Hamilton council and mayoral candidates talk issues at Bromley church
HAMILTON — Hamilton mayoral and council candidates alike squared off at a church in the Bromley section Thursday night, discussing such issues as economic development and public safety.
Incumbent Republican council candidates Ileana Schirmer, Dave Kenny, Dennis Pone, and council President Ed Gore went up against Democratic opponents Dan Keelan, Tennille McCoy, Nina Melker and Joe Santo Thursday night at Saint Phillips Baptist Church of Hamilton. Assemblyman Dan Benson was also in attendance.
Also present were all three mayoral candidates; incumbent Republican Mayor Kelly Yaede, Democrat challenger Barbara Plumeri, and Independent challenger Antonio Gambino. Since the event was for the community to find out more about the candidates, each candidate introduced themselves and then took questions from the audience.
The Rev. Joseph Woods started off the Community Candidates Night by saying he was asked why they were having it in a church.
“Why not? We believe that the community centers strongly around what happens in our religion so we have invited you to his house,” Woods said.
Yaede started the process of introducing herself.
“I grew up in Bromley, and it’s an honor for me to be here to explain my vision of Hamilton Township. It started when I walked into office as the first female mayor; I immediately hit the ground running,” Yaede said.
Yaede touted her ability to cut spending, introduce a budget that had zero percent tax increase, for implementing the toughest ethics reform package, and opening 36 new businesses.
Councilman Pone said he has proudly served for eight years and he is a basic government guy.
“I want your garbage picked up and snow shoveled and the town policed, everything else is on the table. When we came in, it was not being run like that. We allowed Septemberfest to be run without taxpayer dollars, and in 2006 implemented the toughest payto-play law in all of New Jersey,” Pone said.
Schirmer, the newest member of council, told the audience she was born in Cuba and grew up poor, so she knows what it is like to work hard for every single thing.
“I look at life in two ways when I go to buy something, is this a luxury or a necessity? My job is to look after your money, it’s my money too. Hamilton is going in a positive direction, in the right direction,” Schirmer said.
According to Kenny, the council has dealt with the financial problems he uncovered when entering office while keeping all the services in the township.
Gore said he is very proud of council members and mayor for what they’ve done. He also asked that everyone vote for Hamilton teen Isaiah Alston who is on The X Factor.
Mayoral candidate Gambino had some words for the audience.
“I could have come here tonight and made serious political attacks but I am in the eyes of God and it wouldn’t be right, I would be struck down. I love this community and there are some very serious problems. When I’m elected it will stop, criminals will fear the name Gambino,” Gambino said.
Plumeri spoke about the problems of the past corruption, and the fact that it has resulted in a lack of trust in government in Hamilton.
“We have to change things and start with a clean slate,” Plumeri said.
Nina Melker said she works as a commercial banker and is close with the small business community. She wants to be able to help the community she lives in, and to communicate, listen, and respond to residents.
Dan Keelan said he is committed to the community, and has always given assistance where he has seen a need.
“The government is like this church, it is a bridge to crossover to salvation. The government is a bridge to cross over to bring safety and quality of life,” Keelan said.
McCoy, a third generation Hamiltonian, said her parents drilled the importance of giving to your community into her and her siblings.
“I have worked under four governors, both Democratic and Republican, and it didn’t matter to me that they didn’t have same values as I did. What was important was that we worked together. I want to be the eyes and ears of Hamilton,” McCoy said.
Santo said he is an advocate of the people.
“I will work for you, it’s you, the people, we have to listen to,” Santo said.
Mason then asked the mayoral candidates the first question.
“All neighborhoods in Hamilton pay taxes, but a short ride shows that all neighborhoods don’t receive the same service or quality. If you are elected what would you do to stop the disparity treatment?” Mason asked.
Gambino said he has seen this neighborhood neglected.
“MLK died for all men and women to be equal , when I become mayor of this town, this section will be revitalized when I become mayor,” Gambino said.
“Hamilton is a big township made up of a lot of neighborhoods, and there has to be a dialogue between the mayor’s office and each neighborhood. You need to have regular contact with government,” Plumeri said.
Yaede noted that she removed the door to her office on her first day.
“We have kept in contact with the Wilson Center, and brought the CYO to the Bromley to make sure every resident has to opportunity to the same services,” Yaede said.
In another question directed at the mayoral candidates, Mason asked what policies and safeguards would each put in place to ensure citizens they won’t go down that shameful path of last year’s events.
“Day one I walked into office and I implemented the toughest ethics policy. We have yearly ethics training for everyone in the administration and they sign ethics policies,” Yaede said.
Plumeri fired back, saying the aforementioned ethics policy was not anything different than that of any other municipality.
“What we need to do is not only make people take a pledge they won’t do anything wrong, we need to take it upon ourselves. The state does our ethics complaints and it takes too long, I wants a local ethics board we oversee ourselves,” Plumeri said.
Gambino asked why Kelly Yaede didn’t take care of the Bromley section, which prompted a couple of claps and resounding boo-ing from the crowd.
“I will not take any money from people doing business with Hamilton Township, and will change pay to play laws,” Gambino said.
Mason’s next question was for the council candidates.
“What does a council person do and why do you think you can do it?” she asked.
Schirmer said she has had nine months to do her homework.
“Our role is, we are the eyes on your money. We make sure what is presented to us in budget makes sense, and that everything is as efficient as it should be, our job is to see that this town is running appropriately,” Schirmer said.
“There is a difference between what council does and what council should do. Council has power to deny budgets to deny ordinances, council is balance to mayor. What council is supposed to be doing is welcoming residents and taking them into consideration. In particular what happened over last year and half I have been asking them to investigate, and council chose not to ask the former mayor to resign. Council should be the watchdog of the people,” Keelan said.
Pone got up and immediately told Keelan he was wrong, and that he asked Bencivengo to step down.
“We are the legislators and voice of the people, since we came in a number of ordinances recently were based on public requests. This is the best listening council in history of this council,” Pone said.
Kenny agreed with his running mate, saying that before they came in the Council would meet behind closed doors frequently.
“We do everything in public. The job of a councilman is to first and foremost oversee the budget. Our record on budgeting and property taxes will beat any other in NJ,” Kenny said.
“Council is the eyes and ears of the people. Mr. Pone you are wrong; you ignored the Bromley when they came in an asked for a needs assessment. But you went ahead and allowed the CYO to be placed in there,” McCoy said.
Melker said it is the legislative arm of the government, and its job is to develop the budget.
“Obviously what makes me able to this job is that I’m a banker; day in and day out I look at financial statements. I deal with the small business community and know how to listen to the needs and wants,” Melker said.
Gore agreed with the Republicans, saying they are there to oversee the budget.
“I’m the council president and anyone who comes before us we are very nice and listen to people. Don’t confuse the political process with not being listened to,” Gore said.
Santo said they could have asked the former mayor to step down to show the township where they stood on the issue even if they didn’t carry weight.
“Don’t tell us you listen to residents when you don’t,” Santo said.
The evening was capped off by an informal meet and greet with refreshments. But before the church was cleared, a 92-year-old church member had some words for the candidates.
“Hamilton has gone a long way since I have lived here. The 90 seconds won’t cover all my needs; I haven’t seen some of you since the last time you spoke in an election,” she said.