new bridge over Townsend Inlet, connecting Sea Isle City and Avalon.
A $20-million project is planned to start and already funded, which means the replacement will be years away. The ultimate cost will depend on which options the county chooses, but Morey mentioned $300 million.
He said the county is in excellent financial shape.
“All we have to do as a county is just to start earmarking a piece of our tax rate at this point, and we can very capably handle those improvements. That’s even before we get to looking at grants,” he said.
Energy was also an issue, with a question about plans to bring a natural gas pipeline through the pinelands to power a revamped power plant at B.L. England Generating Station in Upper Township.
Davies was skeptical of the pipeline but recognized the need for reliable energy. She said she favored renewable resources like wind and solar, while Morey favored the pipeline, but acknowledged the concern of pipeline opponents.
Pierson said he was in favor of the pipeline as an Upper Township committeeman and still favors it. But he said all options for power should be on the table.
“We need nuclear. That is probably the best source of electricity and the most ecological way to go.”
Pierson said there is potential in wind and solar as well, but said he had seen challenges to wind power over concern for injury to migrating birds.
Sheriff’s Debate
Nolan and Harron had the first hour of the debate, with the debate for the freeholder candidates running from 8 to 9 p.m.
Harron, who initially sought the Republican nomination before accepting a spot on the Democratic ticket, repeatedly called for better planning and coordination in the Sheriff’s Department, while Nolan presented himself as the man to continue Schaffer’s legacy in the department.
“The one thing you get when you vote Bob Nolan, I’m going to keep the entire administrative staff intact,” he said. “We’re going to have the smoothest transition in the history of the Sheriff’s Department when I become sheriff because I’m already there.”
In his opening remarks, Harron said the Sheriff’s Department has core functions, which must be run effectively and efficiently.
“But I also believe the sheriff has a responsibility to be a voice of the people. And for the people that are experiencing problems in our community, whether they’re veterans, addicts, or just the general people that are having crime problems in our community,” Harron said. 
Topics raised included plans to begin operations at a new county jail, which is set to open after a new sheriff takes office and the role of the department in the community.
Harron repeatedly called for better planning, including plans for the jail, where he said officers had expressed concern over safety.
Harron had served in the jail when he worked for the Sheriff’s Department.
“The officers are concerned about the training and the manpower there. There needs to be a plan. I’m not saying that there isn’t one, but you’re asking about my perception,” Harron said.
Nolan, who serves as undersheriff, said he wants to meet with union representatives to address any safety concerns, but added that there are already extensive plans in place for training and the transition, along with regular coordination with other departments within the county.
“Quite frankly, Rich, you haven’t been on the job for over seven and a half years. That’s probably why you don’t know what we do,” said Nolan.
Nolan said he lobbied Schaffer to expand the department’s arsenal to include assault weapons, adding that he has a team trained in their use ready to respond to incidents of terrorism or an attempted mass shooting.
This is in addition to the county’s SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team, which also includes sheriff’s officers.
“I have a group of men right now who, at the drop of a dime, will respond immediately to a threat, should there be an active shooter situation similar to the event that happened out there in Las Vegas,” said Nolan. 
There were no questions about the 287(g) program, however.
Under the federal training program, into which the county was accepted in the spring, three sheriff’s officers in the county jail will receive training to operate as Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers.
Initiated by Schaffer, the training program has been criticized at the county level by advocates for immigrants.
The candidates both presented the election as a choice between a new direction for the department or a continuation of the current operation.
“What sets us apart is I’ve done the job, I’ve made the arrests, I’ve gone out in high-risk situations, and I’ve kept this county safe,” Nolan said. He said he’s taken criminals off the streets and put them in the jail.
“It’s time for a change,” said Harron, adding that he did not want to denigrate what’s been happening at the Sheriff’s Department under Schaffer.
“It’s time to keep up with what’s going on around us,” Harron said.
To contact Bill Barlow, email bbarlow@cmcherald.com.