I am writing to put in my two cents concerning the borough commissioner election that will be held in mid May.
As a senior citizen who has lived in Haddonfield for decades, I am grateful that we have six candidates for commissioner who are willing to serve for little or no compensation in what is sometimes a thankless job.
Certainly, the society we live in today has changed dramatically during my lifetime. On a local level, we live in a town that faces significant challenges, from astronomical property taxes that threaten to force out more and more seniors every day, to a spike in home burglaries over the past several years.
The increasing challenges we face demand commissioners who are not only willing to serve, but who also have the foresight to head off many challenges and, in the event such challenges manifest themselves, the knowledge, creativity and stamina to tackle those challenges effectively.
With that in mind, my choices this year for the borough commissioner are Jeff Kasko and John Moscatelli. If ever there was a time for fiscal restraint, it has been the recession of the past several years. During that time, Jeff Kasko was the sole voice of fiscal prudence on the borough commission. With his strong finance background and insight into a range of issues that have come before the commission, he can serve as a mentor to the new commissioners and provide solid continuity. Jeff deserves to be re-elected May 14.
I also like what I see in John Moscatelli. As a chemical engineer, he brings a wealth of technical knowledge to the job that has often been lacking in other commissioners. How can we best patch our roads? Will run-off from the new turf fields pollute Hopkins Pond? Here is a rare candidate who is capable of asking the right technical questions and comprehending the answers. He is energetic and has proven himself well equipped to face down well-funded giants in the form of Bancroft, etc. John deserves to be elected this May 14.
George A. Passes
