Well, Neal Rochford is already saying remember to "vote 4 Neal." Love puns. And I guess others will be saying the vote will be "Easy as 1,2, 3."

I would like to see a candidate with the slogan "Capable of making a decision without the aid of consultant". I understand that consultants can provide insight, take the heat, play the bad cop, etc. There are a number of issues on which Haddonfield has been adequately consulted or we have plenty of local expertise to guide us without the big expenditures.

I agree Herb. A candidate should offer their solutions and stand by what they believe. If we have 3 commissioners who express different ideas, all the better...as long as they discuss and blend the best of those ideas to better the town.

While I do think that it is prudent to seek expert advice in matters of importance as a commissioner, it is clear that we have a very deep bench of highly qualified experts in just about every technical area, who reside right here in Haddonfield. We also have a tremendously high level of volunteer engagement here. Hmmmmm...... How about we match those two dynamics and save some tax dollars at the same time? This is not a new concept, but it is one that certainly could be better explored and capitalized upon. Lee Albright has as good a track record as ANY volunteer in Haddonfield of actually serving, creating and innovating and has frequently mentioned her desire to make better use of our talent here, while reducing reliance upon consultants. Further, she is the ONLY candidate who has can prove her deep commitment to transparency as she was a key driving force in the team the built the Civic Association's independent video access and archiving service for all elected body Borough and BOE meetings. All meetings are available for viewing anytime from your computer or device. This valuable tool would not exist without Lee's vision, energy and passion. As a commissioner, Lee plans to dramatically increase and integrate these types of accessibility tools to better inform and involve residents in their governmental affairs. Her actual track record and productivity in this area speaks for itself so that there is no guesswork as to whether she will actually deliver once elected.

I agree with Scott on the importance of each candidate stating their position and with Bill on the diversity of talent running.

I like both newcomers as they come in fresh and have approaches to the tax and stewardship issues that seem to be very sound.

John Moscatelli is a chemical engineer and has the backround to deal with the issues of infrastructure, cost and management. I also like his ideas about making transparency of these costs accessible to all residents.

Ken Kouba is a successful business owner in town and understands how important thriving business is to the community. I also like his take on the importance of education and his insight into the schools as a Haddonfield student.

Rising taxes is a very difficult issue to address. Responsible spending on the essentials of our town and revenue bought in from a healthy business district are definitely common sense approaches to this problem.

I hope each voter spends some time talking with these two candidates and gives them a chance to state their views.

Here's something to think about. Camden just adopted their municipal budget of $150M and the residents only pay $25M of it. In Haddonfield, we pay 90% of our local tax bill and send millions more to Trenton which goes to help everyone else leaving us to fend for ourselves and battle it out as we have these past few months over whether we fix fields, roads, roofs, etc. The real problem isn't how much we pay right now - we pay plenty - it's how much we get to keep for our own benefit and not others.

This is an election year for the Governnor, State Assembly and Senate.

What are we as citizens going to do to help select better, more fiscally responsible members who control the real bucks up in Trenton and protect US?

David Siedell: Well, if anyone got my Brian Lamb name-dropping, it had to be you. And you've gratified (humored?) me. It's amazing and sad how unknown he is (C-SPAN Sunday evenings, Q&A, folks — and he invented C-SPAN, and who doesn't love that we have C-SPAN?).
If you're saying that Bill T was correct about something ("she was a key driving force"), okay, I'll take your word for it, with apologies for doubting.
Public reply to your public (you call that pressure?) question is, Yes, I have an interest in the HCA. That's why I joined — because I was impressed with your website and what you're doing with it. But not sure what I could do beyond plunking down the $20 membership fee.

