Meet the Candidates: Joe Habina

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: Joe Habina

Political Party: Republican

Years of residency in Gloucester Twp.: 50+ years

Job: GTMUA

Family: Yes

Why are you running for Gloucester Township Council? Serving the public is very important. Having a voice on township council that is willing to listen is my goal.

Have you ever held public office? No

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Gloucester Township Council? Being independent and not part of a party machine sets me aside from the current make-up of township council. Understanding the rank and file will give me a unique perspective currently lacking.

In your opinion, what is the biggest issue currently facing Gloucester Township, and how should council deal with the issue? Debt, taxes and openness are serious issues. When taxes are raised even by 2%, to a family earning only $50,000 a year this can be devastating. The current council has not addressed the rising debt and increasing taxes while hiding behind ribbon cuttings and award ceremonies.

What do you feel is Gloucester Township’s biggest asset at this time? How would you exploit that asset to the township’s benefit? We can be a great place to live, work and play once we get the spending and debt under control, we stop raising taxes and create a business friendly environment that will attract business to town.

What are some of the things council currently does that you feel could be done differently, and how would you make improvements? Council must be independent of control by the party machine as well as the mayor and his administration. The false impression of cooperation has cost the taxpayers greatly over the course of time. Sometimes saying no is the job of a council member.

In what ways do you believe council is doing a good job for the residents of Gloucester Township? Council is not serving the people of the township because they are serving their party machine masters along with campaign donors. Having an independent voice and opinion will prove to be valuable when cleaning up the debt in order to control taxes.