In the fourth week, candidates give their final pitches as to why they should serve on township committee.
The Voorhees Sun is running a four-week Meet the Candidates series ahead of this November’s Voorhees Township Committee election.
Below are profiles of the candidates running in the election. In the coming weeks, the candidates will answer questions regarding issues pertaining to the town.
Republicans
Make your final pitch. Why should you be elected to Township Committee?
Names: Lisa DeAugustine and Carmine Valentino
There is a clear choice on November 7th: Progress or Political Patronage. The truth is, our opponents have been in office for nearly two-decades. Twenty years ago, gas was just barely breaking $1.00 per gallon, and less than 15% of consumers had access to the internet. So much has changed in the world since then. Voorhees has experienced a decade of municipal tax rate increases, fleeing businesses, tenure of pay-to-play politics, and one of the highest costs-of-living in a State with THE highest cost of living in the country.
Our opponents will continue to extol the success of the supposed “Medical-Mile”, while systematically avoiding talking about the abandoned storefronts along Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Voorhees Town Center, Main Street at Voorhees, and all throughout Voorhees Township. Businesses are in trouble in Voorhees. Conversely, we will consult with business owners, real-estate brokers, and local economic developers to determine what Voorhees needs to succeed. We will evaluate the soundness of the zoning process to ensure that businesses can expand and renovate in a cost productive, and competitive manor. We will focus on harboring sustainable growth, while attracting new businesses to our great town.
Our opponents boast in their campaign literature that they are looking out for the Voorhees Taxpayer; however, while Voorhees Residents struggled to pay for their own health insurance, career quarter-time politicians Platt and Mignogna selfishly forced Voorhees taxpayers to pay the bill for their Cadillac health plans, costing Voorhees residents nearly $500,000.00 between 2001 and 2011. It is important to note that our opponents had only stopped taking benefits after Committeeman Friedman raised the issue, and only when it became politically expedient (right before they ran for re-election in the Fall of 2011).
Throughout our opponent’s tenure, their campaigns and the political machines that they owe allegiance too, have received HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars from professionals that they appoint annually to positions in town. This past year alone, more than six professionals that our opponents voted to appoint, submitted the highest bid to Voorhees Township, costing taxpayers dearly. This kind of pay-to-play politics isn’t creating real competition in Voorhees. Free market economics is the foundation on which our country is built upon. Continuing to allow Platt and Mignogna to undermine the free market by creating unfair competition is not only hurting Voorhees Taxpayers, it is Un-American. On day one, we will work to reform the solicitation process so that work is awarded using quality metrics, not via favoritism and political patronage. We will create a process which awards work based on discrete fundamental metrics, such as; Past-performance, capabilities, and cost; all while considering innovative contract vehicles (i.e. flat-fee arrangements). More businesses will submit bids to Voorhees Township knowing that they have a chance of being awarded the work on merit. Organic growth and competition will ultimately provide Voorhees Residents with the best services at the most affordable cost.
Finally, the safety and security of our town and its residents is, and will always be, paramount. We are residents of Voorhees Township; our families are invested in our community. We stand behind these words. We will support and propose measures which continue to ensure the safety of our children, our schools, and our residents. We will not waiver from this position, and will firmly support our public safety programs; Always putting Voorhees Residents first.
On November 7th, we ask you to make a choice between progress in our community, or the purveyance of political patronage. Carmine Valentino and Lisa DeAugustine will always put your interests first, above all else. Together, we will Revitalize Voorhees, end decades of one-party-rule, and sustain Voorhees Township for the future — For our Families.
Democrats
Make your final pitch. Why should you be elected to Township Committee?
Name: Michael Mignogna
Voorhees has been my home for 32 years, during which time I have immersed myself in the community. I have enjoyed coaching baseball, basketball, and soccer and was one of the founders of the Voorhees Theatre Company. I have also been proud to give my time to such charitable organizations as the United Way, the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation and the Voorhees Relay for Life.
In my 15 years as a Committeeman, I have been accessible and have never taken my responsibilities lightly. I have served in such roles as the Director of Public Safety and a member of the Planning Board. I have never missed a Township Committee work session meeting and I have missed only two public meetings, to attend the funeral of my best friend and when my beloved mother passed.
Over the last few weeks, I have shared in this forum our goals and accomplishments toward quality of life. The evolution of the $600 million Virtua Medical Campus on Route 73 is a prime example. It brought 1,000 new jobs, tax revenue and a $10 million sewer improvement at no cost to our residents. The project has been an economic magnet for our community and the hub of our “Medical Mile.”
