Meet the candidates for Committee

November is closing in and the race for two seats on the Township Committee is heating up.

Vying for the one, three-year seat are Democrat incumbent Dean T. Mazurek and Republican Michael S. Friedman.

The Sun asked the candidates to tell voters a little about themselves and why they are running for Committee for the first part of its Meet the Candidates series.

Check back each week leading up to the election for the candidates’ views on local issues. For information on voting locations, go to www.njelections.org and click on the Where to Vote link.

Dean T. Mazurek

Occupation

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), an advanced practice nurse who gives anesthesia for surgical and medical procedures in hospital, outpatient, and office settings.

Past community experience

Deputy Mayor of Voorhees, 2004 and 2010. Inaugural Liaison to Citizens Cultural and Diversity Advisory Committee, Liaison to Rt 73 Corridor Study committee, Twp Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) representative 2004–2010, Planning Board member 2008–2010. Liaison to Economic Development Committee (EDC) 2008–2009, Treasurer NJ Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NJANA) 2000–2003, Board of Directors NJANA, 1997–2000, Adult Leader Voorhees Boy Scout Pack 127 1998–1999, Cub Scout Leader Voorhees Den 127, 1996–1997.

Reason for running for Township Committee

My primary reason for running for election to Voorhees Township Committee is to continue to find ways to improve the quality of life for all Voorhees residents while at the same time finding new ways to cut municipal spending without sacrificing municipal services.

I want to keep Voorhees one of the best places in which to live and raise a family in South Jersey.

In these challenging economic times, I have strived to make sure that residents of Voorhees are provided with the best possible services at the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, I will continue to fight for the residents of Voorhees to make sure that Voorhees is an affordable place to live. My primary emphasis is on tax stability and controlled spending. I will continue to promote the use of shared services and reducing Township payroll which is the single largest budget item through attrition and retirement. These efforts have and will continue to result in decreased discretionary spending and keeping the local budget less than the State mandated spending and tax limits.

I also want to preserve quality of life issues such as making sure that Voorhees has quality sports, recreation and community facilities, preserve open space in order to relieve traffic congestion and to prevent over-development to take stress off the schools and help reduce class sizes. Finally, I want to continue to keep Voorhees a safe community in which to live and to continue to improve community facilities and parks so that all residents can continue to enjoy them.

Michael S. Friedman

Occupation

Labor & Employment Attorney with Spector Gadon & Rosen; Maple Shade. Former small business owner — 4th & 1 Sports Management, LLC

Past community experience

President of the Woods II Condominium Association in Cherry Hill (owner of two rental properties). President of Class all four years at Franklin & Marshall College. Reading tutor for inner city school children in Lancaster, PA while playing football at F&M. Active member of the Voorhees Business Association. Active member Katz Jewish Community Center. Active member Jewish Business Network of Southern New Jersey.

Reason for Running for Voorhees Township Committee

I am running for Voorhees Township Committee because I honestly believe that the taxpayers of this town cannot afford another three years of one-party control in our local government. Every year Voorhees ranks among the top towns in Camden County for spending and property tax increases, with taxes going up over 54% for the average household since 2001. This is a direct consequence of a Township Committee that has gone stale. There are no innovative or bold ideas to make our town more efficient and fiscally responsible.

Our government needs a fresh perspective and a new voice on the committee. I am running because I don’t want to be a rubber stamp for the old tax-and-spend way of doing things.

If we continue electing the same politicians year after year, the same out of control spending and tax increases will only continue to pass.

I have knocked on the doors of literally thousands of residents since March, and I keep hearing that people intend to leave our great town as soon as their children graduate from Eastern because they simply cannot afford it.

That is both sad and unacceptable. It is the mark of poor leadership and unchecked, one-party government.

I am running to fix those past mistakes, and with your help and support, we can make Voorhees a better place, starting with a better government.