Pay-to-Play Law Questioned Following Appointment

A number of people, including the Democratic Party chairman, are questioning town council's solicitor selection, according to the Burlington County Times.

Current and former Moorestown political players, on both sides of the aisle, have questioned whether the current town council played fast and loose with the township's anti-pay-to-play law by appointing a law firm with political ties, according to an article in the Burlington County Times. Council selected Capehart Scatchard attorney Anthony Drollas as township solicitor earlier this month. According to the Times story, Drollas' firm made contributions to the joint campaign account of former Burlington County freeholders Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O’Brien. Money from that account was later used to help fund the campaign of Moorestown Republican council candidates Phil Garwood, Victoria Napolitano and Peter Palko. Moorestown Democratic …

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Tom Lynch

12:49 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tom, it was kind of you to reply. I agree that the handling has not been addressed adequately. However, I am perplexed by your desire to see the facilities fixed but also believe our property taxes could be lower. I don't see how it is possible to fix them without raising taxes; let alone lower them.   more ›

Council Race Could Be Settled Today

A Republican Party official said he expects provisional ballots to be counted today in the extremely tight Moorestown township council race.

By the end of the day today—nearly two full weeks after the election—Moorestown's town council race could finally be decided. Following the counting of the absentee ballots—all 1,416 of them—only 12 votes separated Democratic candidate Greg Newcomer and Republican candidate Pete Palko as the third-place vote-getter, behind Republicans Victoria Napolitano and Phil Garwood. Republican campaign manager Steve Solomon said there are more than 120 provisional ballots that need to be counted. The deadline for provisional ballots to be turned in was Monday (Nov. 19)—the state extended the deadline because of Hurricane Sandy—and Solomon said he was told the county would be tallying them Tuesday. "We will know by the end of the day (Tuesday) who won…

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Sen. Diane Allen Endorses Republican Council Candidates

The Republican candidates have also been endorsed by their GOP cohorts on the Burlington County freeholder board.

Republican town council candidates Phil Garwood, Victoria Napolitano and Pete Palko picked up an endorsement from Moorestown native and District 7 Senator Diane Allen this week. In a letter from Allen, she wrote, “The Garwood, Napolitano and Palko team have a real plan to keep Moorestown’s taxes in check, eliminate government waste and be responsive to the needs of their constituents. Their team supports protecting and building on Moorestown’s robust open space program, and will fight to protect and preserve the many natural treasures that this town has to offer.” She added, “Phil, Victoria and Pete are committed to reviving Moorestown’s local business districts from Main Street to Camden Avenue, and will restore this town’s economic …

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Letters to the Editor

Moorestown GOP Candidates Pledge Accessibility If Elected

In a "constituent relations pledge," Republican candidates Phil Garwood, Victoria Napolitano and Pete Palko lay out a plan for making town council more open.

To the editor: We believe government works for the people and not the other way around. To that end, we have pledged to strengthen the relationship between the taxpayers of Moorestown and the individuals they elect to town council and increase our accessibility to the public. As council members, we pledge to: Hold regular constituent relations “office hours” at the Moorestown Library or other public buildings We pledge to have members of council set aside time outside of town council meetings to hear from constituents one-on-one, answer their concerns, and receive their feedback in a more personal, private setting. Host yearly community meetings in all 20 voting districts of Moorestown Our team will spend time hosting doughnut and coffee …

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GOP: 'No Question' Button Departure Is Good for Party

But the Democratic candidates for Moorestown council aren't buying into that theory.

  And then there were two. Following the exit of Mayor John Button and his ticket from the council race, the field is back to Republicans vs. Democrats, and both tickets responded to the news of the third-party departure with confidence. “It’s a good thing for Republicans … There’s no question about it,” said Republican Committee chairman Steve Solomon, who said Button’s departure “definitely” plays to the GOP’s advantage. “We’re going to reunify ourselves now. All the divisive stuff is behind us, and that can only mean good things for the town,” said Solomon. Some, including members of the Republican Party, had theorized Button’s candidacy would peel off GOP voters, thus making a Democratic victory far more likely. Democratic candidate …

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GOP Candidates: Campaign Is About Letting People Know 'Who We Are'

Moorestown Republican candidates for council Phil Garwood, Victoria Napolitano and Pete Palko discuss Open Space, economic development, and why it's important to listen to everyone.

It may be overstating the obvious, but the job of any political candidate is to convey who they are to the voting public. Gearing up to compete in what will be a crowded race this fall, the three Republican candidates for council—Victoria Napolitano, Phil Garwood and Pete Palko—have their work cut out for them in that regard. “The more crowded the field is, the more challenging it is for any individual in the race to define who they are,” said Napolitano. “That’s the most important thing for us, and always was even when there were fewer people in the race. Our campaign is about letting people know who we are and what we want to do … Because then if they elect us into office, that to me says, ‘We like the way you’re thinking.’” Of course, …

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