SOMERS POINT — Somers Point City Council President Janice Johnston, a Republican who represents Ward I, is facing a challenge from Democrat Elizabeth “Lisa” Bender.
Johnston, 65, is a commercial real estate agent and small-business owner with extensive community service experience. In addition to her more than two years on City Council, she has served on the city’s Zoning Board and Economic Development Advisory Commission, the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education and currently is chairwoman of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce.
Bender, 45, is a small-business owner, environmental activist and community volunteer. Her service in AmeriCorps led to professional positions as Atlantic County recycling coordinator, grant writer and project lead, municipal environmental specialist and sustainability/marketing consultant.
Johnston was appointed to a Ward I seat in July 2019 after former councilman Ron Meischker resigned from the position. She was elected that November to serve the remainder of the three-year term and chosen as council president during the re-organization meeting in January 2021. Johnston now is running for her first full term.
Johnston grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Upper Darby High School, Delaware County Community College, Vineland Beauty Academy and South Jersey Real Estate School.
She was owner of Classic Image Hair Studio until 1995, Go Nuts, a peanut shop in Ocean City, from 2012-18 and currently owns Philly Pretzel Factory in Egg Harbor Township.
Johnston said she loves Somers Point and believes everyone should do their part to support the community where they live.
“It’s amazing how much work it is to run a local municipality,” she said. “As City Council president, I like being a part of the decision process and working with other members on council and the mayor. We have so many great opportunities right now to make this town even better. I hope to be able to see the many great things come to fruition.”
Johnston said being a business owner gives her “a good prospective on how to get things done” and has enhanced her leadership skills.
“To be a political candidate, you need to work hard but most importantly, you need to have experience and energy. My background volunteering in the community, being a small-business owner and serving on City Council give me great experience to draw upon to aid Somers Point residents,” she said.
Johnston cites the many new businesses opening in the city as proof that Somers Point is moving in the right direction.
“I’ve worked to foster an economic climate with other members on council so that great companies like Target, Chipotle and Taco Bell want to come to Somers Point,” she said. “We’ve enhanced community events, festivals and amenities to attract more families to want to live in Somers Point.”
Johnston also has been involved with other community organizations, such as serving as an instructor for the Atlantic County Child Assault Prevention Program (1996-2004), CCD teacher at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church (2009-2016), a member of the advisory board for Volunteers of America (2015-2017) and as president of Lawson’s Pride of Somers Point (2018-present), a non-profit serving crew members in the U.S. Coast Guard.
“I have learned so much and I understand what it takes to run a city,” she said. “I’ve worked hard to open the lines of communication with all our department heads so we can all work together.”
Johnston said that, as with any city in New Jersey, property taxes are the biggest issue.
“I’ve worked with City Council, the mayor and with our budget committee and staff to bring in a zero-budget increase on municipal taxes for 2021. This has not been done in 14 years and is a huge win for local taxpayers in Somers Point,” she said. “I will continue to work to find creative ways to increase revenue. This includes being mindful of potential state and federal grants, continuing to foster an economic climate for businesses to set up shop and grow, as well as attracting new residents to our great city.”
Bender and her husband, Ocean City firefighter Bob Bender, have two teen sons. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in oceanography from University of South Florida, College of Marine Science. She owns a marketing and photography business and is a licensed real estate agent.
Through AmeriCorps, Bender served as a Watershed Ambassador for the Great Egg Harbor River Watershed and was hired by Atlantic County Utilities Authority, which was her host agency. She later oversaw a recycling campaign in Ocean City.
“For both jobs, I ended up working in communication and did a lot of writing and web design. Today, I have my own business where I utilize the skills I gained and specialize in sustainability, graphic design, web design and writing. I have been a subcontractor for many of the towns along the coast from Atlantic City to Cape May and have assisted with sustainability programs, designed and authored websites, and have written successful grants,” she said.
Bender has served as chairwoman of the Somers Point Green Advisory Committee since 2014 and Environmental Commission since 2015, during which time she served as executive director of the Patcong Creek Foundation.
“In those capacities, I am familiar with how our government functions. I have been working directly on making Somers Point more sustainable by being Somers Point’s lead in the Sustainable Jersey Program,” she said, noting she filled out the application in 2014 when the city was certified for the first time at the bronze level of Sustainable Jersey.
“We were recertified in 2017 and I am currently working on recertification for 2021 (the program skipped 2020 due to COVID),” she said.
Bender “demonstrated her proficiency in leadership and organization as executive director of Patcong Creek Foundation, tripling the charity’s income through expanded membership, successful outreach and grants,” according to campaign material.
Regarding community service, Bender served as a den leader and volunteer with Cub Scout Pack 87 for five years and currently with her two sons as they work to achieve Eagle Scout rank with Somers Point Boy Scout Troop 55. She also volunteers at the city’s schools to provide lessons about the local ecology and the importance of keeping the environment healthy.
Bender said she has long been interested in serving as an elected official.
“I actually pursued science because I felt strongly that we needed more scientists to serve in government. With my children being older and with the experience I have gained throughout my career and volunteering, I know I am ready to take on the role of city councilwoman,” she said.
One of the main reasons why she said she is running is to move the city toward a more sustainable future.
“I have created pathways and actual programs that could be easily integrated into the city’s day to day operations but many times they are not moved forward by City Council,” she said. “I want to be on the other side ensuring that we make government more sustainable by being more efficient, cutting red tape and communicating in the ways our citizens need us to communicate. We should be moving forward with transparency and multi-channel communication, which is easy to do in today’s society.”
Bender believes her scientific background lends itself well to making decisions that affect the community.
“I am intelligent and am an avid researcher, so I will always be well informed when making decisions on behalf of Somers Point citizens, after actually listening to what they want. As a professional communicator, I can guide Somers Point in the direction we need to go and help to maintain and grow our brand,” she said. “I would also like to use these skills to reach out to all members of the community with the goal of making all city-related activities more inclusive.”
Bender said the workings of the local government should be more transparent, saying City Council agendas provide little information and arguing that public comment should come after resolutions have been presented so the public knows what issues are being considered.
She also would like the city to resume providing access to meetings via Zoom.
“My opponent stopped Zoom meetings when the public really seemed to like this new way to participate in city government. People are so busy, or need to be home to care for loved ones, so it was amazing to be able to log on, learn and have a say in government from anywhere,” she said, adding that YouTube streaming is not an effective substitute since it is not interactive.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff