Galloway Council Tables Selection of New Councilman Until Next Meeting

Galloway Township will have to wait until July 24 to meet their new councilman.

The measure to appoint a new councilman was tabled during the council’s special meeting Thursday night, July 12 because one of the three candidates was unavailable.

Frank Lucarelli, one of three candidates by the Republican Committee on Tuesday night, July 10, was unavailable for the meeting because he was in North Carolina, according to Frank’s wife and Galloway Township Republican League Chair Terry Lucarelli.

“Terry e-mailed (Township Manager) Arch (Liston) (on Wednesday) and said he would be out of town until Friday morning,” said Mayor Don Purdy, who said Lucarelli would be allowed to appear at the next council meeting to answer questions from council and the public.

“There’s nothing on the docket that’s so crucial it’s going to change the balance of the township,” said Councilman Jim Gorman, who suggested tabling the vote. “This gives him a chance to send us an email and tell us his qualifications.”

It also gives Councilman Tom Bassford the opportunity to vote. Bassford was unavailable for Thursday night’s meeting, but was ready to participate via telephone. However, council was unable to establish a connection prior to the meeting.

“This will give him a chance to listen to the minutes and make an informed decision,” Gorman said.

The vote to table to the appointment was unanimous.

Lucarelli, John Mooney and Robert Chester were the three candidates nominated by the Republican Committee Tuesday night. The three are vying for the chance to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of on June 25.

Mooney is a former Atlantic City Police Chief with 35 years of experience in the force. He’s been a Galloway resident for 24 years, and both of his children went through the Galloway K-8 school district. His wife is a nurse at AtlantiCare, and he’s been an active member of the Galloway Township Athletic Association, Atlantic United youth soccer, youth hockey and is a member of the Galloway Township Republican League.

“I’ve been involved in five budgets as a chief,” Mooney said. “ … Four of the five budgets I’ve dealt with had zero growth.”

Mooney described himself as an independent thinker, and recognized the need to deal with the current situation involving the

“It’s a valuable resource for the municipality,” Mooney said of the fire department.

He also pointed to the storm of June 30 as an example of why stability is needed in the township.

“It’s important to have people with strong leadership skills in place when something like that happens.”

Chester is a freelance attorney who has been a Galloway resident for eight years. He and his wife had their first baby in November. He graduated from Widener School of Law and Rowan University, and is confident he can bring an outside legal perspective to council.

“I’m open-minded and a problem solver,” Chester said. “The first thing on my agenda as a council person will be the budget. That’s going to be an issue for years to come, and doing the same thing we’ve been doing is not going to get us very far.”

Chester said he has “no use for political pressure.”

“The person who is selected should be the best person,” Chester said. “What the best is, I don’t know, but it should be the best person for the job, no matter where they’re from.”

Chester spoke of the need to “go by-the-book.”

“When you don’t, that’s when you get in trouble,” Chester said.

In an unusual step, council allowed members from the public to pose questions to the two candidates.

While one resident expressed satisfaction with the two candidates, two residents voiced their displeasure with the nominees. Resident Richard Price asked Mooney if he ever sued the city he worked for, expressing concern that it could happen in Galloway.

“I do have litigation with Atlantic City,” Mooney said. “It’s an employment matter and it has no bearing on this council.”

Price also asked why no one from the business sector on the White Horse Pike on the township was selected. He also expressed concern that no one from the western portion of town was selected, but Chester pointed out he was from West Galloway.

“I wish there were more candidates and better candidates, with younger blood,” resident Tom Mitchell said, calling the current council the “best council I’ve seen in years.”
“We need someone to help us get out of this hole,” Mitchell said. “It’s a shame we couldn’t get better candidates, but we have to work with what we’ve got.”

“I appreciate the criticism,” Chester told reporters after the public interrogation portion of the meeting concluded. “I don’t want everyone thinking alike. But if you tell me I’m wrong, you’re going to have to prove it.”

Price questioned who was on the committee and who makes the nominations. Purdy responded that the committee is made up of 30 elected officials, and Councilman Brian Tyrrell confirmed that 20 members of that committee made the three selections.

The Republican Committee was permitted to make the selections because Kleiner served as a Republican until his resignation less than a month ago. The committee had 15 days to name three candidates for replacement, and council now has 15 days from Tuesday night to select one as the replacement. That puts the deadline at July 25, one day after the next council meeting.

Whoever council names as its newest member at the next meeting will have to begin campaigning immediately. A special election to fill the unexpired term will be held in November, with the winner of that election serving through the end of 2013.

Jim McElwee, a Democrat who ran in last year’s municipal elections, is considering a run.

“Dick Price and Tom Mitchell asked the right questions,” McElwee said. “Dick Price is a disgruntled Republican, and he has reason to be.”

“This is not your father’s Republican Party,” Galloway Democratic Club Chair Michael Suleiman said. “When you’re up there, you have a fierce debate for all the residents, but some people take the attacks very personally. … We’re all taxpayers and council needs to do what’s best for the township.”