Primary Election Ballots In the Mail for Burlco Voters

Any ballot requested before April 25 for the June 4 primary election should be received in the coming days. The deadline to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot is May 28.

Burlington County submitted the following news release:  Burlington County County Clerk Tim Tyler announced the Clerk’s Office has completed its initial mailing of primary election ballots. Any ballot requested for the June 4 Primary Election before April 25 should be received in the coming days. “My office began issuing ballots on Friday, April 19, starting with Military and Overseas UOCAVA voters. Civilian ballot mailing also began the same day,” said Tyler. The last ballots of the initial 1,858 ballot mailing was delivered to the post office Friday afternoon.  “If a voter does not receive an expected ballot, they should call the clerk’s office as soon as possible,” said Tyler. “We are able to check their application status and have many…

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From Leading a Platoon in Baghdad to Running for Office

Moorestown's Jeff Banasz, an ex-Marine, calls running for state Assembly 'just another opportunity to serve.'

Assembly candidate Jeff Banasz may be "a young guy with no political experience," but he knows what it takes to lead and make tough decisions.  A former Marine who did a tour in Baghdad at the height of the Iraq War, Banasz—today an insurance broker for the Graham Company in Philadelphia—was always drawn to a life of service. Right after he graduated from high school, soon after the end of the Gulf War, Banasz remembered talking to his father about his interest in serving in the military. There was a certain allure to military service—Banasz's grandfather was a Marine and was awarded a Navy Cross (the second highest military decoration for valor) for his service in Okinawa during World War II—and also, the idea of being able to get a job …

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Poll Shows Chris Christie Has Huge Lead in Governor's Race

A Quinnipiac University poll released this week shows Chris Christie with a big lead over his Democratic challenger, state Sen. Barbara Buono.

Gov. Chris Christie is the best person to lead New Jersey over the next four years, according to voters polled in a survey released this week by Quinnipiac University. Christie, a Republican, leads his Democratic rival, state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), 62 percent to 25 percent in the state's 2013 gubernatorial race, according to the poll.  The governor's overall approval rating also remains high. Christie's 74 percent approval rating and 69 percent favorable rating tie his personal record highs from January, the Huffington Post reports, both numbers buoyed by public perception of the way he handled Hurricane Sandy's impact and its aftermath.  Christie appears to have strong support on the other side of the aisle, as well.  In the …

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Porterincollingswood

5:57 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013

It is estimated if the Dow hits 20,000 then the assets in the pension fund will be where they are needed. Highly unlikely. Estimates for marijuana tax revenues in Colorado are estimated at $22M annually (I've seen as low as $5M and as high as $60M). How much, realistically, does sports gambling bring in? Both in terms of revenue from the bets and the traffic to AC it would generate? I can't find …   more ›

Budgets Pass in Both Moorestown Fire Districts

One incumbent fire commissioner and one newcomer were elected in each of Moorestown's two fire districts.

Voters approved budgets in both township fire districts Saturday, translating to small tax increases for property owners.  In Fire District 1, the budget passed by a vote of 103-44. Incumbent Charles Schuster and newcomer Bradley J. Kenney won seats on the board of fire commissioners, each receiving 126 votes.  The total budget for Fire District 1 is $2.27 million, of which $1.77 million will be raised by taxation—an increase of just $767 from 2012, according to administrator Chris Chesner.  Residents approved Fire District 2's budget by a wide margin, 106-16, according to unofficial results. Incumbent Jacqueline Grant and newcomer William Ruggiano won three-year terms on  the district's board of fire commissioners, defeating newcomer …

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Small Tax Increases in Fire District Budgets

The polls open at 2 p.m. Saturday. Read on to find out where and what you're voting for.

