Meet The Candidate: Kati Angelini

Moorestown voters will go to the polls on Nov. 8 to not just elect the next President of the United States, but to determine a large part of the makeup of their local government for the next four years.

With three of the five council seats up for grabs, Moorestown residents will be determining the balance of power and direction of the township this fall.

Patch asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire outlining biographical information, their platform and their stands on a handful of issues.

This week, Patch will run profiles of all the candidates for council in alphabetical order, and alternating between the Democrats and the Republicans.

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.

First up: Democratic candidate Kati Angelini.

Why are you running?

I decided to run for town council after I found out about the ongoing water issues facing Moorestown residents. I was disheartened and appalled at the lack of action and transparency by the majority council. Two of these individuals are running for reelection. They put our families' and residents' lives at an increased health risk according to the NJDEP and the EPA, after they reopened the contaminated well at the North Church Street treatment plant. There needs to be new people at the table who put the health and well being of Moorestown residents first, above politics and political ambitions. I believe I am that person.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues?

1)Without a doubt, providing safe and affordable water to our taxpayers.

2)In addition, revitalizing and developing our business districts and supporting business owners to bring a renewed energy to Moorestown.

3)Maintaining our assets and improving our infrastructure to avoid having to fix issues after they’ve come into total disrepair, which ultimately will save money and reduce unnecessary costs.

4)Further, bringing a level of respect to residents and working collaboratively with residents to prioritize the needs of our wonderful town. We should want to hear from residents and work with them, communicating directly with our community members about how to make Moorestown even better!

5)Finally, transparency and accountability on the part of our majority council is something that desperately needs to be improved. I pledge to do so!

What changes would you make to what the current council is doing?

I would televise the meetings so that all residents are aware of the townwide issues. I would make the website more user friendly for folks looking for documents and information, and post them in a timely manner. In addition, I would have a collaborative approach with the residents and find out what they feel are the pressing issues in our community. I would never talk disrespectfully or disparagingly to residents as we have seen from select members of our current council, after being elected by these individuals. Finally, I would make every effort to hire the right professionals to do necessary jobs so we make sure we are not wasting money on construction projects and change orders as we have seen in the past (town hall, library, municipal parking lot).

What are some of the positive things you believe the current council is doing?

Councilwoman Petriello is doing a fantastic job bringing more accountability and transparency to council.

What do you bring to council that no one else can bring. i.e. strengths, experience, etc?

I have lived in Moorestown for 15 years, and made many connections throughout town through my volunteer efforts on various organizations. I believe I have proven that I put the best interests of our families and community first. I am devoted, hard working and honest. I am not running to extend a political career; this is not a stepping stone to a better job. Moorestown is all that matters to me and my priorities are our residents.

What is your political background? What offices have you held/run for in the past?

I do not have a “political background.” I grew up in a household where my family was very involved in local politics, which inspired me to run for Town Council. Although I am new to the Moorestown political arena, that is what makes me unique; I am here to put the needs of our residents and business owners first. I have held positions in many volunteer organizations with a great amount of responsibility and proven to be an honest, trustworthy and a team player. I think we can work together, bipartisan, for the good of our community.

Personal Background

I grew up in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, the youngest of four children. I attended the University of California, Davis, and received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Women’s Studies. I returned
to the area and met my husband, Frank. We have three children; Alexis, Christian and Matthew. I am a former small business owner in Moorestown, and have worked extensively on several volunteer organizations. I’ve served as the Home & School Secretary at the William Allen Middle School for the past two years, and as Committee Chair at the Moorestown High School for the past two years. My entire family enjoys volunteering with the Live Civilly Program through their Garden Initiatives and Food Pantry. We are active members of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and work on their outreach programs. In addition, outside of Moorestown, I volunteer with Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice on their fundraising campaigns, and the Operation Yellow Ribbon Foundation, which has welcome home celebrations for troops who return from active duty. I look forward to working with residents and the community in this very important role on town council.