9 candidates running for office, including 3 Democrats, 3 Republicans
UPPER TOWNSHIP — Republican John Coggins last week endorsed an alternate GOP ticket for Upper Township Committee, saying its members “are the most qualified of the many choices.”
In 2013, Coggins and running mate Hobie Young, then running as “independent Republicans” themselves, defeated incumbents Curtis Corson and Jay Newman. Corson has since returned to the governing body and Newman is running on the official Republican ticket with Kim Hayes, who was appointed to Young’s position after Young resigned from the board.
In the 2013 race, Coggins and Young garnered more than 2,000 votes each, topping Corson and Newman by more than 100 votes.
Corson was running for his seventh term on committee. Newman was seeking his fifth term. Both were backed by the local and county Republican parties.
There are nine candidates altogether seeking three seats on Township Committee, including Democrats Cricket Denton, Lenora Boninfante-Kodytek and Shawna Mulford. Mulford and Boninfante-Kodytek are running together on a slate called Team Purple.
In a statement issued Oct. 6, Coggins said residents have an important decision to make.
“The voters of Upper Township are about to cast ballots to decide the future direction of our community for years to come. We are faced with the retirement of Mayor (Rich) Palombo and Deputy Mayor (Ed) Barr, who have served Township Committee with integrity and stability for many years,” the statement said.
Coggins said the township needs new tax ratables to replace the revenue lost by the shuttering of the B.L. England Generating Station.
“Although an agreement with a developer for that site is imminent, guiding our redevelopment plan in a positive way is of utmost importance to the taxpayers. Additionally, with planned infrastructure improvements to our Marmora Town Center, we need a team on Committee to see this to fruition while keeping development in compliance with our Affordable Housing plan,” Coggins stated. “New ratables will enable the township to fund our school system, allow us the wherewithal to furnish safe, well-maintained recreational facilities and continue to provide efficient and timely municipal services.”
He stated the “Plans Need Action” team of Jack Griffin, Andrew Shawl and Anthony Inserra “are the people most qualified of the many choices for Township Committee in this year’s election.”
“This team of goal-oriented independent Republicans have (sic) demonstrated skill sets that include the planning and funding of major municipal infrastructure development, the ability and experience to work closely with the Department of Public Works to provide exceptional service to the township residents and firsthand experience with planning and zoning in Upper Township, along with an understanding of the township’s master plan,” the statement said.
“The Plans Need Action team have (sic) demonstrated their commitment to transparency in government by their willingness to participate publicly alongside their opponents in a collegial question-and-answer session in front of the public. Furthermore, these candidates are not directly involved in any special interest groups and their interest lies solely in benefiting all our township residents equitably.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff