Editor's Note: This is the third and final entry in a series about the candidates for the Longport Board of Commissioners election on Nov. 3.
Today, the incumbent "We Love Longport" slate answer our questionnaire. We asked all eight candidates the same questions. Candidate Veronica Iezzi announced last week that she has dropped out of the race.
The questions:
Dan Lawler
On the single most important issue:
I believe the most important issue facing Longport in the coming years is keeping the infrastructure and safety of the town a priority. Being a barrier island, we need to constantly be upgrading and maintaining are bulkheads, dunes and beaches against worsening weather conditions.
On Borough Hall:
When we started are administration 12 years ago, we inherited a moldy and leaking building. We had to get the building back to a safe place to work for are employees and the public. New windows, roof, HVAC system, elevator and so on. We also had our engineer do a report on building a new building and it was estimated eight years ago to cost between $12-15 million to build. Not knowing what the state was going to do at the time with consolidation, we did not feel that was a good financial move. As of now, I am not in favor of building a new Borough Hall, but we have done a lot of work and it is now safe and sound.
On shared services:
Shared and/or consolidation of essential services can be good if the cost savings and quality of service can be beneficial to the town and residents. I feel we should always have a Police Department as independent of any other town. But this is something that in the next 10 years could be mandated by the state.
On department assignment:
I have been fortunate to be the only commissioner in Longport's history to have headed all three departments. I presently head the Department of Public Safety and work very well with the Police Department, Fire Department and Beach Patrol.
Personal attributes:
I think my track record over the last 12 years and the shape we have kept Longport in speaks for itself.
Biographical information:
James P. Leeds Sr.
On the single most important issue:
The safety of our citizens and the financial stability of our town continue to be the most important issues we face. I will continue to focus on ensuring these for Longport, including ongoing work on flooding issues, upgrading our water wells to insure adequate and safe drinking water, protecting the beach and bayfront bulkheads, and ensuring Public Works, Beach Patrol and Public Safety departments and volunteers have adequate equipment and manpower.
On Borough Hall:
Before any further plans or discussions are made regarding Borough Hall, it's imperative to have further resident input. A professional planner should study the existing structure, current staff use and layout, and share the best scenarios for the next steps with residents to review.
On shared services:
Plans to share or consolidate services must be considered on a case by case basis to ensure the continued financial stability of our town and the safety of our residents. Studying services, obtaining input from department heads, understanding costs, reviewing manpower shifts - all of these must be considered. In my tenure as commissioner, examples of these include saving our library system from a more costly shared service option, sharing 911 dispatch service at a considerable savings, retaining our part-time tax assessor at a savings and more convenient for our taxpayers.
On department assignment:
During my 12 years of service to Longport I have served in Public Works and Finance. Each of our departments comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities and I would be honored to serve in any of them.
Personal attributes:
My years in construction management have provided extensive expertise with similar issues we face in Longport including zoning and panning, Building Department, Public Works, engineering, finance and equipment purchasing. In addition, this administration has faced enormous challenges including Hurricane Sandy, which wreaked considerable financial and emotional toll on our town and our residents, a global pandemic, a devastating fire that destroyed a beloved Longport church landmark and dune construction. During these events and many others that impact the lives of my constituents, my friends and neighbors, I have consistently worked to ensure our town remains the vibrant, clean, safe and the beloved home it is to all us all.
Biographical information:
Nicholas 'Nick' Russo
On the single most important issue:
Infrastructure maintenance and improvements are essential to the Borough of Longport since the benefits of barrier island living, do not come without a cost. That cost is ensuring that Longport has safe drinking water, adequate shorefront and bay protection and that our employees and volunteers have the means to respond and keep us safe in every type of natural or manmade emergency.
On Borough Hall:
On shared services:
On department assignment:
Although my professional background and training is in police and fire public safety, I recently opted to be the Commissioner of Public Works. I am heavily involved in the Longport Fire Department, responding to a significant number of both EMS calls and fire calls, therefore I concluded that it was appropriate that I also not technically supervise that department. If re-elected I would like to continue to head Public Works.
Personal attributes:
As a former and current college professor and teacher, I believe I possess excellent written and oral communication skills. I possess a doctorate degree in adult education. Furthermore, as a former law enforcement officer, investigator and administrator, I value integrity and honesty as a requisite to hold public office.
Biographical information:
