Editor’s Note: This is the third and final entry in a series about the candidates for the Longport Board of Commissioners election on Nov. 3.
Today, the incumbent “We Love Longport” slate answer our questionnaire. We asked all eight candidates the same questions. Candidate Veronica Iezzi announced last week that she has dropped out of the race.
The questions:
- What do you feel is the single most important issue facing Longport over the next four years?
- What are your plans to address aging Borough Hall? Do you support building a new facility or refurbishing Borough Hall?
- What are your views on shared-services and/or consolidation of essential services?
- Which department would you like to head and why? (i.e., public safety and community affairs, finance, public works)
- What attributes do you possess that make you an ideal candidate for Borough Commissioner?
- Please provide some biographical information in bullet point fashion and a recent color headshot. Include how long you have lived in Longport, employment, prior public service, and awards.
- Tell us something unique about yourself that voters may not know? (i.e. you climbed Mt. Everest, won a Nobel prize or make the world’s best meatballs)
Dan Lawler
Dan Lawler
On the single most important issue:
I believe the most important issue facing Longport in the coming years is keeping the infrastructure and safety of the town a priority. Being a barrier island, we need to constantly be upgrading and maintaining are bulkheads, dunes and beaches against worsening weather conditions.
On Borough Hall:
When we started are administration 12 years ago, we inherited a moldy and leaking building. We had to get the building back to a safe place to work for are employees and the public. New windows, roof, HVAC system, elevator and so on. We also had our engineer do a report on building a new building and it was estimated eight years ago to cost between $12-15 million to build. Not knowing what the state was going to do at the time with consolidation, we did not feel that was a good financial move. As of now, I am not in favor of building a new Borough Hall, but we have done a lot of work and it is now safe and sound.
On shared services:
Shared and/or consolidation of essential services can be good if the cost savings and quality of service can be beneficial to the town and residents. I feel we should always have a Police Department as independent of any other town. But this is something that in the next 10 years could be mandated by the state.
On department assignment:
I have been fortunate to be the only commissioner in Longport’s history to have headed all three departments. I presently head the Department of Public Safety and work very well with the Police Department, Fire Department and Beach Patrol.
Personal attributes:
I think my track record over the last 12 years and the shape we have kept Longport in speaks for itself.
Biographical information:
- I have lived in Longport for 33 years.
- Married with 2 children, Aspen, 20 and Tyler, 17
- Work for PJP equipment and supply company for 33 years as a salesman
- Went to Mount Saint Joseph High School in Rutland, VT
- Graduated from UVM with a political science major and economics minor
- Have been on the Longport Planning and Zoning board for eight years
- I ski raced for the University of Vermont and come from a very large, close family, with seven brothers and sisters and 40 nieces and nephews.
James P. Leeds Sr.
James P. Leeds Sr.
On the single most important issue:
The safety of our citizens and the financial stability of our town continue to be the most important issues we face. I will continue to focus on ensuring these for Longport, including ongoing work on flooding issues, upgrading our water wells to insure adequate and safe drinking water, protecting the beach and bayfront bulkheads, and ensuring Public Works, Beach Patrol and Public Safety departments and volunteers have adequate equipment and manpower.
On Borough Hall:
Before any further plans or discussions are made regarding Borough Hall, it’s imperative to have further resident input. A professional planner should study the existing structure, current staff use and layout, and share the best scenarios for the next steps with residents to review.
On shared services:
Plans to share or consolidate services must be considered on a case by case basis to ensure the continued financial stability of our town and the safety of our residents. Studying services, obtaining input from department heads, understanding costs, reviewing manpower shifts – all of these must be considered. In my tenure as commissioner, examples of these include saving our library system from a more costly shared service option, sharing 911 dispatch service at a considerable savings, retaining our part-time tax assessor at a savings and more convenient for our taxpayers.
On department assignment:
During my 12 years of service to Longport I have served in Public Works and Finance. Each of our departments comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities and I would be honored to serve in any of them.
