Meet The Gloucester Township Council Candidate: Ed Small

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Four seats on Gloucester Township Council are up for grabs in this year's general elections. Council President Orlando Mercado, Council Vice President Tracey Trotto, Councilman Michael Mignone and Councilwoman Andrea Stubbs are all up for re-election. They have all chosen to run for re-election. The Democrats will be challenged in the Nov. 5 elections by Republicans Joe D'Amico and Edward Small.

Patch asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire outlining biographical information, their platform and their stands on a handful of issues. Patch will run those profiles this week.

Profiles are presented here in the same format as the questionnaires given to the candidates. There were no further instructions, and none of the responses has been edited (beyond basic proofreading and formatting). Readers can make their own judgments on how the candidates did or didn't answer the questions.

Today's profile: Ed Small

Why are you running for Gloucester Township Council?

Spending and taxes are out of control. People are leaving our town at an alarming rate, if they can afford to. Others are forced to stay because of financial circumstances or having children in school. Some refuse to give up the homes they made, leave their jobs or businesses or simply refuse to be beaten by career politicians. They want to fight for a better life. Someone has to step up and stop this. I am that someone

Have you ever held a public elected office? If yes, please name the governing body (school board, township council, fire commissioner) and years of service.

No, I’m not a career politician. I’m a regular guy who is tired of the nonsense and willing to stand up for myself and my neighbors.

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Gloucester Township Council?

Serving your community is a great responsibility and an honor. It has never been more important for everyday citizens to stand up to career politicians who have leveraged our children’s future for personal and political gain.

What is the biggest issue facing Gloucester Township? How do you feel the issue should be addressed by Council?

Taxes. Taxes. Taxes. Nothing is more important to residents of Gloucester Township. Years of unchecked and out of control spending have caused taxes to increase year after year. The current council has done nothing to curb spending, in fact they are in lockstep with the mayor. They have never checked a bloated budget nor said no to increased borrowing. That must end.

What do you feel is Gloucester Township's biggest asset at this time? How would you exploit that asset to the township's benefit?

The people are our greatest asset and as servants of the people we must work hard to protect their financial interests vs. the financial interests of political friends and family. I will never exploit the great people of Gloucester Township for personal or political gain. The current mayor and council cannot say the same.

How do you plan to balance spending and revenue in tough economic times?

Tough economic times? The nation has the greatest economy is 30 years. Lowest unemployment. Highest job participating rate. The only tough economic times in NJ are caused by career politicians who cannot control spending and are more interested in enriching themselves and their political family and friends. Gloucester Township doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a career politician and spending problem.

Do you feel the current Council is effective? Why or why not? Where do you think the governing body could improve?

The current council is a failure. Look at the number of foreclosed homes. Look at the number of boarded up businesses. Look at the crumbling roads. Look at the highest property taxes in the nation. Look at the ever rising debt. Look at the falling school ratings. Then look at the growing bank accounts of political insiders. Ask yourself, are you better off today than you were 4 years ago? If the answer is no, the council had failed.

Where could they improve? Unfortunately the current council is too arrogant and out of touch. This is the result of career politicians refusing to answer to the very people that elected them. The only way to improve this council is to say no to them for a change. New voices are needed, not the same yes men/women. Want to improve the way council handles taxes and spending? Vote for a new township council. That is why my running mate Joe D'Amico and I are asking for your vote.