Moorestown Council Election Profile: Sue Mammarella

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Three Moorestown Council seats will be up for grabs in the Nov. 3 elections. None of the incumbents chose to run for re-election this year, so there will be three new faces on Moorestown Council come January.

Patch sent questions to candidates in the race, and is publishing their responses in a series of profiles. Information provided by Sue Mammarella can be found below.

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

Town Council

Party Affiliation

Democrate

Family

Wayne Urffer, Husband

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Highschool, some college

Occupation

Entrepreneur, 17 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

MoorestownTogether.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking elective office because I care deeply about this community, and want to ensure that it is a wonderful and vibrant place to live and do business for years to come. While I wasn’t born and raised in Moorestown, I always dreamt of living here. When my husband and I moved to Moorestown over 20 years ago, that dream came true. We bought a home right on Main Street to be close to the heart of the town, and I can still remember the thrill of being able to call Moorestown home for the first time. It is a pride I still feel today.

My parents taught me to take initiative, to not sit back passively when I saw something that needed to be done. It is that message that has led me to run for Moorestown Council at a time when there is sadly too much discord in our community. Now, more than ever, we need to be steadfast in protecting the things we hold sacred – the democratic principles of open and honest government. And the COVID19 pandemic has only further reinforced the importance of strong, responsible leadership at all levels of government.

I am running to be an agent of progress, and I will bring to the position my energy and tenacity. I am eager to help our residents and business community achieve their goals and remove the barriers that stand in their way. It is critical that Council be a place where all Moorestown residents feel welcome and heard, and that all residents’ concerns receive the attention they deserve.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Division. As we face down a global pandemic, it is clearer than ever that we are stronger when we put aside petty differences and work toward common goals. There is no question that we will need to do that as a community to overcome the devastation that this crisis will inevitably leave in its wake. Our unity will give us the strength to persevere and to fight for the solutions that we will need.

But the need for unity extends well beyond this immediate crisis. We are better able to resolve the challenges that this community faces when we listen to one another without judgment or prejudice. As a member of council, I will strongly encourage residents to voice their concerns and opinions, and I can assure them that I will listen with compassion and respect. There is no doubt that we will need the creative and intelligent ideas of our extraordinarily talented residents to achieve our goals.

The issues that confront Moorestown require us to make decisions together. I vow that I will always be eager to listen and learn from our residents and business owners. Through transparency and openness, we can keep Moorestown a wonderful place to live for generations to come, we can improve our business community, and we can tackle the challenges that our residents face.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I prefer to let the voters decide this for themselves. I can only say that despite any differences between my opponents and me, I will always try to model leadership through mutual respect and civility

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am running in an open seat, so there is no need to offer commentary on the current officeholder. Nevertheless, there have been some instances in recent history of inter-partisan incivility that I think must change. It sets a bad example for the community and makes council a less-than hospitable place for the public.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am particularly excited and ready to work hard to ensure an even more vibrant business community. In addition to the great schools and beautiful architecture, Moorestown’s shops and restaurants are what drew me to settle here. As a Council member, I will work to forge a stronger alliance with the business community, remove unnecessary obstacles for our existing businesses and attract new ones. I fully recognize we are facing difficult and unique challenges and I am a problem solver who will listen, advocate and be and agent of progress.

When decisions must be made, I strongly believe that Moorestown residents deserve an open and transparent process. Council will be a place where decisions are made publicly and never behind closed doors. Transparency and accountability foster trust in government and that helps to keep our community healthy and strong.

As a Council member, I also look forward to making sure that all Moorestown residents feel welcome and able to voice their ideas and concerns. Nothing slows down progress like division and partisan politics. Moorestown is my town and you are my neighbor. I won’t lose sight of that.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have worked in Healthcare Revenue cycle my entire career. My specific expertise is in physician reimbursement. By learning every step along the way and taking initiative, I eventually worked my way up to a Managing Director position in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. When I saw a need in the Healthcare revenue industry that wasn’t being filled, I took a leap of faith and started my own business.

Almost 17 years later, it is still going strong. I know what it takes to listen, learn, set goals, and make a plan. Turning a plan into a reality takes hard work and tenacity. In my business, attention to policy and contractual detail is crucial to ensure successful outcomes. I expect those skills to serve me well on council. Moreover, being an entrepreneur gives me valuable insight as I embark on working with the business community to resolve the challenges they face.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Sometimes, you just have to walk through the fire. I have relied on that advise during times of grief, adversity and challenge. Whatever it is, just feel it and push through instead trying to ignore it. You may get a little singed, but you will get to the other side much faster and come out stronger and maybe a little wiser.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am an entrepreneur who will apply successful and practical solutions and methods to township business. I listen, learn, and research issues to understand problems with a great attention to detail. I will develop solutions using a team-oriented approach and collaboration. I am not a politician and have no agenda except to do my best to serve and preserve this community.