The General Election is Tuesday: How Are You Voting?
Photo by Howell Happenings / Facebook.
So, the general election has finally caught up to us and is officially this Tuesday. This time is incredibly crucial, and each individual that has the right to vote in this country should take it seriously and should be as educated as they can be on the names that will appear on their voting booth this Tuesday, November 5th. Though it could be interesting and provocative for Think Howell Of to endorse and/or give opinion on our presidential candidates, doing so would be superfluous and would stray from the heart of our content. This magazine is dedicated to Howell politics — and shall remain that way.
A lot has happened in Howell this election cycle. We received a new Democratic candidate, we have a Republican who is running unaffiliated with his own party, we have a popular Independent candidate, and we have had a lot of interesting Facebook posts (most of which could give the untrained eye a political headache).
In order to stick to the original motive of this magazine, which was to create a fair and bipartisan outlet dedicated to our town’s politics and lifestyle, Think Howell Of will be dedicating this article to each candidate and their cause. No Facebook politics involved.
Mayoral Candidates
John Leggio (R): John Leggio is a born-and-bred citizen of Howell. Since he moved here in 1986, Leggio has graduated from Howell High School, has run a landscaping business in town, has served on the Howell Planning Board, and now, has thrown his hat in the ring to be our mayor. John Leggio’s run for mayor has been an incredibly interesting one. Though a habitual Republican, Leggio decided at the crackling beginning of his campaign to be the ‘No Strings Attached’ candidate, refusing to associate with the current Republican committee in town. Leggio has described himself as a “straight talker,” opting for a more casual and unconventional approach to being a local politician, which has received both praise and critique. Leggio has spoken forthrightly about the problems in Howell, such as overdevelopment, being a result of the control that the current Republican party in Howell has had over our town. With his dedication to “community over party,” Leggio vows to work for the citizens of Howell first and foremost. His approach to this method has been both successful and controversial. Leggio, due to his hard stance on the Howell Republican Party, has set a divide between himself and the people he may potentially have to work with if granted the role as mayor. This sets up some concern as to whether or not he will be successful at breaking the tension that his campaign has caused between him and others in the Howell government once mayor. Despite this, John Leggio is dedicated to the betterment of Howell and to the people that live here.
John Hughes (D): John Hughes moved to Howell seven years ago and praises its community and landscape. Now, he is looking to preserve it and protect it from the threat of overdevelopment which he claims destroyed the town he onced lived in, Egg Harbor Township. Hughes is an experienced lawyer who investigates fraud, waste, and corruption for the government and for private sectors. He plans to bring this experience into his possible role as mayor, advocating for the re-introduction of Howell’s Ethics Board that was disbanded in 2003. Hughes also speaks out against the corruption that has been happening in Howell under the Republican party. Hughes has used the ongoing social media wars between the Howell GOP and John Leggio to promote his candidacy as a way of moving forward, promising to bring fresh ideas and perspective to Howell. Other than the Ethics Board, Hughes’ most talked about policy proposal is allowing farmers in Howell to grow and distribute marijuana in effort to win back the money they lose from property taxes, as well as to make more money in general. He has very clear visions for Howell, and his experience as a lawyer against corruption seems fitting as a possible solvent to the deceit that has been alleged to be happening in Howell politics. Overall, Hughes is dedicated to moving Howell forward and to bringing new ideas and new ethics to the table.
Council Candidates
Evelyn O’Donnell (R): Evelyn O’Donnell is the only incumbent candidate in this election. O’Donnell grew up in Howell, living on a farm as a child and then continuing to stay here to have a family and raise her children. O’Donnell has served the community in many ways: being PTA president when her children were in grammar school, serving on the Board of Education, being a member of both the Howell Planning Board and Zoning Board, and finally, being a Howell councilwoman. As councilwoman, Evelyn O’Donnell has spearheaded the historical preservation of the Mackenzie House Museum and Library as well as the Ardena Schoolhouse. She also prides herself on the continuous effort she makes for veterans, which include the current attempt to save a certain percentage of homes in new developments for veterans, giving them first choice on homes. Despite this, O’Donnell has had her name tied mostly to the alleged corruption that exists within Howell’s GOP party. She has been criticized by almost every other candidate as a party player and has had her fair share of accusations thrown at her. Overall, she is the most experienced candidate running and her extensive resume (although controversial) attests to that.
Rebecca Scott (D): Rebecca Scott has been a Howell citizen for eight years. As a Democrat, Scott is running directly partnered with John Hughes, unlike Republican candidates John Leggio and Evelyn O’Donnell. The most important policy to Scott is Howell’s affordable housing, a personal cause for her. Scott currently lives in the affordable homes on Fairfield Road, and expressed during the candidate debate that she would not be able to live in Howell if it weren’t for affordable housing, despite having two incomes between her and her husband. Scott advocates not just for a change in the stigma around affordable housing, but for builder’s concessions, implementing more opportunities for people that want to be a part of our community but cannot afford to. She has acknowledged various times her lack of experience amongst the other candidates, but has always followed up with her commitment to learning and growing within the position if granted councilwoman. Like Hughes, Scott wants new ideas for Howell and to make a difference in our town.
Betty-Velez Gimbel (I): Betty Velez-Gimbel is the owner of Squankum-Brook farm as well as a school counselor and educator. She is most well known for spearheading the campaign against the warehouse proposal on Victory Road, the inspiring effort in which Gimbel rallied neighbors and friends to oppose a warehouse that would have been placed on her road. Doing so ultimately led her being inspired to run for council and to continue opposing warehouses in Howell. Though being a lifelong Republican, Gimbel is running as an Independent in an effort to put the focus on Howell and not on our parties. As a candidate, she also advocates for farm friendly ordinances, such as allowing farms to host events like weddings and parties. Gimbel, like most of the other candidates, has also called out the alleged corruption among the Republican party in town and has publicly opposed Evelyn O’Donnell. With her experience as a dedicated citizen, Gimbel contends to maintain that same vigor and effort to keep Howell land as preserved as possible.
The general election is this Tuesday, November 5th, and if Think Howell Of can advocate for anything, it would be to take this local election as serious as you do our presidential.
