Four plus a write-in seek two open seats on committee
Oct, 28-2009 3:53 pm
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Four candidates will be on the ballot for two open seats on the local governing body Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3.
A lone write-in candidate is also running.
Democrat candidates Harvey Kesselman and Mehri McLaughlin and Republican candidates Charles Cain and Richard DeFeo will be vying for the open seats.
The seats are for three-year terms, and depending on election results, a change in political majority may occur.
Currently there is a 4-1 GOP majority.
The Republicans that currently sit on the five-member panel are Mayor Nelson Gaskill, Deputy Mayor Roger Silva, and committee members Amy Gatto and Charles Pritchard. The lone Democrat on the five-member panel is Tom Palmentieri.
Originally, Pritchard was going to seek re-election after winning last June’s primary election. However, bowed out and was replaced on the ballot by DeFeo.
In addition, Gaskill, who lost in the primary, has decided to run a write-in campaign.
DeFeo, 65, has been a resident of the municipality since 1989. Prior to that he lived Williamstown and grew up in Vineland.
DeFeo graduated with a GED from Clayton High School and earned an associate's degree from Gloucester County College.
He is a business owner, serving as the president of Decks Plus. He is founder and president of Buddy Ball League, honorary commander at McGuire Air Force Base.
DeFeo has been married for 26 years to his wife, Karen. The couple has four grown children, with one of his sons coming from a previous marriage.
McLaughlin, 34, has been a resident of the municipality for three years.
She has been married for six years to her husband, Chris, who is serving in the United States Coast Guard. They have no children, but are planning to have children in the future.
She has served as a personnel analyst for the city and county of San Francisco, a case worker in the state Senate office in Michigan, a human resource directorate for the U.S. Coast Guard, and a recruiter and staffing specialist at Trump Casinos in Atlantic City.
She possesses a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Southern California.
Cain, 46, is a lifelong resident of the municipality and a graduate of Oakcrest High School.
He previously ran unsuccessfully for Township Committee in 2004.
Cain has been married for 19 years to Anne Marie. They have two children.
Cain has been involved with Unity Lodge 96 of Mays Landing, Finance Counsel for Saint Vincent de Paul Church, and Egg Harbor Township Kiwanis Club.
He is the owner of the Auto Plaza at English Creek in Egg Harbor Township.
Kesselman, 58, has been a resident of the township for more than 30 years.
He has been married for 26 years to his wife, Lynne. They have two children.
Kesselman currently serves as the dean of the School of Education at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
He is the co-chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee at the college. Kesselman is also the executive committee member of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Kesselman possesses a bachelor's degree from Stockton College, a master's degree from Rowan University and a doctoral degree from Widener University.
He is also a graduate of Harvard University's Management and Leadership in Education Institute.
Kesselman possesses certificates from he Balanced Scorecard Strategic Planning Institute in Washington, D.C., Rutgers University N.J. Certified Public Supervisor Program, the IBM Business Systems Planning Institute, and the N.J. Public Advocate Mediation and Conciliation Program.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
District 1 – Mays Landing Fire House, Mill St. and Reliance Ave.
District 2 – Laureldale Social Hall, Route 50 and Orange St.
District 3 – Mizpah Fire House, DeHirsch and Sewell avenues, Mizpah
District 4 – Woodlands Club House, Woodlands Drive
District 5 – Atlantic County Office Building, Old Harding Highway
District 6 – Weymouth Fire House, Black Horse Pike, Weymouth
District 7 – Hess School Auditorium, Babcock Road
District 8 – Presbyterian Church, Main St. and Route 50
District 9 – Cologne Fire House, Cologne Ave.
District 10 – Victoria Crossing Club House, Victoria Drive
District 11 – Oakcrest High School, 1824 Dr. Dennis Foreman Drive
District 12 – Mays Landing Rescue Squad, 1404 Route 50
