On Tuesday, May 9, Haddonfield will hold its Municipal Election to fill the three Commissioner positions, and historically, the commissioner with the most votes is appointed mayor.
On Tuesday, May 9, Haddonfield will hold its municipal election to fill the three commissioner positions: director of revenue and finance, director of public works, parks and property and director of public affairs and public safety.
For the first time since 1945, the election is uncontested with current commissioners Mayor Jeffrey Kasko, John Moscatelli and Neal Rochford as the only names on the ballot. While the election is uncontested, historically, the commissioner with the most votes serves as mayor for the next four years.
Both Kasko and Moscatelli said the goal is to make people aware that despite being uncontested, there is still an election with something to be decided — namely, the next mayor of Haddonfield. Moscatelli said the last time Haddonfield had an uncontested election, voter turnout was around 10 percent, and he hopes next week’s election sees a larger voter turnout than in 1945.
Each commissioner expressed a desire to continue working to improve Haddonfield as their main motivation for running.
Kasko said he thinks he and his fellow commissioners have accomplished a great deal, but there is still more to be done. He said his top priority is seeing through the Bancroft redevelopment plan. He said the school will be out within a year or so, and at the time, he wants to finish the implementation of the redevelopment plan.
Additionally, Kasko said he wants to ensure the borough is investing money in roads, facilities and public works. He said as a commissioner, the goal is to be a good caretaker of the town, and investing in infrastructure is paramount to ensuring Haddonfield remains one of the best towns in South Jersey.
Kasko said improving Haddonfield comes down to making investments now while also being careful about spending and keeping property tax increases at zero, Kasko said.
“We’re trying not to neglect things and push them off to the future,” Kasko said. “We’re trying to get them done as we have the money.”
Moscatelli expressed similar sentiments about infrastructure as his motivation for running for re-election. He said he ran for commissioner four years ago because, in his opinion, the town had “looked the other way” on infrastructure for too long. He said he wants to ensure road improvements continue to be fully funded over the next four years.
“I’m running this second time to make sure we finally have a roads program in place that’s starting to show dividends,” Moscatelli said.
Moscatelli said he wants to continue addressing problems with flooding and drainage issues, which have been at the forefront of his work since he took office. Additionally, he said he wants to see the Bancroft redevelopment plan gets properly seen through.
He said his hope is to accomplish all of these improvements while continuing to remain tax neutral.
Bancroft’s redevelopment and continued infrastructure improvements also top Rochford’s priorities for the next four years.
“We did buy the [Bancroft] property, and we have to make sure that in our vision that we do something with the property that enhances Haddonfield in the future as far as development and open space, so that’s very, very important to me,” Rochford said.
Rochford said the borough has also made a significant down payment on improving roads, and he wants to ensure that’s seen through. He said while living in a historic town is nice, they can not neglect infrastructure.
Within his role as director of public affairs and public safety, he wants to bring Haddonfield up to date on the latest technology for the police and fire departments. He said the police department is also facing several upcoming retirements, so he wants to ensure the right people fill those positions.
Ultimately, each commissioner praised their colleagues for their work and expressed the pleasure they took in serving Haddonfield.
Polls are open on election day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.
Districts one and five will vote at Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Road. District two will vote on the first floor of Mabel Kay House, 24 Walnut St. District three will vote at Crows Woods Building, 993 S. Atlantic Ave. District four will vote on the second floor of Mabel Kay House 24 Walnut St. Districts six and seven will vote at Elizabeth Haddon School in the Art Room, 501 W. Redman Ave. Districts eight and nine will vote at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 204 Wayne Ave. District 10 will vote at Borough Hall, 242 East Kings Highway.
Once the polls are closed, election results will be delivered and announced in the Borough Hall Auditorium after the regularly scheduled commissioners’ meeting.
For more information on the 2017 election, visit http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/departments/borough_clerk/index.php
