Margate commission candidates answer a few questions

MARGATE – As a service to voters, Downbeach.com asked the following questions to the four candidates vying for three seats up for grabs in the Margate Board of Commissioners non-partisan election being held 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.

Candidates were asked to respond to the questionnaire and provide a photo and some biographical information to help voters decide for whom to cast their ballots.

The candidates are presented here in accordance with their placement on the sample ballot, which was decided by lottery.

Please provide a recent headshot and some personal information: age, marital status, children, education, career, professional affiliations, public service, volunteer service, etc.

1. What do you see as Margate’s biggest challenge and how will you address it?
2. Ratables have increased substantially each year, yet the tax rate remains flat. What will you do control spending in a way that benefits the taxpayers?
3. It has been said that the city is in “transition,” becoming more like a resort town than a year-round residential community. Do you see maintain the city’s identity as a place to raise a family as a goal to be achieved, and if so, what will you do to achieve it?
4. Is there anything else the voters would enjoy knowing about you?

MICHAEL BECKER

Michael Becker

Biographical information

• Military Veteran, United States Army
• Margate resident for over 50 years
• Graduate of Atlantic City High School and Ursinus College
• Served many years on the Margate Board of Education, the majority of which were as board president
• Member of Beth El Synagogue, American Legion and Jewish War Veterans
• Former coach for Margate Little League Baseball and Margate Colts Football
• Mike Becker and his wife Mary have two children and three grandchildren who are all graduates of the Margate schools. They have two great-grandsons

1. Margate’s biggest challenge is to provide the highest level of services at the most efficient cost. This is achieved by continuing to weigh every dollar spent with the benefit it provides. Over the last four years, I have worked to reduce both labor costs and total debt while maintaining the same level of municipal services. I will meet future challenges in the same financially efficient manner.
2. My vision and carefully crafted financial plans have helped Margate’s ratable base increase steadily over the past 12 years in a region that is experiencing wholesale decline. As previously mentioned, I have worked with my fellow commissioners to reduce both labor costs and total debt and we will continue to preserve Margate’s quality of life while remaining financially efficient.
3. The most attractive quality that families desire in a hometown is quality education. Margate has a long history of educational excellence and has been recognized as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary High Performance. In addition, Margate offers a wide range of year-round services and activities and has an outstanding Recreation Department that offers a variety of programs. Margate has already achieved the reputation as a desirable location to raise a family, and I will continue to support activities for all ages that make Margate unique.
4. I believe nothing in life is more important than family, and I have been blessed with a large family. As we travel through life, we acquire new members to our families – friends, neighbors, business associates, colleagues – we are all one extended family. Life is a gift because of the people in it that we love. This has never been made clearer to me than with the recent addition of my two young great-grandsons to our growing family. It reminds me that the old saying, “If you want to stay young, hang around young people,” is true.

MAURY BLUMBERG

Maury Blumberg

Biographical information

• Born and raised in Margate
• Margate schools K-8, Holy Spirit High school                                                                       
• BS in Engineering from Vanderbilt University 
• Vanderbilt University baseball
• Honeywell Sales and Engineering management 
• Vice President, Jersey Architectural Door
• Margate City Little League Board
• Margate City Zoning Board
• Margate City Commissioner
• Married to Laurie with twin daughters Kate and Clare

1. I believe our biggest challenge in Margate is keeping our taxes stable while maintaining the highest level of services possible. Services that the people of Margate have come to expect and deserve. I am goaled toward maintaining our first-rate infrastructure with carefully planned, well budgeted and thought-out projects. We have been on a stable path and have kept a disciplined approach for the past 12 years and plan to keep implemented controls in place.
2. It is true that ratables have increased steadily over my tenure. This is a testament to the proper planning and good management tools already in place in our city. People are bullish on Margate and love our town. Many are moving in and building new homes and many more are renovating existing homes. Great employees and services make Margate the most desirable city in Atlantic County in which to live. Diligent oversight of all costs including pensions, health care and fair negotiations of union contracts have positioned Margate for many more years of flat or little municipal and school tax increases.
3. Margate’s diversity of population is what makes our town unique. We have a solid mix of young families and seniors, all which support our year-round businesses.  Commissioners and city employees team up with the Margate Business Association to promote the city and sponsor great events like Fall Funfest and Beachstock, drawing attention to Margate and attracting new families. We are proud to boast the lowest tax rate in Atlantic county. This fact is helping to draw new families as well as stimulate new growth. Second and thrid generations are now calling Margate home. This is the direct result of good management and planning.
4. The voters should know that I love this town. I thank them for their continued support and the confidence that they place in me. I ask them for their vote. I have almost 60 years of Margate in my DNA, and I am part of a team pledging to preserve Margate’s quality of life.

JOHN AMODEO

John Amodeo

Biographical information

• 68 years old, resident of Margate City for 48 years, attended Margate City schools, played Margate Little League, lifeguard for the Margate City Beach Patrol, longtime member of Holy Trinity Parish, Jewish Community Center and Margate Log Cabin
• Graduate of St. Augustine Prep (1968), graduate of Mt. St. Mary’s College with a BA in history and political science (1972), National Certification for Construction Code Inspectors, ACCC (1991)
• 37 years NJ state licensed long boom crane operator, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, lead engineer, Cape May Point Eco System Project, Longport-Ocean City Bridge Replacement, Revel Casino
• Served on Linwood City Council 1997-2005, Finance, Planning Board and Police Committees, Vice-President for St. Augustine Prep Alumni Association Board of Trustees, trustee for the MCBP Alumni Association, which has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to MCBP college-bound lifeguards
• NJ Assemblyman 2nd Legislative District 2008-2013, sponsoring innovative changes to revitalize Atlantic City gaming and tourism industry; executive board member, Council of State Governments; awarded NJ Aviation Association’s NJ Legislator of the Year 2012
• Margate City Commissioner of Public Safety
• Married 46 years to Luann DiGiacinto, two children John and Amy, five grandchildren, all residents of Margate.

