UPDATE: Voll Reconsiders; He Will Run for Middle Committee

COURT HOUSE — Former Middle Township Mayor Mike Voll has announced that he has reconsidered his previous decision not to run for Township Committee. He said he will file his petition to run as an independent candidate on Tuesday, June 8.
Voll said his family had originally had concerns about his health and safety, fearing attacks from a previous opponent. Now they want him to “go for it.”
Below is a copy of Voll’s release:
My wife Susie and I will be filing my petition on Tuesday morning for Middle Township Committee election in November. After a family discussion, my family now wants me to run!
Our children were concerned about my health and well being. “I want to get back in representing a community that has been a part of me most of my adult life”. In office, you will not please everyone, however if they have a valid complaint, that’s ok as long that they are honest.
Our family has been attacked in the past by an “Internet Predator” who was arrested and convicted. This predator was making threats to our daughter, who was a single parent at the time. This same predator has been writing letters to news papers, spout off, and the herald web site with lies and deception about my public service. The family decided that if he continues, we will expose this coward’s arrest record, investigation reports, and his conviction… “This type of conduct is why we cannot get good qualified young people involved in government”.
I will not let the people of Middle Township down or all of the supporters that signed my petition down; policemen, EMT’s, teachers, fireman, fire chiefs, school board members, and business people who signed my petition to run.
I am proud of all my public service, as a police officer, your mayor, and when I served under Governor Florio. When elected, “I will work full-time on issues that affect the quality of life here in Middle”.
Make no mistake; I have not changed my mind from the very first signature on my Independent petition. I was and am concerned about my family and the past abuse. My daughter is now married and supports my campaign. My daughter is so fired up about what this predator has done; she will be heading up our campaign. Susie, my wife knows how much I care about this township, so she said “Go for it”. “I am not going to let people with negative criticism stop me from my calling”.
I will be on the ballot in November and seek the support of Republicans, Democrats, and Undeclared register voters. I enjoy visiting and talking with the taxpayers of our great Township. I have always enjoyed the blessing of having the ability to help people. My whole adult life has been in public service. I will be running on my record while serving the Township as your Mayor, and Committee member during the 80’s and 90’s. We were able to get a lot of things done working with Jim Alexis, Chuck Leusner, the late Bob Hodges, and Pat Peterson. We will be discussing the issues as the campaign progresses.
Below is last week’s story from when Voll announced that he would not run:
COURT HOUSE — A former mayor who was seriously considering a run for Middle Township Committee in November has decided not to enter the race.
Mike Voll, who served on Township Committee from 1982 to 1999, told the Herald last week that he was gathering signatures on a petition to run as an independent candidate versus Democratic Mayor Susan DeLanzo, noting his “calling to public service.”
“All my adult life I have been blessed with the ability in helping others, there is nothing more rewarding to me,” Voll said.
He had planned on putting the people of the township first, not a political party. He said he wanted to get back to the township slogan adopted during his previous tenure: “Middle Township: A Clean, Safe, and Caring Family Community”
On June 2, however, he changed his mind.
“I am announcing that I will not seek election to the Middle Township Committee,” he stated in a release. “After much prayer, and searching, I have decided that I can better utilize my time and experience in other areas of volunteer public service.”
He cited his ongoing work with “Cape Issues,” a community group working to increase awareness and search for solutions to problems facing local taxpayers, as well as the Cape May Conference of Mayors, a non-partisan group that he founded, which meets monthly to address provide tax relief and a better way to serve local communities. He also serves on the Mid-Atlantic AAA board, for which he advises on traffic issues and proposed highway safety legislation.
“These organizations seem to provide more balance and satisfaction of my time,” he said.
Voll said he also made the decision not to run with his family and his health in mind.
“I love my wife and family dearly and my decision will bring comfort to them,” he said. “We are blessed with four children, seven grandchildren, and our dog named Jimmy.”
Voll said that he will continue to offer assistance to DeLanzo, the township’s first female mayor, in helping her with the current municipal challenges.
“This is her first year as our mayor, and I want her stay focused, not devoting her time to campaigning,” he said. “These are challenging times to be in elective office.”
Voll thinks Middle Township should look at its current form of government — “to see if it still represents our growing Township well.”
“I feel strongly that we should do a Charter Study to investigate the different forms of government,” he said. In 2006, Voll proposed a mayor and seven-member council form of government with council members representing different voting districts throughout the township.
He is also concerned with providing good public safety and quality education for children, he said.
Unless another independent candidate files to run before the June 8 deadline, DeLanzo will run unopposed. DeLanzo might have had a tough race in November against Voll, a popular candidate who was elected to Township Committee six times as a Democrat.
In 1981, he defeated Republican Bruce Back 2,170 to 1,430. As an incumbent, he won 2,963-2,134 over challenger James Allax in 1984; 2,545-1,885 over Richard James in 1987; 2,503-1,769 over Belle Oleferuk in 1990; and 2,983-2,193 over Jerome Licata in 1993. In 1996, Voll ran unopposed receiving 3,807 votes.
He served as chairman of the county Democratic Party from 1985 to 1993.
In April 1997, Voll switched to the Republican Party and did not seek reelection in 1999.
Voll, a township resident since 1975, served as a Wildwood police officer from 1971 to 1983. He held state appointed positions with the Department of Corrections and the South Jersey Transportation Authority in the 1990s, and is currently employed by the Borough of Stone Harbor. He holds degrees in criminal justice and public administration.