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Today I posted a web video showing two campaign promises Jim Gorman made during his campaign for Galloway Township Council. As the video shows, Councilman Gorman backed off on two of his top priorities.
When I first ran for District 4 Freeholder, I made a promise to eliminate benefits for part time County employes - specifically Freeholders. Unlike my opponent who had to be dragged into supporting such a measure after campaigning on the issue, Freeholder McDevitt and I were the ones doing the dragging. We led the fight and were successful.
I've also lead the way on expanding shared services in Atlantic County. It doesn't get the headlines that eliminating benefits does, but I have worked to make it easier for the County and municipalities to share services, and I will continue in that effort with your support.
Another issue that Joe and I lead the way on was allowing elected officials to opt out of the state pension program. To our amazement, we were told that we HAD to participate in the pension program when we tried to opt out. As Joe was quoted in the Press of Atlantic City at the time, "Only in New Jersey can it be illegal to give the taxpayers back their money." The Press's Editorial Board lined up behind us in our fight, and we look forward to finally accomplishing that goal with Governor Christie and our legislators. Click here to read the resolution that I co-sponsored.
Some people will say anything to get elected. But when the time comes to lead, it's important to know that your representatives have the courage and tenacity to accomplish their goals, not stick their finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing or wait for a political boss to tell them how to vote.
Galloway Twp. - A member of the Atlantic County Republican ticket showed his ticket's green side on October 25 by visiting a local supermarket in Galloway Township and handing out resusable grocery bags to local residents.
"We hope that this effort will help local residents to protect our local environment and save our resources," said Rich Dase who is running for re-election as Freeholder in the 4th District. "Every little bit helps and we can all make a difference."
Dase and Freehlders Jim Curcio and Joe McDevitt noted that these events can also highlight the efforts that they have undertaken on the Freeholder Board to help Atlantic County improve its own green profile. Working with County Executive Dennis Levinson, these steps have included acquiring hybrid and alternative fuel county vehicles and educating employees about ways to reduce fuel use and improve mileage, promoting sustainable county building operations by using the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, and developing and promoting greener transportation options such as bicycle trails, trip reduction programs, and devising incentives for car pooling and public transit for residents. All told these efforts and others like them have won accolades from the National Association of Counties as the winner of its prestigious Sustainable Communities Award and from Kean University which cited Atlantic County as the "Greenest County in New Jersey." "Protecting our environment means making smart choices and we have the knowledge and resources to do it," said Jim Curcio who is the current Freeholder Director and is running for Surrogate. "We won't let Atlantic County's well deserved green reputation go to waste."
“I see how our kids are taking this message to heart every
day as a teacher because they understand that their future is affected by how
we treat the natural blessings in this county and our region,” said
McDevitt. “It’s up to each one of us to
set the example and take the message forward. “
Galloway Twp. - Atlantic
County Freeholder Richard Dase today called upon state officials to delay any
continued work on the proposed State Parole Office in Galloway Township
pending a complete review of the facility's costs and safety procedures.
"Given the public outcry about this facility and the many questions that
have been raised by community leaders about the appropriateness of such a facility
in this residential area, I think it would be only be fair and prudent to put
the brakes on this project until a full review of the project can be completed
and the results of that review made public," said Mr. Dase, who represents
Galloway Twp. on the Freeholder Board.
The project was approved in 2008 by the local Planning Board but that approval
was later reversed. However, the developer sued to continue the project over
the objections of the board, local officials and the local community and was secured
a favorable judgment in court. Yet many questions still remain about the
project and the process by which it was put forward. Local officials and
residents have been in contact with both Gov. Chris Christie and the State
Parole Board but to no avail. Mr. Dase noted that halting the Galloway Twp. project at this time would not be
unprecedented. In fact, earlier this month, Gov. Christie ordered a temporary
halt to a proposed commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River in North Jersey due to concerns about the project. "If
well-founded concerns about a multi-billion transit tunnel can cause it to be
stopped for review, surely state officials can take a similar tack with this
project especially given the obvious well founded concerns about public safety
in addition to its necessity, costs and the transparency of the process,"
he concluded. "I join with my neighbors in Galloway Twp. and our state
elected officials in asking the state to hear our concerns and put a halt to
this project."
Rich Dase , Republican candidate for Atlantic County Board of Freeholders in District 4, said today that county and local governments “should step up and expand their efforts toward sharing services and joint purchasing to help reduce local property taxes.”
Dase, a member of the Galloway Township Council, said, as Freeholder, he would convene a county-municipal government summit “to exchange ideas and suggestions to bring about greater cooperation in providing services and purchasing goods and services.”