1. Protecting our homeowners’ valuable assets and our city’s natural and man-made resources is what I see as our biggest challenge. For example, Atlantic City’s tax structure under the state-mandated PILOT program could have drastically and negatively impacted our Margate tax base and quality of life. Prior to this legislative action, I was fortunate to serve in the NJ Assembly and was able to take positive steps with Atlantic County and neighboring local leaders to execute the foundation of a development plan to diversify Atlantic City’s economy. Resulting projects include the Stockton Atlantic City Campus and the Aviation Technology Park. These investments will continue to produce jobs in our area, which positions Margate well to be a great city for families to reside. What makes Margate City attractive is the quality of life, stable taxes, excellent schools and senior citizen programs, full-service business districts and top-rated restaurants. It is my intention to continue to work with county and local leadership to promote and protect everyone’s most valuable assets – their home, their job, their business, and their quality of life in Margate.
2. Margate City’s audits have continuously stated we are in a “strong financial position.” The tax rate has remained flat due to conservative fiscal management. True our ratable base continues to grow because Margate is an attractive town to reside in. The ratable base has grown just short of 1% per year for the past several years. The cost of living has grown approximately 2% per year. We have reduced costs by 1% to keep our tax rate stable. In a continual effort to control these costs, I have worked with both the Margate City Fire and Police Departments to negotiate contracts that increase the number of years from 5 to 15 years before firefighters and police officers reach top pay, which will create substantial savings from new hires moving forward. Any savings realized by the city, positions us for present and future capital investments to keep our infrastructure modernized while continuing to provide services that insure the quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors to Margate.
3. To me, Margate is a city in positive transition. Margate continues to evolve and attract families and people of all age groups for a variety of reasons. Personally, my wife and I invested in property that allows our grown children and grandchildren to live full-time in Margate. We are not an anomaly. Several generations of families continue to maintain Margate homes to summer with their friends, children and grandchildren, while enjoying top notch community, recreation and performing arts camps and programs. Meanwhile Margate is welcoming new homeowners and families as evidenced with our increasing home sales. Some of these families are attracted to our excellent school district. We know many senior citizens who are happy with the Bloom Pavilion, Margate Library and the city bus that transports them about town. We also know many grandparents who are providing a shore experience for their grandchildren. There are many reasons for families to choose Margate either as a year-round or part-time resident. The excellent quality of life is offered to all families and all age groups. Margate has something for everyone and something worth protecting.
4. In 1967 at the age of 17, I was asked by the then-Mayor William Ross to dress as a Roman gladiator and ride at the head of the Margate City Roman-themed float in the Miss America Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The float won a first-place award. In 1968, I swam competitively representing the Margate City Beach Patrol and won the Margate Half-Mile Swim.

CALVIN TESLER

Calvin Tesler

Biographical information

• 34 years old, married to Caitlin Tesler, 6-month-old daughter Gabriella Isabelle
• BA in political science from Temple University, masters degree in Holocaust history and Jewish studies from Touro College, presently a Ph.D. candidate in American history with a concentration in urban planning at Lehigh University
• Adjunct professor of history, literature, and writing at Temple University, Stockton University and Rowan University
• Serves on the Stockton Jewish Steering Committee, board member of a young leadership group and vice president of programming of NextGen Atlantic County

1. Margate’s biggest challenge is preserving its identity as a residential community by the sea.  Margate is a unique and charming city that is different from other shore towns with respect to its character as a year-round residential community. Many people do not want to see Margate become just another summer town or a “resort town” that has been overdeveloped or misused. We can address this issue by protecting the character of our city and work hard together to promote the growth of Margate and publicize its allure as a special year-round shore town.
2. With regards to controlling spending in a way that benefits taxpayers, decisions should be made in a fiscally responsible manner. I believe that we can work hard to see where we can benefit the taxpayers and do what is best for the people of Margate.
3. Yes, this is an amazing city and a wonderful community which is why my wife and I moved here full-time to raise a family. It is honestly the perfect town to raise children here in regards to its welcoming and tight community, safe neighborhoods, strong schools and variety of services. Therefore, it is imperative that we make a strong push to attract more families to move here full-time and combat the declining population of all year-round residents. This can be achieved by marketing Margate better and providing more options for young families to afford buying a home here and continue its prominence as a residential community by the sea.
4. I would like voters to know that I have no personal or hidden agenda. I just want to see our great city of Margate move forward, continue to grow and not lose its unique identity. The people of Margate deserve transparency, a voice and to be heard. As a devout father, husband and hard worker, I vow to listen to you and provide a voice for all because this is your city, our city and we can all work together to ensure the grandeur of Margate.

MARGATE POLLING LOCATIONS*

• District 1, Eugene A. Tighe School, 7804 Amherst Ave.
• District 2, William H. Ross School, 101 N. Haverford Ave.
• District 3 and 4, Margate Municipal Building, 9001 Winchester Ave.

*The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail is Tuesday, May 7. The deadline to apply for a mail in ballot in person is May 13. Obtain ballots from the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office in the county seat, 5901 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ 08215.