Middle Chamber Hosts Candidates’ Night

SWAINTON – Middle Township Chamber of Commerce held its candidates night Oct. 21 for all on the Nov. 3 ballot in the township. The event included a period for informal networking, a dinner catered at the Sand Barrens Country Club, a presentation by each candidate, and an open forum for questions.
Chamber moderator, Robert Noel, started the night’s presentations with candidates for the Assembly. Republicans Samuel Fiocchi and James Sauro led off, followed by Democrats Robert Andrzejczak and R. Bruce Land. Each team included one incumbent. Except for Sauro, candidates made brief presentations that took less than the allotted time.
Fiocchi, Sauro
Fiocchi, a former Cumberland County freeholder and incumbent, led off and began by discussing his background as a businessman who understands pressures to meet a payroll in an environment, he said, is hostile to small business.  Fiocchi owned and operated a small business in Vineland for nearly 40 years. 
In a short presentation he seemed to know his politics; Fiocchi’s focus was on state regulations and taxes. “New Jersey is not favorable to small businesses and that has to change,” he said. He praised the chamber for holding the event and said he is always “seeking the input of the business community.”
Fiocchi has been under attack from a political action committee concerning alleged failure to pay all of his business taxes on time. In the networking period prior to speeches, he said that he had released all of his tax information and has paid 100 percent of taxes owed. He expressed anger at the negative campaigning that has attempted to damage his reputation.
Fiocchi did not use his presentation to discuss details of his record in Trenton, but indicated that he wants to continue the fight in Trenton to balance budgets, create jobs, and create an environment more supportive of small business owners.  The theme struck repeatedly by Fiocchi, and running mate Sauro, was that their experience as small business owners made them the best team to fight for needed changes to foster an environment supportive of, and attractive to, small businesses.
Sauro, a Cumberland County freeholder, is owner of a plumbing and heating company and water care company in Vineland. He is serving a term as freeholder that runs to 2017. Sauro previously served as freeholder from 2000 to 2002, and in the last year served as director of the board.
Sauro said “What is needed in Trenton is creativity.” New Jersey, according to Sauro, is not attractive to individuals wanting to start a business.  “We need to market New Jersey better and stop adding tax and regulatory burdens to businesses,” he argued. In the First Legislative District, he said, “We have the highest unemployment rate in the state.” Small business, according to Sauro, is the key to a more vibrant economy.
Sauro pointed to the fact that the counties in the district, especially Cape May County, need to do more to “encourage people to stay here year-round.” The economy is hurt by the strong seasonal nature of employment.
Land, Andrzejczak
Land led off for what he and Andrzejczak have self-termed “The Van Drew Team for Change” in most of their campaign literature. Land, new to politics, is a decorated veteran who served in Vietnam. The emphasis on his and Andrzejczak’s service in the military is a constant theme in their campaigns.
Land took time to talk about his service to the community, particularly in his home area of Vineland, where he has been very active in youth sports and other community organizations. Unlike the other candidates, Land has no political experience.  He is a retired captain from the state Department of Corrections.
Land stressed that the state is “overtaxing” its residents and businesses. A theme of his campaign has focused also on support for veterans. Both he and Andrzejczak say they have the best credentials to address problems faced by veterans. Land offered no details on the types of changes he is seeking in Trenton.
Andrzejczak was absent. Sen. Jeff Van Drew spoke briefly to explain his absence. According to Van Drew, Andrzejczak, who lost part of his left leg serving in Iraq, occasionally suffers from spasms caused by shrapnel. “When that happens,” Van Drew said, “he is in great pain and unable to wear his prosthesis.” Van Drew called Andrzejczak “the toughest man I have ever known,” and expressed the candidate’s apologies for missing the event.
The evening also saw presentations from a series of candidates running unopposed for county and local offices.
Fulginiti
Rita Marie Fulginiti, seeking reelection as County Clerk, spoke of her 30 years working for the county, 10 years as clerk, and detailed some of the tasks that fall under the umbrella of the clerk’s office. She focused on services for veterans performed by her office. She touched on improvements close to implementation that will provide greater online access to county records and data. Noel thanked her for finally leading the county into “the 21st century.”
Desiderio
Another familiar name running for reelection is Leonard Desiderio. The freeholder is unopposed. Desiderio has been mayor of Sea Isle City since 1993 and was first elected freeholder in 2002. Desiderio was unable to attend the forum.
Township Committee
The event also highlighted the contest for Middle Township Committee where Republican incumbent Daniel Lockwood is opposed by Democrat Jeffrey DeVico.
Lockwood, deputy mayor, has served on committee for two terms and is seeking reelection under the banner of “The Lockwood-Donohue Team” referring to his partnership with mayor Timothy Donohue.
Lockwood’s presentation stressed his record in office and placed emphasis on changes made possible once Donohue joined him on committee. Lockwood pointed to actions he helped lead to raise the personnel level of the police force, improve emergency communications systems, increased starting salaries to keep the township competitive when recruiting employees, and hold the line on tax increases.
“Long-term planning works,” he said, “and we are seeing the benefits now.” Lockwood said that township committee, when he arrived, was not very involved in the management of the municipality. “The professionals ran the township rather than the elected officials,” he asserted.
The township has experienced what he called a “management revolution.” Professional contract costs have been reduced giving the township greater flexibility for things like the recently announced “rapid response” program on code enforcement.
DeVico admitted he is new to politics. Retired after 25 years as a Middle Township police officer, DeVico lauded his long-term commitment to the municipality.  DeVico was also a member of the volunteer fire department. Spending years helping to run a family business has given him insights he feels will be valuable on committee.
DeVico did not point to major problems in the way the current committee runs the township. He sees a value in bringing a fresh perspective to governance but also adds that there is not a need for a lot of change. He did not want to suggest major changes in things like the budget without first having a chance to examine how things are being done from the inside.
On the issue of public safety, DeVico says his background as a police officer means he will want to ensure proper resources for emergency departments are a priority.  He adds, however, that he is happy with the increased support the police department has received from committee.
DeVico is concerned about homelessness in the township and the drug problem, with a special focus on Rio Grande.
A Democrat, DeVico’s election would give the party two of three votes on committee.  He said he is not about party politics. He wants to be part of a team, not just a duo with fellow Democrat Michael Clark.
DeVico hopes that his long involvement and commitment to the township will lead voters to give him the chance to serve in a new way. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.  “I want my kids to stay here as well.” Most of all, DeVico wants to contribute to the place where he grew up.
Board of Education
Three incumbent candidates are seeking reelection to Middle Township School Board.  Stephanie Thomas, Edward Dagney, and Patricia Taylor each seek their seats for another term. Patricia Taylor was unable to attend the candidate event, but sent a message.
The Partnership for Assessing Readiness for College Careers (PARCC) test results had just arrived from the state but detailed information had not yet been released to municipalities. In response to a question, Thomas said that this was a new test and parents should not be overly concerned if results were not high this time. The test is a result of a collaborative effort of a number of states to assess student abilities to apply knowledge concepts rather than memorizing information.
All candidates agreed Middle Township schools are doing well and that increased variety in the curriculum offered opportunities for all students. Candidates underscored the workload that awaits anyone elected to the board.
Dagney expressed appreciation for the effort made by board members to grapple with issues and “think through” responses to problems.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.