Both of Moorestown's fire districts impose only minor tax increases in the budgets that will go before voters on Saturday. The total budget for Fire District 1 is $2.27 million, of which $1.77 million will be raised by taxation—an increase of just $767 from 2012, according to administrator Chris Chesner.  Additionally, two people are running for two open seats on the board of fire commissioners: incumbent Charles Schuster and Bradley J. Kenney. Over in District 2, voters will be asked to OK $702,612, an increase of $6,374 (or 0.9 percent) from 2012, said administrator Liz Booth. Three people are running for two open seats on the District 2 Board of Fire Commissioners: incumbent Jacqueline M. Grant and newcomers William F. Ruggiano and …

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Christie to Run for Second Term as NJ Governor

Chris Christie will seek a second term as New Jersey governor, he announced Monday.

Gov. Chris Christie will run for re-election for New Jersey governor's seat, he confirmed Monday.  Christie made the announcement during an appearance at a press conference at the Port Monmouth Fire Department in Middletown Monday afternoon. The governor declined to talk in detail about his bid, saying he is saving that for a more formal announcement in January.  But he did say he sought the advice of his wife, Mary Pat, and four children during the Thanksgiving Day weekend, and got their blessing.  "I have a job to finish that I would have never anticipated to have six weeks ago," said Christie, adding that he loves the Garden State. "I want to leave it better than I found it when I'm done."  The gubernatorial election will take place in …

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Rick

3:23 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013

I love Maine beautiful state but too cold for me. I love the Boston area too. Marblehead Mass. Is one of my favorite places in New England along with Kennebunkport Maine   more ›

Letters to the Editor

Letter: GOP Council Winners 'Humbled' by Victory

Republican councilmembers-elect Phil Garwood and Victoria Napolitano thank their supporters as they get ready to take office in January.

To the editor: With the final votes counted, we are humbled and honored to write to you as your councilmembers-elect. We are proud of the vigorous and issue-based campaign we ran, and we are unbelievably grateful for the outpouring of support we received over the last eight months from all parts of town. We are especially thankful to our families, friends and campaign volunteers whose support never wavered and who stood by us through thick and thin. As we transition from campaigning to governance, we are acutely aware our town is at a critical crossroads. Our town faces difficult challenges, but we are excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We congratulate councilman-elect Greg Newcomer on his hard-fought victory, and we believe …

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UPDATED: Council Race Decided, Newcomer Wins

Democratic candidate Greg Newcomer held onto his slim lead in the Moorestown council race to edge out Republican Pete Palko following the counting of the provisional ballots.

UPDATE: Democratic Councilman-elect Greg Newcomer thanked those who voted for him—as well as his running mates and Democratic colleagues—and said he was honored to serve. He also congratulated his fellow winners, Republicans Phil Garwood and Victoria Napolitano, as well as their ousted running mate Pete Palko. "My No. 1 priority is to work collaboratively to restore the citizen's voice to Moorestown," Newcomer wrote in a statement to Moorestown Patch. "I will urge and recommend the Citizens' Requests and Presentations be restored to the middle of the council agenda. I will also advocate a town meeting or meetings to discuss ways to improve town government, preserve Moorestown's heritage and work toward active participation by all citizens …

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19-Year-Old Makes Run at Moorestown BOE

We ran this story on Brandon Pugh earlier this year. Read on to find out more about the BOE's youngest-ever member.

The trajectory of Brandon Pugh’s life could have looked so much different. For the first several years of his childhood, he couldn’t speak. His family took him to see doctor after doctor, none of whom had answers. They told the Pughs their son might never speak—in all likelihood, he wouldn’t—and he might have to be under adult supervision for the rest of his life. Then one day, when he was 6, he started talking. And all the other pieces fell into place. “I guess you could link my service to that,” Pugh said. “I was told I’d never overcome that, and as a result, since I did, I kind of look for ways to give back, cause I view it as being very fortunate to be able to speak now … I was blessed so much. It’s probably the origin of why I serve…

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Brandon Pugh

12:20 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012

Moorestown Patch, thank you for writing the nice article. I would love to hear from anyone that has any questions or comments. Please feel free to email me at bpugh@pughforboe.com and/or visit my website at www.pughforboe.com   more ›