Personal attributes:
My years in construction management have provided extensive expertise with similar issues we face in Longport including zoning and panning, Building Department, Public Works, engineering, finance and equipment purchasing. In addition, this administration has faced enormous challenges including Hurricane Sandy, which wreaked considerable financial and emotional toll on our town and our residents, a global pandemic, a devastating fire that destroyed a beloved Longport church landmark and dune construction. During these events and many others that impact the lives of my constituents, my friends and neighbors, I have consistently worked to ensure our town remains the vibrant, clean, safe and the beloved home it is to all us all.
Biographical information:
- Owned in Longport since the mid-1970s. Summer resident until 2005, then retired to Longport permanently.
- Graduated from Margate Public Schools, Atlantic City High School, Temple University
- Member of Planning and Zoning Boards in Pennsylvania and Longport.
- Project Manager and Senior Estimator for Construction Management Co.
- Held real estate license; teacher at Temple University for continuing education in real estate.
- Longport Commissioner for 12 years.
- Longport Hazard Mitigation Committee. OSHA Safety Training.
- Honorable Discharge United States Air Force, served in New Jersey Air National Guard.
- Terrible Golfer award.
- Tragic airplane accident claimed the life of my wife Anne and another Longport resident in 2014.
- I enjoy spending time with my four children and 13 grandchildren.
- I am a true blooded ancestor of the Jersey Devil.
Nicholas “Nick” Russo
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Russo
On the single most important issue:
Infrastructure maintenance and improvements are essential to the Borough of Longport since the benefits of barrier island living, do not come without a cost. That cost is ensuring that Longport has safe drinking water, adequate shorefront and bay protection and that our employees and volunteers have the means to respond and keep us safe in every type of natural or manmade emergency.
On Borough Hall:
Our administration inherited Borough Hall at its current location from prior administrations. Previously, it was in the old U.S. Coast Guard Lifesaving Station (the current Historical Society building). City Hall was chosen to preserve one of the oldest buildings in Longport, while maintaining the historical significance of the former Betty Bacharach Home for Children. The safety of the building for employees and visitors is paramount and this strategy equates to a great cost-saving alternative as opposed to new construction.
On shared services:
Municipal shared services make sense and save taxpayer money, and I will continue to pursue those options that make sense for Longport. For example, Longport had its own 911 dispatch service at a cost of approximately $378,000 per year. By entering into a shared service agreement with Egg Harbor Township for approximately $250,000 per year, the Borough was able to save almost 34% or $125,000. Each Longport Public Safety Department supervisor agreed that the services were equal to, or superior to our own dispatch service.
On department assignment:
Although my professional background and training is in police and fire public safety, I recently opted to be the Commissioner of Public Works. I am heavily involved in the Longport Fire Department, responding to a significant number of both EMS calls and fire calls, therefore I concluded that it was appropriate that I also not technically supervise that department. If re-elected I would like to continue to head Public Works.
Personal attributes:
As a former and current college professor and teacher, I believe I possess excellent written and oral communication skills. I possess a doctorate degree in adult education. Furthermore, as a former law enforcement officer, investigator and administrator, I value integrity and honesty as a requisite to hold public office.
Biographical information:
- Lived in Longport 23 years
- Bachelor’s degree political science John Carroll University
- Master’s degree general professional education Seton Hall University,
- Doctorate adult education Nova Southeastern University
- Former Atlantic City Police Officer and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Investigator
- Retired as a Supervising State Investigator NJ Division of Criminal Justice
- Former board president four years of Adelaide’s Place, (Woman’s Day Center) Atlantic City
- Longport mayor 12 years
- 10 Year Service Pin, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, (assist the poor) St Michael’s Church
- Longport Fire Department Award “EMS Responder of the Year” 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Longport Fire Department “Chief Adams Memorial Award” 2011, 2013, 2015
- Longport Fire Department “Ted Schall Memorial Award” 2014
- Longport Fire Department “Rookie of the Year Award” 2010
- After retirement, I traveled at various times in a small Airstream Travel Trailer to 43 different states and camped primarily in state or federal parks
