Incumbent Republicans Ken D’Andrea and Robert DiEnna were elected to the two open seats on Evesham Township Council.
Election Day turned into a good night for Republicans in Evesham, as incumbents Ken D’Andrea and Robert DiEnna were re-elected to the two open seats on Evesham Township Council.
The wins by D’Andrea, the current deputy mayor, and DiEnna, mean council will continue with its full, five-seat Republican majority.
According to the most recent, unofficial vote totals from the Burlington County Board of Elections, D’Andrea received 10,240 votes and DiEnna received 9,742 votes, while Democratic challengers John Bravo received 9,141 votes and Philip Warren received 9,025 votes.
D’Andrea said he was excited by the win and also honored and humbled to once again have the residents of Evesham entrust him to serve the township. With his next term ahead of him, D’Andrea said he would continue to make decisions based on an analytical approach, business sense and compassion.
“For the public to still believe that they can entrust us with the future of the town is still a wonderful journey that we’re on,” D’Andrea said. “I will still always listen to others to collaborate and to learn.”
DiEnna said he too was honored to have residents re-elect him to serve another four years.
When discussing the issues and concerns he heard from residents on the campaign trail, DiEnna listed the staples of municipal government such as roads, development, traffic, schools, empty buildings and taxes.
DiEnna said the township has limits to what it can control outside of decisions made at the county and state level, but he said he believes Evesham’s council is unique in that it’s always willing to engage other levels of government to advocate for the township’s needs.
“We’re always looking for grant money, and we’re always looking for help from another municipality or county or anyone involved in government…and sometimes you get some really good ideas,” DiEnna said.
DiEnna said he would like to see the township continue to focus on redevelopment to bring more revenue into the township and keep taxes low, and D’Andrea said he would like focus on the sustainability of the township’s services.
“How do we continue to move Evesham forward in a sustainable fashion so we can still keep taxes low or in control and still provide either great services, enhanced services or additional services?” D’Andrea asked.
On the other side of the political aisle, Warren spoke on behalf of himself and fellow Democratic candidate Bravo.
Warren noted they were proud of the campaign they ran without reverting to negative attacks, and they look forward to continuing their work fighting for issues such as transparency and accountability.
Other issues Warren described on the minds of the residents he met throughout the campaign were the potential dissolution of the Evesham Township Municipal Authority and the condition of the township’s roads.
Although he lost, Warren said he holds no bitterness, and he was happy to have closed the gap somewhat in the number of votes in recent elections between Democratic and Republican candidates in Evesham.
Warren said he truly believes their message resonated with residents, and a lack of resources and volunteers compared to the “extremely well organized” campaign of his opponents played a role in the Democrats’ loss.
“When we got to talk to voters and they got to know us, we got their support. We just wish we had enough resources and time to get to meet enough voters to change how things went,” Warren said.