I outlined our efforts to cut costs and generate revenue. We have 23 less full-time Township employees than in 2006. We partnered with a company to allow the Township to purchase utilities directly from the providers, saving $150,000 per year. In the last two years, Voorhees has received $3.1 million in grants
used to control costs.
Voorhees has been in the forefront of shared services programs. We merged with Camden County dispatch, saving $400,000 a year. We have shared services agreements with Gibbsboro, Laurel Springs, Audubon, Cherry Hill, Eastern Regional High School and the Voorhees Township Schools.
We introduced the “Shop Voorhees” program, the first of its kind in South Jersey, giving tax credits to residents for shopping in local businesses. Over 50 businesses and over 2500 households participate.
Our Township infrastructure, parks and facilities have been priorities. We have initiated a five-year road
program, using grants to improve traffic flow. We have used grants to improve our playgrounds and bike
paths. Turf fields have been installed at the Giangulio Complex, the Maiaroto Soccer Complex and the Rabinowitz Baseball Complex.
For the protection of the our children, Voorhees partnered with our local schools to place a police officer in every school every day. We were the first township in New Jersey to use Nixie, permitting immediate communication with residents for emergencies or community events. We initiated the “Voorhees Saves
Lives” Program, which provides residents free Uber rides home from Voorhees restaurants/bars at no cost to our taxpayers.
Since 2003, Voorhees has preserved 203 acres of land for open space. The former Buzby Landfill is being transformed into the Voorhees Environmental Park. In the Ashland neighborhood, a former sewer plant was transformed into Hale Park. Our “Green Team” achieved Silver Certification from Sustainable Jersey.
In an ongoing effort to keep our residents informed, we established a Township website, Facebook page, a Township App, a Twitter account and Instagram.
Perhaps our proudest initiative was the creation of the Voorhees Veterans Wall of Honor to pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom. There are 381 veterans honored on the Wall.
I look forward to continuing to work hard to keep Voorhees a wonderful place in which to live, raise a family, work and play for us, our children and future generations. Thank you.
Name: Harry A. Platt
I have had the honor and privilege of serving on Township Committee since 1998. During that time I have had the opportunity to play a role in many important decisions that have and will shape Voorhees Township. I hope to continue to be a part of these decisions in the future.
I believe I should be re-elected to Township Committee because I have always listened to the residents first before making decisions effecting our community. A balance of listening, anticipating and understanding what our residents need are necessary to make the best decisions for all. This philosophy started during my first term when citizens came to Township Committee to start preserving open space. Talking with the community helped to strengthen my commitment to preserving our open space and developing recreation and community facilities for people of all ages. This philosophy continued when I began serving as Mayor in 2001 and I voted to preserve 203 acres from development, build parks and bike paths and use sensible budgeting to stabilize the municipal tax rate for the future.
During my time serving our residents, I have worked to utilize State and County grants as well as developer’s fees to pay for infrastructure upgrades, road improvements and Township facilities. Our 5 year Road Program is a great example of looking toward the future and properly budgeting for improvements. My relationship with County and State agencies has been invaluable over the years in getting millions of dollars in grants to offset the costs to Voorhees taxpayers for these necessary infrastructure improvements.
The development of Virtua Hospital and the Medical Mile on Rt. 73 has given Voorhees a solid ratable base and a professional corridor unlike any in the region. This planning started in 2004. This public — private partnerships has eased the tax burden on residents for necessary infrastructure and facility upgrades. As we continue to attract business to Voorhees, I want to continue our efforts to hold the line on spending and taxes while generating more jobs for our community.
Public Safety has also been one of my top priorities. I voted “Yes” to put a police officer in every school and assume management of the Voorhees Fire District. These moves which I have supported have strengthened our Township and made our families and children safer.
When talking to my wife about answering this question, she reminded me about my first few years serving as an elected official. She remembers how I brought our children who were 2 and 5 years old at the time to an asphalt plant on Centennial Blvd. and told them how I wanted to make it become a beautiful park for our town including a dog run so our community could have a place to come together. That land became Connolly Park, one of the most utilized parks in the area today.
She reminded me how much I enjoy talking to anyone about Voorhees and how I do not mind if residents call my funeral home office during the day. Being accessible to the people I work for is the most important part of this job. Being able to serve this community and make a difference continues to be the most rewarding part of serving on Township Committee.
My record of service, dedication to the community and desire to continue to make Voorhees Township the best place live, work and raise a family are the reasons that I believe that I should earn your vote on November 7th.
