Editor’s note: Questionnaires were sent out to the Democratic and Republican committees for candidates for Gloucester County Freeholder to complete. Below are the responses from the Democratic candidates. SNJToday.com has not received responses from the Republican candidates as of this date.
Dan Christy
Tell us about yourself (job, family, etc.) and your qualifications for office.
I live in Washington Township with my son, Daniel Jr. I have been a union carpenter for more than 30 years and I worked through the ranks from apprentice to Senior Council Representative for the Keystone Mountain Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters representing more than 40,000 working men and women throughout the Mid-Atlantic states, including New Jersey.
I’ve had the honor of serving as Gloucester County Freeholder since 2014, and I currently serve as Liaison to Veterans Affairs and the Department of Public Safety. Serving as Freeholder for six years has provided me with the knowledge and experience to build upon our success so far, and to continue working to improve the quality of life for every Gloucester County resident.
In your opinion, list the three biggest issues facing your county?
Keeping taxes and government spending in check, public safety, and providing affordable education opportunities are among the most important issues facing Gloucester County residents.
How do you plan to address the issues listed above if elected?
As a Freeholder, I have been instrumental in enacting shared service deals, particularly in the area of jail regionalization, which have saved $118 million in tax dollars over the last six years, and those savings will be realized well into the future. Regionalizing corrections has not only saved tax dollars, but it’s improved public safety by allowing local police to spend their valuable time and resources in their towns fighting crime instead of transporting inmates to a county jail.
Regionalization and consolidation of government services have saved local municipalities $30 million per year which comes out to about 15 cents on residents’ local purpose tax bill. This is money that municipalities do not have to raise from taxpayers, so exploring new ways to effectively share services is something I’ll continue to focus on if I’m re-elected.
On higher education, more than 60% of students who graduated from college in NJ in 2017 carry an average student loan debt of $31,000. To address this, Gloucester County established a groundbreaking partnership with two community colleges and Rowan University to provide residents access to high-quality, affordable higher education that is close to home.
Please provide us with a closing statement.
My running mate Frank DiMarco and I are experienced and have a proven record of saving tax dollars while ensuring that residents receive the best-possible county services. Gloucester County is a leader in providing outstanding Veterans Services, like the VA Healthcare clinic and the Veterans Memorial Cemetery; senior services, like the nutrition program and Serv-A-Tray; health programs like free flu shots and addiction services; and public safety services like 911 dispatching and GCEMS – to name just a few.
I’m committed to ensuring these services while also making sure our parks and open spaces are preserved, our roads are kept in great condition, and there are opportunities for our children to go to quality schools and find good paying jobs and careers. I’m appreciative of the residents’ consideration, and I hope I can earn their vote on Tuesday, November 5.
Frank DiMarco
Tell us about yourself (job, family, etc.) and your qualifications for office.
I grew up in Deptford Township where I still reside with my wife Marlene, my two children Frank Jr. and Delaney, and my grandson Frankie. Professionally, I worked many years in the home construction business and currently work for the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
In terms of qualifications, I served four terms on Deptford Township Council and have been fortunate to serve Gloucester County residents as a Freeholder for 15 years. The first-hand experience that has come with doing this job is invaluable, and I believe it will serve me well if the voters give me the opportunity to continue serving as Freeholder.
In your opinion, list the three biggest issues facing your county?
Residents and families in Gloucester County face many important issues, but taxes, our economy, and quality of life are always at the top of the list.
How do you plan to address the issues listed above if elected?
On taxes, I’m always working with my fellow Freeholders to lower the cost of government without sacrificing services. Shared services and reducing the number of government employees through consolidation and attrition are two effective tools in achieving significant savings.
On jobs, we are proud to have facilitated over $1.4 billion in new business investment, the creation of nearly 5,000 new jobs, and the retention of 2,000+ new jobs in just the last three years.
On quality of life, we work hard to attain the highest-possible level of services across the board. As Land Preservation Liaison, I’m especially proud to have helped Gloucester County preserve over 20,000 acres of farmland and open space in order to protect the rural character that makes our county such a beautiful place to live.
Please provide us with a closing statement.
Serving as a Gloucester County Freeholder has been, and continues to be, the honor of my life. To serve every day in a position where I can help people and work toward making Gloucester County as great as it can possibly be is an opportunity that I am tremendously grateful to have. I’d like residents to know that I never stop thinking of how to make government work better for them at a lower cost. If I’m fortunate to win election on Tuesday, November 5th, I will continue to make that my mission and do the very best I can for my Gloucester County neighbors.
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