Where Do Gloucester Twp. Democratic Candidates Stand On Issues?

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.

The four Democrats chose to submit their responses together. Their answers are below.

Why are you running for Gloucester Township Council?
We are running for council because we have a deep appreciation for Gloucester Township and its people. We are passionate about our township, and we want to ensure that Gloucester Township continues to provide a high quality of life for everyone who calls Gloucester Township "home." We have a special community with an abundance of parks and open space, township activities, youth sports, wonderful neighborhoods, and a vibrant, growing business community. Our
township is safe and clean and our first responders are the best in the area. We want to continue to move our township forward.

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.
Yes
Orlando Mercado: Gloucester Township Council, December 2004 to Present
Tracey Trotto: Gloucester Township Council, January 2012 to Present
Michael Mignone: Gloucester Township Council, January 2016 to Present
Andrea Stubbs: Gloucester Township Council, January 2016 to Present

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Gloucester Township
Council?
We come across many people from different walks of life from the activities that we’re involved in. They have different needs and concerns, but one thing that we all have in common is that we’re all residents of Gloucester Township. We all want what’s best for our community. We are decision makers that will continue to use sound judgment in our decision-making process, and we’re fully aware that not all of our decisions will be popular, but it will be for the greater good.

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

Infrastructure is a very important issue. Anyone driving through our township can see the need for our roads and sidewalks to see improvements. Traffic on our roadways and driving surfaces in need of repair also impede our ability to grow safely and be desirable for industry, which creates jobs. Each year on council, we have addressed our infrastructure needs by passing a capital budget to address aging streets and sidewalks in need of repair, and we will continue to do so.

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 biggest asset in Gloucester Township is are residents. Our residents are the fabric of our township. Recently, we celebrated residents of our community that have volunteered their time, money and efforts to make our township one that we can all be proud of. They came from all walks of life with different backgrounds, and they contributed their talents to help shape our community. They are engaged. Residents are “engaged” when they play a meaningful role in the discussions, decision-making and/or implementation of projects or programs affecting them.

As elected officials we need to broaden the way we see our responsibilities to include such roles as facilitator, supporter, collaborator, and create partnerships to continue the progress in Gloucester Township. Partnerships are always healthy for a community and can more effectively address issues or problems. We are looking for partners.

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

We aim to explore options to diversify the Township’s revenue. With expected growth, we need to cover the cost of rising expenses, and we do not support putting that burden solely on the taxpayers. We will be a good steward of tax money. We will also work to build bridges with our area elected officials engaging in shared services to reduce costs, as we are much stronger working together. Over the next four years, our goals include continuing to guide the township in managing the growth of our community and to invest in the amenities that keep the quality of life high for our residents.

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

Yes, we believe we are effective as Council members. As elected officials, people, groups and businesses contact us on a daily basis. We listen well and comprehend their issues -- and even the issues behind the issues. While we cannot personally solve every problem, we make every effort to fully understand their problems. How do we do this? By connecting people to suitable resources and other people. To do this, you have to know Gloucester Township and its people well. We do. We are your coaches, your principal, your PTA President, your neighbors, fellow parishioners and friends. Our work doesn’t take place just on Monday nights, it’s throughout the entire week with every interaction we have with residents.

There is always room for improvement. Leadership isn't easy. To be effective and improve upon it requires near-constant reflection and self-evaluation to ensure that you're serving your community well. An area we believe we can improve upon is engaging more with our community. Community education plays a huge part in the growth of our township. We need to apprise the community on government issues and effects, so they can actively participate and be involved. Mayor Mayer does a wonderful job informing residents with the township’s various media platforms. We feel that when citizens are “kept in the loop,” it leads to more active participation and feedback to aid indecision making in our township.