Elections 2016: Who Are the Democratic Candidates for Moorestown Council?

Moorestown, NJ -- The Moorestown Democratic Municipal Committee released additional information about its candidates for three open, four-year seats that are on the line in the Nov. 8 elections this week.

Councilwoman Lisa Petriello and challengers Kati Angelini and Amy Leis filed their petitions to run in the elections by the April 4 deadline.

Petriello was appointed in December 2015 to serve the unexpired term of Councilman Greg Newcomer.

“Enjoying the work and responsibility, she has distinguished herself as a trusted steward of the township and its residents, and has advocated for, among other things, increased transparency, greater accountability, and improved internal and external communication,” Democratic Municipal Committee Chairman Robert Gorman said.

Petriello earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Rutgers University. She began a professional career in the financial services industry in New York City, within the areas of international trade, cash management, and commercial lending.

Petriello was an Assistant Vice President within the technology and operations sector.

She is currently Chair and Treasurer of South Valley Elementary School’s Home and School Association and is a Trustee of the Moorestown Home and School Association. She is also an active Advisory Board member at the Mt. Laurel YMCA and prior Chair of the Togetherhood Service Committee for YMCA's Burlington and Camden Counties.

Petriello served the community as an appointed member of the township’s Sustainable Moorestown Advisory Committee, where she held various leadership roles and is currently a Master Gardener with the Burlington County Cooperative Extension. She is married to her husband Sal, and they have a son named Luca.

Leis is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott, and has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. She holds the Accredited Wealth Management Advisor and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations issued through the College for Financial Planning.

Her Bachelor’s degree is in Communications from the University of Miami. Her Master’s and PhD in Educational Psychology are from Temple University.

Leis is on the board of the Moorestown Business Association and the Perkins Center for the Arts.

Additionally, she serves on the Planned Giving Committee for Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice and on the Voice of Business Committee for the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce.

Leis is a member of the Builder’s League of South Jersey, and is the Founder of Working Moms of Southern New Jersey, a networking and support group for career-minded moms.

Leis moved to Moorestown with her husband, Kevin, and their daughter, Zoe, a few years ago because their family has strong roots in the community. Kevin’s grandfather, Albert Ellis, was a former Mayor of Moorestown and Kevin’s parents met as students in Moorestown High School.

Leis believes the budget has been mismanaged. Her priorities include the revitalization of Main Street and the Lenola Business District. She also says she would increase transparency on the part of Moorestown Council.

Angelini is a New Jersey native and proud resident of Moorestown, where she and her husband Frank settled down to raise their three children.

After graduating from the University of California, Davis with a BFA, she has served for many years within the Moorestown School district currently as the Home and School Secretary for the William Allen Middle School, as well as Committee Chair for Moorestown High School.

She also volunteers at Samaritan Hospice and Healthcare, Operation Yellow Ribbon South Jersey, American Red Cross and Live Civilly.

The Angelinis are active members of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish.

Angelini has helped launch the Moorestown Water Group after she became concerned about the presence of Trichloropropane (TCP 1, 2, 3) and Trichlorethylene (TCE) in Moorestown’s water.

She believes the township’s response has been slow, costly and ineffective, which is why she said she decided to run for office.

Aneglini says she believes the type of change that is needed requires more than just community advocacy, or public dissent, it requires action and commitment.

The attached image of Lisa Petriello, Amy Leis and Kati Angelini was provided by the Moorestown Democratic Municipal Committee