Formica, Devlin face off for District 2 freeholder seat
Oct, 20-2009 3:32 pm
By SHAUN SMITH
Staff Writer
Republican Frank Formica and Democrat John Devlin and are seeking the District 2 Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders seat being vacated by longtime Republican Freeholder Thomas Russo, who has held it since he was first elected in November 1991.
The 2nd District encompasses Wards 5 and 6 in Atlantic City, District 1 of Egg Harbor Township, and the municipalities of Ventnor, Margate, Longport and Somers Point.
The candidates were asked how they felt their experience would serve them as a freeholder, what the most important issue is facing the county, their thoughts on shared services, what the county could do to combat rising tuition costs for Atlantic City High School sending districts, and how Atlantic County could move away from being economically dependent on the casino and tourism industries.
John Devlin
Democrat
John Devlin, 35, lives in Atlantic City with his wife, Jessica, and their children, who attend Holy Family Regional School in Ventnor.
He is an Atlantic City police officer and began his career with the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 19, starting as a radio operator in field artillery and being honorably discharged from the Reserves as a corporal in 2000. He joined Teamsters Union Local 331 and set up trade shows and conventions in Atlantic City.
Devlin joined the Atlantic City Police Department in 2002 and has served as a patrolman, bicycle officer and SWAT officer. He was twice elected as an alternate delegate of Police Benevolent Association Local 24.
He has served on the Atlantic City Board of Education since 2004, and belongs to the Chelsea Neighborhood Association and the Hispanic Alliance.
“I think getting involved with Board of Education was a great experience to learn the ins and outs of budgets,” Devlin said. “I’ve pretty much been a public servant since a young age.”
Devlin said the overlying issue in the county is property taxes and suggested an operational budget to show where money can be saved on the workforce.
“Communication is key. I think it’s been lost over the years between county and municipalities,” Devlin said. “A lot of people don’t even understand what a freeholder does. That’s terrible, and that’s not doing any justice to the taxpayers with no communication and no transparency.”
Devlin said sharing services is good so long as it is on a voluntary basis.
“The goal of county government isn’t to control municipalities, but to assist them. I think if it’s going to save money and consolidate resources, it’s a good direction.”
He said the county should have spoken to Ventnor City Commissioners before approving work that will close the Dorset Avenue Bridge.
“Ventnor has to approve $500,000 to $700,000 in overtime by moving around the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works. It’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a public safety disaster and it’s not good communication between municipalities and the county.”
He said the tuition increase negatively affected the sending districts.
“I’m still working with the state commissioner of education and looking for ways to change the formula in a different way for us and offer some reimbursement for us, but that’s still in baby stages.”
He said consolidation of districts is good because the biggest part of a school budget is salary and wages.
“When I came to the district, we had four assistant superintendents making over $100,000 a year; now we have two. My opponent is going to criticize my accomplishments as a school board member, but I’m proud that I was able to come out against the Calloways.”
Devlin said the county could be less dependent on the casino and tourism industries and focus more on attracting businesses and conventions.
“We rely way too much on casino industry. If you go back in history, we were successful in Atlantic City with service convention and businesses.”
“We lost large conventions coming to Atlantic City, we lost the Miss America pageant,” he said. “It put Atlantic City on the map and the county with it.”
He said that if Atlantic City fails, Atlantic County is going to fail.
“We have to protect our assets,” Devlin said.
“We need to keep business here, and we’re failing on that end. We have to make Atlantic County more user-friendly across the board.”
Frank Formica
Republican
Frank Formica, 57, lives in Margate with his wife, Ruth, and their children Donna, Rachel, Marie and Frank. He owns and operates Formica Bros. Bakery in Atlantic City and Northfield and is a co-owner of Baker Boys in Pleasantville.
After graduating from Holy Spirit High School, Formica served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1974. He purchased the Venice Italian Bakery in Atlantic City, working with his father until 1979 when he joined Resorts International Hotel Casino as executive administrator. In 1987 he purchased Formica Bros. Bakery from his father and uncles. He has managed commercial and residential real estate for over 30 years and founded the Ducktown Revitalization Association in 1991, currently serving as president.
He has been a member of the Greater Atlantic County Economic Development Commission, a board member of Dante Hall Theatre of the Arts, and a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1985. In 2008, he received the World of Difference award from the Chelsea Neighborhood Association. He is a member of St. Michael’s Church.
Formica he has built up a lifetime of relationships with respected people in the community who will offer assistance when necessary and help drive economic development in the county.
“The first thing I will tell you is Atlantic County is the best-run county in the state, or even the country,” he said.
“I know the budget side of things. I know what it takes to make difficult decisions in difficult times.”
He said knows how to dig into a budget, look a payroll and negotiate spending of county tax dollars.
“Regardless of what it is, you’ve got to look at contracts next year. I’ll do what it takes to get the best value for the best product,” Formica said.
He said the number one issue facing the county is loss of jobs.
“The national economy trickles down, and we’ve had a horribly run state for the last eight years that hasn’t given the best support of the casino industry,” he said.
“We need to develop jobs in other areas to offset the slings and arrows of the casino industry,” Formica said.
Shared services are a good idea where it is practical and possible, he said, but can’t be forced on municipalities.
He said there wasn’t much the Board of Chosen Freeholders could do about the tuition hike for sending districts.
“My opponent could have voted no and the budget wouldn’t have passed and they would have gone back and done their due diligence,” Formica said. “How do you believe a guy who won’t look at his own budget, let alone a county budget?”
He said if the county is to become less dependent on the casino and tourism industries, a manufacturing industry must be developed.
“There are no solar panel manufacturing plants near this part of the country. We have the natural resources to do it. We have the best water in the United States and the silica sand that has been used for making glass in the area for over 200 years.”
He said the county is among the greenest in the country with open space, wind energy and biofueled cars, and the NextGen Aviation Research and Technology Park will bring more green jobs to the area.