Yes Walter, I did say the "only" candidate that has a proven and significant track record of actually creating transparency in real terms for Haddonfield residents. The reason that I know this is that I came up with and developed the video initiative idea and original program with the direct and extensive help from the beginning from Lee Albright. We did it on a shoestring initially with my camera and HMHS tech kids doing our web work that I recruited and who later supported us from their college locations. Extensive negotiations with the governing bodies took place and even within the HCA itself. But it worked and we later recruited Dave Siedell to help us take it to the next level and Lee then worked closely with Dave and I then moved on to other HCA projects. Lee dedicated countless hours with the HCA since the beginning and it would not exist without her. Now that you know the history, my next point is that Lee has extensive plans for how to integrate these and similar programs for a much greater degree of resident access and transparency as a commissioner. While some sitting commissioners have taken traditional steps to improve resident accessibility, like budget advisory committees, Wednesday open door meetings, etc.? I've never seen extensive proven action BEFORE being elected and innovative detailed plans that will create sweeping convenient government access into our homes by any candidate.

This is not speculation, or a campaign slogan but actually has been delivered and there are details of what else will be delivered and that was my point.

Walter, are you sure that you can stomach the Civic Association? Dave succeeded me as the new President, but I'm still quite active on the board. You might have to try to "take my word" for something somewhere along the way as it appears that only Dave has credibility? :-)

BTW Walter, your $20 is greatly appreciated as there are costs to these resident accessibility programs. Without residents like you making annual donations, we would not be able to create and continue these services. Hopefully you and others will continue to support the HCA. The HCA is ALL about access, visibility, debate and fairness for residents and appropriate governmental process. On those principles, I'm sure we agree.

The video initiative is a fine program and one that gives Haddonfield residents a chance to see our local government at work.

That being said, real transparency happens when issues discussed and policy made behind closed doors see the the light of day. Those are the things that need greater exposure to the community at large.

Brian is correct. The HCA/C-SPAN vids are great — I'm the one who brought them up (sorry folks). But in the realm of "transparency," the videos are merely an extension of the public meetings, which we count on for what transparency we thankfully do have. It's the MORE transparency that people are clamoring for! And, it's very heartening to see several candidates taking that seriously and talking it up increasingly.

Maximum transparency is the goal. In this day and age, we can and will maximize it and there are great plans and ideas that should make Haddonfield one of the most transparent and accessible to their residents in the entire state. I agree that you do not want back room dealing, which is not even legal between commissioners together because of sunshine meeting laws. However, I do think that you need leaders freely talking to residents and businesses on their own though, as they need to be involved and proactive. Not every single thing that they do can be in front of an audience, of course. But the key is that you need leaders who you can trust to put the best interests of residents first. I am stating the obvious but if you don't trust a candidate or commissioner, don't vote for or reelect them. That's what this election will come down to. Who do you trust with our beloved town?

I certainly agree full transparency is something that is needed in this day and age.
Even beyond the idea of back door dealing, transparency involves a commitment from the candidate to bring information to the residents in all matters, even ones the most mundane.

The sunshine laws are a fine tool for information but ultimately a very limited one.
If they were the be all to end all we would have full transparency in our local government and most residents know that hasn't been the case.

Greater transparency is going to have to be something a candidate is committed to doing. Only then will we reap the benefits. I'm very pleased all the candidates are taking this issue seriously.

I definitely agree with your comments above Brian. Along those lines, my original point in my initial post was that Lee Ann Albright specifically is not only talking about it, but has already shown us in very measurable terms how committed she is to transparency by what she was instrumental in creating for Haddonfield. I know this personally because I could not have made that online meeting video access vision a reality without her extensive help and partnership. She also has very specific plans for how to take Haddonfield to the next level, not just general Promises. I hope the others mean what they say and only time will tell. If folks prefer other candidates, that's fine. But on transparency, folks need to be clear that there is no question as to where she is there. It would be like if Dave Siedell was running. He similarly has a proven commitment to transparency that is without question by his subsequent actions to take our vision to the next level, not to mention his other activities, same as Lee. Both are proven commodities there. Thanks for your thoughts.

What good is transparency when you still don't get a straight answer? Lee Albright hasn't given a real answer on either Bancroft (responding that its not currently for sale and that studies would have to be done) or turf (to which she responded that there are pros and cons). That's not coming out and saying anything - that's hedging and trying hard not to be pinned down.

We do not need mores studies