Tara Banasz: Candidate For Moorestown Township Council

MOORESTOWN, NJ – Tara Banasz is one of four candidates running for one of two seats on the Moorestown Township Council.

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

Banasz's answers are provided below. None of her responses have been edited beyond basic proofreading and formatting.

Use this information, as well as Patch's Moorestown Voters Guide, to help you make informed decisions on New Jersey's Primary Election Day, which is June 7.

Your Name As It Will Appear On The Ballot:
Tara Banasz

The Position You Are Seeking:
Moorestown Town Council Seat

Your Party Affiliation:
Republican

The Age You Will Be On Election Day In November:
42

Your Immediate Family:
I grew up in Moorestown and My parents, George and Michelle Matteo still live in town today. I am married to my husband Jeff and we have three children; JT, who is 15-years-old; Carter, who is 13-years-old; and Brooke, who is 9-years-old.

The Professional and Personal Experiences You Have That You Feel Helps You Qualify For The Position You Are Seeking (And Why You Feel These Experiences Help You Qualify For This Position):

My career has been in recruiting and I have always found it to be equally rewarding while serving a greater good. As a Senior Recruiter, I talk to people every day, listen to concerns, career goals, and then play a vital role in helping them find the right career. I love helping people find jobs and I take great satisfaction when I can extend an offer letter to a candidate who has been looking for the right position for a long time. My professional career is a compliment to my aspirations to serve the community because I know how to listen, address concerns and help create desirable outcomes.

Personally, I have volunteered my time to many organizations, was the chairperson for numerous large fundraisers, and know what it takes to motivate people to accomplish a common goal. My volunteer experience will serve me well because I see town council as a more substantial way to give back to Moorestown.

Describe Your Stance On Having Companies That Sell, Use, Produce Or Otherwise Involve Cannabis Within Moorestown Township:

I think companies should have the right to sell their products in accordance with established laws. I am concerned about the manner in which residents were informed and the number of licenses the town has allowed. Even as an informed citizen I remain unclear as to why our leadership approved six licenses, the locations remain undetermined, and there has been no official projection of what financial impacts the introduction of dispensaries may have.

Should Projects Like Lenola Streetscape and Percerton Park Occur In Other Parts Of The Township? Why Or Why Not?

Of course, I would love to see other projects done around Moorestown to help preserve the beauty and character of this town. Improvements that benefit all of our residents make Moorestown a more desirable place to live. I applaud the Friends of Percheon Park who envisioned such a great concept so many years ago. Unfortunately, the completion was not a near-term priority for town council and the completion was unnecessarily delayed for quite some time, and because of this delay it now is costing the tax payers more. As a member of town council I would look to local and state agencies for grants in order to minimize the impact to our taxpayers. I would support getting other projects done in town, but first, let's finally get Lenola done as it deserves to be and should have been years ago.

What Is Your Stance On Mixed Use Facilities, Such As Cooper Health System Setting Up Shop Within Moorestown Mall?

I think it is great that Cooper Health System is coming into the Moorestown Mall. Having top notch medical care in such close proximity to any community is a benefit to all residents. This addition will complement the current and future businesses and restaurants at this location along with the new residential component. A financially thriving and revitalized mall area is a benefit to the entire township.

Describe Your Stance Regarding Microbreweries Setting Up Shop Within Moorestown:

Similar to the cannabis question. Businesses should be able to sell their products, but residents should have input and appropriate due diligence should take place with regard to locations and number of locations. Microbrews would have a positive impact for our local restaurants (including those on Main Street) that currently do not serve alcohol. It would be my goal that the process of how to best incorporate Microbreweries in Moorestown would be a more transparent one that occurred with cannabis. I would love to see more businesses on Main Street and that includes microbreweries.

The Single Most Pressing Issue Facing Our Community (That I Have Not Mentioned Yet) Is_______ , and This Is What I Intend To Do About It:

Keeping Moorestown an affordable place for all residents. Both large and small businesses in our town not only provide our residents with goods and services, but they also pay taxes. It is important for our town council to help maintain a welcoming posture for new business to move to town as well as provide support to existing ones.

The current council has raised taxes, water fees, recreation fees, sewer fees, library taxes, fire inspection fees. Good town leaders would more creative in seeking new revenue rather than reaching into the pockets of their own residents.

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