MOORESTOWN, NJ — Three Moorestown Council seats will be up for grabs in the Nov. 3 elections. None of the incumbents chose to run for re-election this year, so there will be three new faces on Moorestown Council come January.
Patch sent questions to candidates in the race, and is publishing their responses in a series of profiles. Information provided by Dave Zipin can be found below.
Age (as of Election Day)
47
Position Sought
Council
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Family
Spouse: Cyndi, Children: Abby(13) and Maddie(13)
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
I work for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. I previously worked with the Department of Community Affairs in various capacities, Division of Local Government Services, the Local Finance Board, and the Government Records Council. I also worked for several years as the Assistant Solicitor for Cherry Hill Township, and briefly as the Acting Director for Community Development. Following my graduate school studies, my career has consisted entirely of state and local government jobs.
Education
JD, Rutgers School of Law, 2001
MBA, Rutgers School of Business, 2001
BS in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing, Albright College, 1995
Occupation
Attorney with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency since June, 2009 – Legal Analyst, Agency Ethics Liaison Officer, and Deputy EEO-Harassment/Discrimination Officer
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
Moorestown Planning Board, 2019 to present
Moorestown Economic Development Advisory Council, 2020 to present
Campaign website
MoorestownTogether.com
Why are you seeking elective office?
I want to bring my vast experience and knowledge of proper local government function and protocol to Moorestown. I want to ensure that Moorestown is run in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner, with a focus on transparency and sound government practice. Moreover, I want to help grow Moorestown’s business community by both ensuring that Moorestown strives to partner with existing businesses to help them succeed and works to make Moorestown an attractive place for new businesses. As part of this effort, I think it’s important that Moorestown expand its range of services to the business community and work to remove the onerous barriers to doing business in Moorestown. In order to achieve any of these goals, it is imperative that we rise above partisan divides to bring Moorestown together as a community that is welcoming and respectful of all opinions and ideas. Council needs to work with all members of the community, and not just a select few, to help Moorestown meet its vast potential.
The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Today, the most pressing issue facing Moorestown and the country as a whole is the challenge we face fighting the pandemic/CoVid19. It is more important than ever to have capable and compassionate leadership at all levels of government. Beyond the immediate concerns surrounding the pandemic, I think the most important problems confronting Moorestown relate to the internal divisions that have emerged in recent years and our cumbersome business environment. First, I want to see Moorestown come together as a community, not as a collection of party loyalists. I believe this starts with leadership and transparency in government, both in how the local government functions and what the governing body’s intentions are with all issues, large and small. Many achievements can be accomplished when we close the divide between those within the community who disagree, by ensuring that all opinions are heard and respected and by giving all the residents an opportunity to participate. My second focus will be on strengthening the existing business community and growing that community by making Moorestown an attractive place to do business. Moorestown is already a highly sought-after community in which to live; I would like to see that same enthusiasm exhibited by small businesses. Local government plays a central role in providing support to businesses, and I believe that there are enormous opportunities for synergies between our residents, the business community, and council. I am confident that I can bring my extensive experience in local government to promote a healthier business community, by listening to business owners and working to remove the obstacles that stand in their way.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am only comfortable sharing what I can about myself and what I believe is important for the community and successful leadership. I will respectfully leave it to the voters to make those comparisons.
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)
I am seeking election to a vacant council seat. No incumbent is running in the 2020 Moorestown Council election
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform
I want to see Moorestown strengthened and unified as a community. I want it to become a destination for small businesses. Given the many reasons that make Moorestown a wonderful place to live and raise our children, there is no reason that it cannot also be a healthy, vibrant place to do business. Moreover, I would like to see Moorestown become an even more desirable destination to live, work, play, as well as open a business.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have a more than 20-year career as an attorney, dedicated to serving the communities I have called home. That service has both taught me how local government should operate and has also given me the opportunity to help my community in important ways. I have served as an ethics officer for eleven years in my current role, and as an investigator with the Local Finance Board reviewing local government ethics issues for many years prior. These experiences have reinforced how government should function and how leadership running those government entities should conduct themselves.
The best advice ever shared with me was:
Be yourself and be true to what you believe.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am not a politician but rather a proud Moorestownian who wants to see Moorestown remain a great community that thrives for years to come. I am proud to call Moorestown home, I am proud to be raising my family here, and I have a wealth of knowledge and experience that I believe will benefit the community and make it stronger.
This article originally appeared on the Moorestown Patch