Meet the Candidates, Week 3: Mt. Laurel Township Council

For the final installment of our three-part Meet The Candidates series, we asked: Why should you be elected?

Karen Cohen, Fozia Janjua and Nikitas Moustakas (Democrat)

During these uncertain and volatile times, we need people in Mt. Laurel who understand the needs of the local economy and the community. We need politicians unafraid to say they represent the people first and put their needs above their own. This is why we are running for township council. We will be accountable to the community and residents first. All three of us are longtime residents of Mt. Laurel and are deeply ingrained into the community, participating in community strongholds such as the PTO, Municipal Alliance and the Mt. Laurel Library. 

If elected, we will actively work to improve the great quality of life residents already enjoy. We will improve the quality of life by investing in parks and recreation, preserving our open space and reducing development. We will invest in mitigation infrastructure and climate change initiatives. Flooding issues have long plagued our township, and we need leaders who will take these issues seriously. If elected, we will deploy the most advanced public safety and weather tracking tools and fix and repair aging infrastructure that contributes to flooding. We were recently endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, a grassroots organization representing more than two million members nationwide. As town councilors in Mt. Laurel, we will fight to protect clean air, clean water, open space and work tirelessly for the community.

Similarly, the traffic situation has exploded in recent years, slamming our roads with increased wear-and-tear and increasing risks for both drivers and pedestrians. We need real solutions right now to reduce our town’s heavy traffic. If elected, we will work to improve response times to traffic incidents and improve the infrastructure of our roads. Additionally, we pledge to work with the state government to better manage work zones. We will also institute bike safety lanes, in order to get more people out of their cars.

Mt. Laurel was recently ranked the 16th best place to live in the United States. We believe that with our suggested improvements, we can take it to number one.   

As the Democratic ticket running for Township Council in Mt. Laurel, we have the knowledge and drive to lead this town to be the best it can be. We believe that the job of councilperson is to serve the residents of the community.  Our group is diverse and community oriented, with a proven record of service. Under our leadership, we will offer a new direction that will usher in a more transparent, effective and efficient government that prioritizes public service to serve local residents. We will be ready to serve Mt. Laurel day one of our term.

Irwin Edelson, Kurt Folcher and Sandra Pratt (Republican)

The team of Mayor Irwin Edelson, Councilman Kurt Folcher and Sandra Pratt believe they are the most qualified and experienced individuals to serve as Mt. Laurel Council members. Qualifications not only include their experience in governing the township for a combined 12 years, but actually volunteering their time and efforts within Mt. Laurel. Irwin, Kurt and Sandra have served the Township for many decades. They have volunteered in various capacities such as being coaches for sports teams, participating in local business organization events, acting as mentors and literacy volunteers, developing and engaging in community events, and serving on various Mt. Laurel Boards such as the Planning, Zoning, MUA boards, as well as on the Green Team. They have no other agenda or political ambitions other than to continue giving back to the community that they love. 

Irwin, with an extensive business background and nearly 30 years of Mt. Laurel Board experience, will support ALL local businesses in their attempts to recover from COVID-19. He will also continue to be aggressive with state and federal officials to improve roadways and infrastructure. 

Kurt wants to continue to use his financial expertise to steer Mt. Laurel down the right path, keeping the town’s AA bond rating, while keeping local taxes stable. He also wants to make sure Council is always receptive to residents’ concerns and works to find solutions to their issues. And, if something works well, he wants to make sure that success gets duplicated.  

Sandra has dedicated her life to serving others and wants to use her experience in the area of education and volunteerism to work for all Mt. Laurel residents. In the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, she will advance initiatives that are important to Township residents with integrity, transparency and accountability.

Collectively, Irwin, Kurt, and Sandra, see what over development can do to residents’ quality of life, and they will fight to keep Mt. Laurel the suburban community it is. This includes an aggressive stance in both maintaining and improving our open space, parks, and recreation. Finally, Mt. Laurel boasts some of the most qualified and experienced employees in the state and country — from the Township Manager and staff, Police, and EMS, they all do an exceptional job. The team of Edelson, Folcher and Pratt fully supports these exemplary employees and appreciates their dedication to keeping Mt. Laurel one of the best places to live in the country.