Moorestown Mayor Chris Chiacchio Won't Run for Re-Election

About two and a half months after being elected mayor, Chris Chiacchio announced he will not seek re-election in November.

Chiacchio made the announcement Monday afternoon, citing family reasons.

"As many in town know, my wife Renee and I have two young children - Our daughter, Grace, who is 7, and our son, CJ, who just turned 3," Chiacchio said in a statement issued Monday afternoon. "I joined Council only months before CJ was born, and like many other parents, my wife and I juggle our professional careers with family life. After careful consideration, it is with mixed emotions that I announce today that I will not seek re-election for Town Council this November. I feel comfortable with my decision, knowing that I will be leaving our town in a better condition than it was when I first entered elected office."

Chiacchio was elected to council in 2010, collecting 4,347 votes. He finished second to Stacey Jordan, who collected 4,509 votes. Jordan served as mayor until January, when she stepped down from the position and was replaced by Chiacchio.

Jordan is the only other member of council up for re-election this year.

"By any measure, Stacey Jordan and I would call our term in office a great success, and we are glad we served with others on council both when we were first elected and now who share the same ideology of fiscal sanity and efficient government that we hold dear," Chiacchio said.

"It goes to show what a difference four years can make. I have had the pleasure of serving on town council over the past 3 years and as mayor since January of this year.  During that time, I have been part of a town council that has put the people of Moorestown first, and placed our community back on the right track. Over the course of our term, we delivered on the promises we made the voters four years ago."

Among the accomplishments he mentioned were the opening of a new town hall and library complex; repairs to the township's athletic facilities; the preservation of the Browning-Hess farm as preserved open space; the reduction of township employees from 127 to 105, which said saved
salary costs and the long term costs of pensions and benefits; the passage of an initiative to allow liquor to be served at the Moorestown Mall; new businesses such as Aunt Selma’s Candy and Primo Hoagies opening on Main Street; and the privatization of sanitation in Moorestown, which Chiacchio said would lead to a net savings to the taxpayer of $1.5 million over the next three years.

The primary for this year's elections will be held June 3. The general election is Nov. 4.