Glasser not running after 16 years
SOMERS POINT — A retired electrician and a critical care nurse are vying for a chance to replace a career police officer as mayor of Somers Point.
Dennis Tapp, a former city councilman and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351 for 37 years, announced his candidacy in June after longtime mayor Jack Glasser decided not to seek another term.
Susannah Morgan Slaughter is also seeking the empty seat. The registered nurse is a rated combat veteran of the U.S. Air Force who served multiple tours in the Middle East during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Glasser, who was a police office in Northfield, is serving his fourth consecutive term as mayor. He won an unexpired term on City Council in 2006.
The next year he ran for mayor to replace Dan Reilly, who was stepping down. He won his second term as mayor in 2011 with 75 percent of the vote and his third term in 2015. He ran unopposed in 2019.
Dennis Tapp
Tapp, 62, moved to Somers Point in 1985. He and his wife, Cheryl, have three children and five grandchildren. All three of their children were raised in Somers Point and graduated from Mainland Regional High School.
“Somers Point is a wonderful place to live and to raise a family. My commitment to this community and its citizens is well known; I look forward to continuing to work hard and to work smart as the city’s mayor,” Tapp said.
He was first elected to City Council in 2003 to an unexpired term but lost a narrow race to John DiMaria in 2005. He ran again and won in 2010, then was re-elected in 2013 and 2016. Tapp then chose not to seek another term in 2019.
“I hope to utilize my extensive experience on City Council and my passion for serving my community to help move Somers Point forward while bringing positive changes to the city and the municipal government,” Tapp stated in a news release.
In addition to his time on City Council, Tapp has been involved in the community, including many youth activities. He was a coach of street hockey, baseball and basketball while serving in leadership roles as president of the street hockey and basketball organizations. He is a current trustee of the Somers Point Historical Society.
According to his campaign, Tapp spearheaded efforts to build a second street hockey rink, a modern snack stand with a restroom at the girls softball field and rebuild the Gateway Theater. Tapp was named the Somers Point Recreation Volunteer of the Year in 1998.
According to a news release, Tapp’s campaign will focus on four key pillars:
— Economic development and job creation: Tapp understands the importance of attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones. He will work tirelessly to foster an environment that encourages entrepreneurship, job growth and investment in Somers Point. Through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives, he aims to enhance the city’s economic vitality and expand opportunities for residents.
— Community engagement and empowerment: Tapp believes in the power of community collaboration. He plans to establish an inclusive and participatory governance model that empowers all residents to contribute their ideas, concerns and expertise. By facilitating open dialogue and engaging the diversity of citizens, Tapp will ensure that the decisions made by the city administration are representative of the community’s needs and aspirations.
— Infrastructure and environmental sustainability: Recognizing the importance of sustainable development, Tapp will prioritize the improvement and maintenance of essential infrastructure. He will advocate for smart-growth strategies that consider environmental impact, embracing green technologies and practices to build a more resilient and eco-friendly Somers Point.
— Public Safety and quality of life: Tapp is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents. He will work closely with our public safety agencies, community organizations, and local leaders to implement effective crime prevention measures. Tapp’s vision also encompasses enhancing recreational opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting a high quality of life for every resident.
Susannah Morgan Slaughter
Slaughter, 42, is the mother of a 15-year-old sophomore at Atlantic County Institute of Technology who swims and wrestles for Mainland Regional High School.
She is a lifelong resident of the city, where her parents are longtime residents as well. Her stepfather, John DiMaria, served as mayor for four years and on City Council.
Slaughter attended Northwest Florida State College, where she earned an associate degree while actively serving in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the USAF, she earned a nursing degree from Atlantic Cape Community College.
She spent two years in the emergency room at Cape Regional Medical Center and more than 10 years with AtlantiCare, where she was on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Slaughter currently serves as the nurse case manager of the intensive cardiac rehabilitation program.
In addition, she is living kidney donor as of May 10, 2023.
Slaughter believes her military service combined with her nursing experience prove her commitment to serve the community.
“The military engrained in me the concept of service before self,” she said. “I apply that mentality to all aspects of life, whether it be nursing, parenthood or when it came down to my decision to donate my kidney to another Air Force veteran.”
Slaughter said she would like to serve as mayor because of her love of the community.
“I was born and raised in Somers Point. It is my home and always has been. It is where I am proud to raise my son, and I want the people in our community to feel that way as well,” she said.
Slaughter said her time in the military taught her key lessons in paying attention to detail, honoring a chain of command, respecting others and being able to see and serve the bigger picture.
Likewise, nursing also has trained her to be “organized, prioritize tasks, operate calmly not only under pressure but in the worst conditions, and I can think critically to solve problems in a safe and timely fashion.”
Slaughter said the rising tax rate is the top issue in the city.
This year, the city’s $19,532,652 spending plan required a tax rate increase of 8.36 cents to $1.11 per $100 of assessed value. The increase amounts to $83 on every $100,000, or about $166 on an average-assessed home of $200,000.
The municipal tax rate has increased 28 cents, or 34 percent, over the past 10 years. The rate was 83 cents per $100 in 2014, rising to $1.11 in 2023.
“Tax increases have to stop,” she said. “Why do the taxes in our community continue to rise while 71 other communities in New Jersey were able to lower theirs?”
She said another issue about which she is passionate is the lack of around-the-clock ambulance access in town.
“We are not appropriately caring for our citizens by being unable to respond to their emergency needs in a consistently timely manner,” she said. “Time is brain, time is heart muscle … seconds matter and waiting for an ambulance to come from EHT is unacceptable.”
Slaughter also feels senior citizens “they need our attention.”
“We have wonderful programs and sports for our children, but we need to get the senior center back up and running, offer organized activities for our older population that allows them to engage and socialize with one another,” she said.
Slaughter said while she is new to politics, “I am not new to being a responsible, caring and educated contributing member of society.”
“I believe a little research and being able to do more with less is key to being cost-efficient. I am wholeheartedly ready and willing to put in the effort, learn the ins and outs of our city, work closely with our police department to keep our community feeling cared about, safe and secure, and involving myself with the planning board in an effort to uphold the integrity of our city’s master plan,” she said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
