Steve Russell Provides Answers for Voters

COURT HOUSE – After weeks of door-to-door campaigning throughout all areas of Middle Township, Independent candidate Steve Russell released the following statement.
“As I continue to walk around Middle Township meeting voters face-to-face, I have been asked many great questions. In an effort to get my answers out to the greatest number of Middle Township voters, I would like to respond publically here to some of the questions. Thank you to all of the voters I have met, and I look forward to meeting many more of you in the next few weeks.
Q: I hear a few people around town say the Township Committee needs to adopt zero-based budgeting. What are your thoughts on that?
A: From what I can see, the entire method of spending in Middle Township needs to be reviewed. I would require that all department heads submit zero-based budgets based on their needs, not their wants. All department budgets must be scrutinized and must require justification. I also support the practice put in place last year to hold open workshop sessions with the public and departments heads prior to the final release of the budget. I believe using my years of experience developing and managing budgets as large as $24 million as well as overseeing large capital funds will have a profound effect on our municipal budget.
Q: I understand that it will be you who decides who will be the next mayor of Middle Township. Is that true?
A: Each year, the three members of Township Committee vote amongst themselves to choose the person who will serve as mayor for the next year. Rest assured that I will make my decision based on what is in the best interest of the citizens of Middle Township, not what is in the best interest of a politician’s career or their political party. I realize that a win by Tim Donohue in this election will result in Dan Lockwood becoming our next mayor. I promise you that if I am elected, I will make sure that scenario does not happen.
Q: History has shown that in a three-way race an Independent candidate has not been able to win. Why do you think this election will be different?
A: The people of Middle Township want their best interests represented and not those of a political party or party boss. The voters I have spoken to have said that they are sick of backroom political deals that reward the cronies of those currently in power. The stranglehold that political parties have on our local government needs to be broken. One way to do this is to elect an Independent candidate. If elected, you will have the first truly Independent Middle Township Committee, one Democrat, one Republican and a decision-making Independent.
Q: You have received the support of Mayor Delanzo and Deputy Mayor Doughty, both Democrats. Did you make some sort of deal to get in the race to save the democratic mayor and continue democratic control of Township Committee?
A: Absolutely not! I have had longstanding professional and personal friendships with both Susan Delanzo and Nate Doughty. I am appreciative of their support, but I got into this race on my own as an Independent. As an Independent, I have no obligations to any political party, and my decisions will be based on what is in the best interest of our citizens.”
Ordered and paid for by the Committee to Elect Steve Russell, Steve Frame-Treasurer, 26 Solar Way, Cape May Court House, NJ. 08210