Politics & Government

Freeholder Candidates Forum to Be Held Here

The forum, which looks like it will only feature Republican candidates, will be held at the township library May 31.

Conservative political activism group South Jersey Citizens (SJC) and the Camden County League of Women Voters will host a freeholder candidates forum at Gloucester Township Blackwood Rotary Public Library on May 31.

SJC (formerly known as South Jersey Citizens United) extended invitations to participate in the forum to all eight candidates in the June 7 Democratic and Republican primaries, but no Democrats have accepted, SJC Executive Director Tom Crone said.

SJC has received firm commitments to attend the forum from Republicans Eugene E.T. Lawrence—the former Democratic Gloucester Township councilman—Helen Hart-Magobet and Fernando Powers, Crone said.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Josh Rocks, of Haddon Township, has given a "soft yes," according to Crone.

All four Republicans are seeking two spots on the November ballot in the June 7 primary.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Democratic freeholder primary features incumbents Louis Cappelli Jr. and Scot McCray and challengers Amy LaConte-Smith and Thomas J. Stearns Jr., both of Gloucester Township.

Crone, SJC and the League of Women Voters had hoped to open the floor to all eight candidates at the May 31 forum.

It appears at the moment as if their hopes have been dashed.

"No wonder people don't bother voting; the candidates won't make the effort to be available to the public," Crone said. "This is a great opportunity for the people to meet and ask questions of those who are asking to represent them. It speaks volumes about character to be a phantom during the campaign. It is a harbinger of things to come."

SJC earlier this month opted to change its name after its leadership learned an ultra-conservative group also used the "Citizens United" moniker.

"This is a national group that is hyper-partisan and has no agenda for the people. They are about twisting the truth and making a political statement only,” Crone said in a statement. “We are about educating the public about local government and effecting reforms on the local level. We are fiscal conservatives but not partisan. This other group gives conservatives a bad name."


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