Meet the Candidate: Jennifer O'Donnell

On Nov. 3, residents will have the opportunity to go to the polls to vote for four members of Gloucester Township Council.

Gloucester Township Patch will share information and some of the thoughts of the eight candidates seeking four Council seats in a series of profiles.

Each candidate was asked the same questions via email in order to get the most accurate responses in their own words.

The candidates are profiled in alphabetical order, one each day.

Name: Jennifer O’Donnell

Political Party: Republican (former Democrat)

Years of residency in Gloucester Twp.: 30

Job: Promotions Assistant

Education: Bachelor’s

Family: Yes

Why are you running for Gloucester Township Council? To make a difference. To make GT an actual great place to live, work, and play, not just a great saying on a sign.

Have you ever held public office? No

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Gloucester Township Council? Based on the current makeup of council and school board, I’m not. I am not willing to sell out my values to the political machine. I actually have integrity, I care about what the residents need and want. I care about the children being able to live in a safe community. In other words, I am not a puppet.

In your opinion, what is the biggest issue currently facing Gloucester Township, and how should council deal with the issue? The biggest problem is rising taxes as a result of out of control spending creating a debt in excess of $100,000,000. Ending the practice of giving municipal contracts to campaign contributors instead of better qualified and lower cost vendors is a good start.

What do you feel is Gloucester Township’s biggest asset at this time? How would you exploit that asset to the township’s benefit? Location, Location, Location! We once had great schools and it was difficult to find a house in town. Now we have schools that are failing, businesses are boarded up and homes are abandoned or in foreclosure. This is a result of poor leadership; that needs to end.

What are some of the things council currently does that you feel could be done differently, and how would you make improvements? We could actually listen to the public on issues that are of great importance to the everyday person. The days of the backroom must come to an end, it is required by the public to be as open and transparent as possible on every issue.

In what ways do you believe council is doing a good job for the residents of Gloucester Township? The current council is more interested in following orders from the machine than listening to the people. Nothing they do can be considered a good job for the residents, but it is great for friends and family of the political machine.