“I am convinced there are considerable savings to be had --- savings which can be passed along to the taxpayer,” Dase said. “Local governments would retain their autonomy but would be urged to consider joining others in joint purchases and negotiate more favorable costs.”
“At the same time, serious discussions should be held to determine if sharing some government services is feasible,” Dase said. “It is time to tap the creativity of people in public office to develop innovative methods to save money. “
Dase said that efforts to control and reduce property taxes “are without question the paramount issues” facing government.
“Those of us serving in government and those who wish to enter public service have an obligation to place the taxpayers first,” he said. “And, that means being open to ideas involving shared services and purchases.”
Dase said the summit meeting he has proposed ”would encompass all aspects of government activity and nothing would be off limits in the discussions. Naturally, the local governing body will remain the final authority is deciding whether they wish to participate in any shared venture.”
“I'm confident there will be ideas which can be more fully developed which will be effective in saving money, while others may prove to be unworkable,” he said. “We owe it to the taxpayers to try.” Click here to read the article.
Citing government's obligation to insure fair elections and protect taxpayers from wasteful spending, Republicans Joe McDevitt, John Bettis, and Rich Dase called on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders to investigate the circumstances surrounding the misprinted ballots in yesterday's primary election.
“A little common sense would have saved a lot of money,” said Joe McDevitt, the at-large freeholder candidate. “Because of this error by the County Clerk 's office, the taxpayers had to fork over an additional $10,000.”
“This should have never happened,” said Bettis, who is running in Freeholder District 1, covering Atlantic City and Pleasantville. “The County Clerk receives the petitions from all of the candidates and needs only to transfer the names to the ballot. We need to find out why a simple and routine procedure got screwed up.”
“The County Clerk nearly denied a candidate his constitutional right to seek office and the voters' constitutional right to make a choice and then billed the taxpayers for the mistake,” said Dase, who is running in Freeholder District 4, representing Galloway, Absecon, Brigantine and Port Republic . “We have to make sure this does not happen again. We believe the Board of Freeholders is the best body to look closely at what happened and give the taxpayers an accounting of who's responsible.”
The three Republicans hope the investigation will provide county taxpayers and voters with the answers as to why the ballot error happened. Regardless of the investigation of this past election, the Republicans offered one suggestion to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future.
“The County Clerk should give all candidates an opportunity to review an advance copy of the ballot before absentee and sample ballots go to print and the voting machines are programmed,” said McDevitt. “We need to save every dime of taxpayer funds at the county level and the incompetence of the Clerk's office here is leading to wasteful spending.”
“We understand that deadlines are tight in preparing the ballot for an election, but at least inviting the candidates to stop at the Clerk's office to proof-read the ballot takes up a very limited amount of time,” said Bettis.
“We have to insure the integrity of the electoral process,” said Dase. “Leaving a candidate off the ballot is an egregious mistake that can jeopardize the legitimacy of an election and deprive voters of a fair contest. My running mates and I take this situation very seriously and are offering solutions to make government work for the people.”
Republican freeholder candidates Joe McDevitt, John Bettis, and Rich Dase applauded the announcement of federal funding for the proposed Aviation Research and Technology Park , saying as members of the freeholder board, they will champion similar efforts to expand the economic base of Atlantic County .
“Last year's casino shut down was economically terrifying to our region. We are going to use the office of freeholder to protect this county by making sure, one, the state never does that again and, two, to bring more industries, more companies, and more jobs to Atlantic County,” said McDevitt, who is running for freeholder at large.
“We fully realize and support expanding the casino industry. By all means, we welcome new investors to Atlantic City ,” said Bettis, who is running for freeholder to represent Atlantic City and Pleasantville. “Yet, a healthy long term job market requires a deep and broad economic base.”
“It may not be in the official job description, but we will actively court more businesses to move into Atlantic County . We will advocate on behalf of existing business. We will lobby for job training funding and programs from the state and federal government. We will try to make the state permitting process move along. We will do whatever we can legally and ethically to draw attention to our county,” said Dase, who is running for freeholder to represent Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway, and Port Republic . The three candidates described the board of freeholders as a perfect “bully pulpit” to champion county causes such as economic development. “With a seat on the board of freeholders, we have a forum to speak out and reach out on behalf of the residents of Atlantic County ,” said McDevitt. “In three years, we want the voters of to say ‘McDevitt, Bettis, and Dase did something as freeholders. They stand up for Atlantic County .'”
“The title of ‘freeholder' will open doors and we will walk through and embrace opportunities to improve our county,” said Bettis. “That title conveys responsibility to act on behalf of residents whenever and where ever needed.”
“Gaming and tourism will always be the back bone of the county's economy,” said Dase. “Joe, John, and I are ready to do the heavy lifting to add even more economic muscle to our region.”
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