Meet The Candidate: Lisa Petriello

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.

Up next: Democratic candidate Lisa Petriello.

Why are you running?

Our council has a lot of important work ahead of us. Though my short time on council has not been without its challenges, I am still eager to find smart, cost effective, and sustainable solutions that will benefit Moorestown today and into the future. I am also running for town council because it is so clear to me, in just 10 months of service, that greater transparency and accountability is called for. Should I be elected, this is something I aim to positively influence for the benefit of our community.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues?

There are many pressing issues in Moorestown. Improving our Main Street business district and developing Lenola is a priority, as well as resolving a long overdue parking problem on Main Street that has eluded council for years. Although I am happy the 2nd street parking lot was just recently renovated, we still need better accommodations for other areas in town.

A sustainable budget, one that doesn’t rely on surplus to offset spending; no more kicking the can down the road. We need to take better care of our assets that all too frequently become the casualty of neglect, not just our buildings (like our recently demolished library that was permeated with mold) but also our open spaces and natural areas such as Strawbridge Lake. The rebuilding of our water infrastructure is vitally important, another asset that has suffered due to neglect and mismanagement (http://www.moorestown.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/987). There is currently no comprehensive plan for rebuilding this infrastructure, contrary to what my opponents expect Moorestown voters to believe.

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

The Council authorizes the creation of township advisory committees. From Appearance to Zoning and everything in between, Moorestown has a good variety of committees that assist the council and township with much needed activity. Council members act as liaisons to the advisory committees and the committees provide residents the opportunity to serve our township within a particular area of focus. The township committee structure is good and council seems willing to add advisory committees as needed. While this relationship is good, I would like to improve the process through greater collaboration with the committees and better follow through on their ideas and recommendations.

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

I would make many changes to what our current council is doing. First and foremost, I would bring an actual degree of transparency to our work, not just the appearance of it. Residents should have greater access to our work. Videotaping and streaming/televising our meetings would be a good start but we need to consistently make a wider range of data and documentation available to our residents. This would include things like our council packets, source documents, and material referenced at council meetings. I would also like to see more formal presentations to council and residents on impending projects.

Taxpayers need to be treated with greater respect at council meetings. At times, residents are belittled, berated, and dismissed. I was personally subjected to this treatment before I was appointed to council and residents continue to be subjected to it today. It should never happen.

I would increase collaboration with taxpayers through the use of ad-hoc or special committees when appropriate. As I have shared elsewhere, I would increase the participation of township committees in our work and value their feedback more often by following up on their recommendations.

These are just some of the changes I would like to see council make.

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

I am open and receptive. I am able to envision the big picture while embracing the details that get us there. I work collaboratively by nature and appreciate process, good data, and transparency. My background in human resource and database management recognizes the value of effective communication and informed decision making. Having lived in many different communities in the U.S. as an adult and having spent extended periods of time visiting family in others, I’ve had a unique opportunity to observe how other communities serve the needs of their residents, which inspires me to envision new and creative possibilities for Moorestown.

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

I do not have a political background, this is my first time running for office. I currently serve on the YMCA’s Mt. Laurel Advisory Board, having been appointed in 2013. I was appointed to Moorestown’s Sustainable committee in 2012 when it was first created. On this committee, I worked to help Moorestown earn its first Bronze and Silver Certifications from Sustainable Jersey. I served on Sustainable Moorestown for the following three years until I was appointed to town council in December 2015. Presently, I am running for Moorestown Town Council. I’m attracted to the idea of good governance and don't see politics as a reason to want to serve your community.

Personal Background
I’ve been married for 26 years to my husband Sal, and we have a 10 year old son, Luca. I’ve lived all over the country growing up as a kid and as an adult. I graduated (1982) from Middletown High School South in Middletown, NJ. My undergraduate degree is in Economics from Rutgers College (1986) with minors in philosophy and political science. I was a Resident Assistant as an undergrad and a Residence Hall Director while attending graduate school at Boston University.

My professional background is in database management, management information systems, and technical support operations in international commercial bank settings in Manhattan’s financial district.

I have three brothers and my family lives throughout the United States in NJ, CO, and CA.

I’ve been a Master Gardener since 1997 with particular interest in native landscapes, wildlife and pollinator habitats, herb gardening, and xeriscaping. I’m a Rutgers Environmental Steward and completed my internship in commercial food waste composting. Reading, gardening, cycling, and traveling are some of my favorite past times. I enjoy traveling with my family, watching our son play sports and relaxing with family and friends. I love learning new things, most especially about history, nutrition, and health.

Editor's Note: The final candidate profile will appear on Moorestown Patch on Monday, Oct. 24. There will be no new profiles posted over the weekend.