Meet The Moorestown Council Candidates: Manny Delgado

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to determine the makeup of its local government for the next few years. There are two, four-year seats on the five-member Moorestown Council that are up for grabs. Both seats currently belong to Republicans. There will also be a new mayor come January, as incumbent Mayor Stacey Jordan has opted not to run for re-election.

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 Republicans and the Democrats.

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: Republican candidate and incumbent Deputy Mayor Manny Delgado.

Why are you running for Moorestown Council?
I'm running for Town Council this year for the same reason I ran four years ago: because Moorestown is a special place to call home and I want to do my part to build on the progress and keep Moorestown moving forward.

I want to spend another four years serving the town I love, making sure that families like mine can continue to thrive here. I believe Town Council still has more work to do to provide tax relief for our residents, maintain our quality of life, and deliver real results for our residents.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues currently facing Moorestown?
Keeping taxes low must be priority number one — and in order to continue providing tax relief, responsible management of projects that are currently in progress is critical.

The next Town Council needs to focus on finishing upgrades to our water plants and infrastructure, which, when complete, will lessen our dependence on outside water sources and provide our residents with some of the cleanest drinking water in the nation at a cost lower than that of neighboring communities.

Additionally, successful implementation of Moorestown's negotiated affordable housing agreement — one which will ultimately save the town over $283 million — is critical for the long-term financial and structural health of our community.

What are some positive things you believe the current council is doing?
Four years ago, I was entrusted by the people of our town to serve the community I love. Now, near the end of my first term, I am proud to say that our community is in a better position than it was when you elected me.

I voted to cut the municipal portion of your property tax bill without cutting services to our residents every year for the last three years. Council has moved to clean Moorestown's water beyond all existing standards, earning praise from Erin Brockovich as we began rebuilding our aging infrastructure and removing unregulated contaminants that leached into our water. We increased transparency by recording Council meetings for residents to view at home and launched Moorestown's first Facebook page.

Moorestown has received 2 bond rating increases in the last 3 years, currently boasting a perfect AAA bond rating, the highest in South Jersey. The Township received multiple grants to save tax dollars on projects like building our first dog park, beautifying Strawbridge Lake, and revamping the Camden Avenue corridor in Lenola. We invested in improvements to our recreational facilities and fields while placing a priority on protecting our preserved open spaces.

What changes would you make to what the current council is doing?
I believe the Town Council can do better at communicating what we are working on, the information we are receiving, and the way the Council process moves along.

While it is never the intent of Town Council to leave residents out of the process, it's become clear that when information is not communicated clearly directly from the Township, there can be confusion, concern, or even fear.

We have already started taking steps to improve communication between the Township and our residents thanks to the hiring of our new Township Manager, Tom Neff, and I look forward to identifying new ways we can connect with our community.

What do you bring to council that no one else can bring, i.e. strengths, experience, etc.?
My background in community development has been a clear asset during my time on Town Council. My experience has allowed me to take the lead on issues such as the negotiations with Fair Share Housing Center on Moorestown's affordable housing obligations, reducing the number of units we are required to build from 1,667 down to 337 and saving our town over $283 million in the coming years.

I have utilized my professional knowledge to help secure grant dollars to offset costs of projects around town, find ways to optimize efficiency in our governmental operations, and bring together stakeholders to make strides towards our common communal goals.

Combined with my experience as a community volunteer, proud husband and father, sports coach, and the time I have spent as a member of Council already, I feel I am equipped and qualified to tackle the job for the next four years.

What is your political background? What offices have you run for/held in the past?
I first sought office in 2014 and was elected by the wonderful people of this community to the Moorestown Town Council.

I was honored to be selected by my Council colleagues in a bipartisan vote to become Moorestown's first Latino Mayor in 2017, and am proudly serving this year as Moorestown's Deputy Mayor.

Personal Background
My wife, Amy, and I chose Moorestown as our home over a decade ago as the place to raise our four beautiful children.

In my professional life, I have an extensive background in working for community development organizations and currently act as the Chief Operations Officer for the LEAP Academy University School in Camden, seeking to enhance opportunities for children and families through the collaborative design, implementation, and integration of education, health, and human services programs.

I serve as the Council Liaison to the Environmental Advisory Committee, Low & Moderate Income Housing Oversight Committee, Lenola Ad Hoc Committee, and Recreation Advisory Committee. Additionally, I am proud to volunteer as a Trustee for Moorestown Youth Baseball, as a Team Captain for Relay for Life of Moorestown, and am a baseball, basketball, and football coach here in town.

I would be honored to earn your vote of confidence for another four years and continue working hard alongside Jamie Boren for the town I love. To learn more about our campaign, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MoorestownFirst.

The attached image of Manny Delgado was provided