Meet The Gloucester Township Council Candidate: Joe Damico

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 Damico 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: Joe Damico

Why are you running for Gloucester Township Council?
I have been a resident of Gloucester Township since 2006. My taxes are up over 50 percent since I moved in. The increases have no end in sight! I’m running for change.

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.
I have never held any public office.

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Gloucester Township Council?
I have been a leader at every organizational level I have ever participated in. Military, sports, business and family alike; I have always found myself in leadership roles. Council would be no different. I listen well, make sound rational decisions, and I am fiscally conservative. These are all things which would serve this town well.

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

Irresponsible spending is contributing to the tax increases which is directly affecting property values. People are losing their homes not because their mortgages have gone up, but because their taxes have. There are vacant homes and businesses everywhere and enough is enough!

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 greatest asset this township has is location, yet our business districts look like a ghost town! As councilman, I will try to make this town more business friendly. Try to bring in businesses that would eventually help offset the tax burden on our citizens.

How do you plan to balance spending and revenue in tough economic times?
Simple: by having firm budgets and by not taking on projects we cannot afford.

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

The only thing the current administration has done effectively is swiping the tax payer credit card. Bonding projects unnecessarily only raises the tax burden on citizens moving forward.