November is closing in and the race for three seats on Council is heating up.
In the township’s first-ever partisan election, six candidates are competing for three, four-year spots opening on Evesham Township Council.
Incumbent Mayor Randy Brown is on the Republican ticket with running mates Steve Zeuli and incumbent Councilwoman Deb Hackman, both vying for a place on Council. Former Councilman Mike Schmidt is running for mayor as a Democrat with running mates Kathleen Santomero and Mark Ornstein, both hoping to fill Council seats.
This week, The Telegram asked all the candidates two questions:
1.) If elected, what would be your top priorities?
2.) Do you have any cost cutting or revenue-generating ideas that might help Evesham address upcoming budget challenges?
Their responses are below.
Editor’s note: Brown, Zeuli and Hackman submitted joint responses to the questions.
Randy Brown, Deb Hackman and Steve Zeuli
1.) One: Continue to find innovative ways for Evesham Township to lower taxes and maintain the quality services that Evesham residents deserve. This year we were able to lower taxes and maintain existing services — in the face of adversity. Evesham Township has been recognized as the best run township in Burlington County and as a leader in shared services. Mayor and Council have not only found ways to share service between township entities, but also with surrounding townships. These shared-service agreements provide the necessary funding to keep Evesham taxes from rising. As a successful small businessman, Steve Zeuli will bring with him the years of experience he has gained from running his business. Steve has to run his business on a tight budget and will use his management skills to reduce township spending.
Two: Evesham Township has been a leader in attracting ratables, which not only create jobs, but also reduce the residential tax burden. With the changing landscape of our township, due to the Marlton Circle elimination, Mayor and Council embarked on the 20–20 vision study. The study is the first step to ensuring that Evesham Township has a plan for future development in our commercial zones along the Route 73/Route 70 corridors. Our team is committed to ensuring that Evesham Township manages growth and ensures that we are providing economic development opportunities. Steve Zeuli’s experience in running a small business and creating jobs, which be invaluable to the township Council.
Three: The township will be looking for opportunities to be more “green.” We are currently paperless for Council meetings. We have embarked on $3 million solar energy project — being funded by state and federal grants. The project will generate $50,000 in revenue for the township.
2.) Evesham Township has been fortunate in our ability to provide great services to our residents and still lower taxes. While other townships are laying off police officers and township employees, raising taxes and cutting valuable services, Evesham Township has been at the forefront of “out of the box,” innovative ideas to maintain services, while lowering taxes. Because we have been able to accomplish lowering taxes and maintaining services does not mean we should rest on our laurels. We will continue to work with our township manager to look for places to cut costs and ensure that taxes continue to decrease.
We will look at municipal budgets with a multi-year emphasis — instead of a year to year emphasis.
We will continue to attract quality ratables which keep our taxes from rising.
We will look for additional opportunities to share services with other township entities and other townships.
We will explore ways reduce our energy use, which not only saves money, but also helps us to be good stewards of the environment.
Our budge strategy will be a continuance of looking for opportunities to implement cost saving measures. We will with our state legislators to find any additional funding which is available to offset costs.
Mark Ornstein
1.) As a township, we must rein in our spending. The 2010 Evesham annual budget is currently set at $32.9 million. Over the last five years, this budget has increased by the alarming percentage of 8 percent. This is unacceptable as we all struggle to navigate our way through these difficult economic times. Perhaps hardest hit are our young families and senior citizens. The increase in sales and foreclosures continues to rise. Many residents are one paycheck away from losing their homes, and seniors who are living on a fixed income simply cannot afford to keep up with the status quo. We need to look to the future of this community, attracting and keeping residents is a concern. Our school district is outstanding, I am confident my daughter, who has begun kindergarten in Evesham School District this September, will be very successful because of the quality education she will receive. The township Council must work collaboratively with the school board as the school budget is the largest taxing entity. It can no longer be an adversarial relationship. I will bring fresh perspective and new ideas to Evesham Council. My experience with multi-million dollar school budgets, school laws and the public sector has taught me firsthand how important it is to control spending. We can make positive reductions in spending without shortchanging the futures of our children. It is important to rethink Evesham’s current fiscal policies by utilizing the urgency of “now” to accomplish a proactive approach to government.
2.) Execute our “three point plan” that we have designed. We will review of all township expenses and determine what discretionary spending(including professional fees) can be cut or lowered. Convene all taxing entities (fire; school — local and regional; county; municipal) in order to work together in a cooperative manner to identify potential savings.
Kathleen Santomero
1.) The annual budget of Evesham has grown out of proportion to the size of the community. We must control spending and we may need to make hard choices to do this. I believe that Evesham is absent of strong leadership that respects the intelligence and concerns of our residents. My priority is to give back to our residents their “voice” and to listen to our residents and allow them to have input into the decision making on capital expenditures and spending in general here in Evesham. We can turn the tide here and be an example to other communities in New Jersey. We must bring back the “people” to the government. We must work with our teachers, school administrators and school boards as well as all other entities including the Municipal Utilities Authority, fire and county. We must work hand-in-hand with these entities every day, not just once a year, to help and support them so that the budgets they present to our residents are equitable to all and supportive of our children’s education, our residents’ health and safety while being financially sound. Our residents must regain faith and trust in their leaders, and today what you hear is that all government leaders are the same. No one listens to the “voice” of the community. My priority is controlling spending to contain taxes through strong, positive, fiscally responsible and respectful leadership, working in partnership with our residents.
2.) We have issued our three-point plan, which is our “tool box” for bringing significant change to Evesham. We will consolidate boards, reduce professional fees and work to consolidate or to privatize services where appropriate. Additionally, we will look at all township resources to optimize revenue possibilities and eliminate waste and out of control expense. We will bring all taxing entities together to work in collaboration as one which will enable us to ensure the financial viability of Evesham for the future.
Mike Schmidt
1.) Containing spending and taxes are at the top of the list. Slowing the growth of government and transparency are close seconds. The one consistent message my running mates Mark Ornstein and Kathleen Santomero and I hear over and over from our community is “taxes are too high.” That is a message we get loud and clear. Our residents need help and change and we can deliver both.
If elected, you will see more referendum questions to the voters so their voices can be heard on important issues that impact our town from road improvements to the open space fund. We need to take advantage of the internet and digital means to broadcast our meetings, and share more information on our budget and meetings.
2.) We intend to address the spending issue straight on with responsible caps on expenses, limits to professional fees, consolidation of boards and services where it makes sense and analyzing discretionary spending for cuts. We will examine all township assets and look for ways to streamline and add to our revenue base.
We need to slow down the growth of government right now. Currently the budget in Evesham is $32.9 million. That should be more than enough to run our town safely and responsibly during the next few years. It’s easy to say yes to new programs when your spending someone else’s money, change requires the ability to say “no” to new programs and “no” to new taxes necessary to fund them.
Our Three Point Plan for Evesham focuses on spending and tax containment, and transparency. More importantly we believe it will create more innovative ideas to deal with the budget and put Evesham ahead of the curve.
