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Date Posted: 02:36:16 12/17/03 Wed
Author: Rock Hard not Mayor
Subject: Re: why the Thomas Joesph Avallone the third is NEAT
In reply to: mad gonz 's message, "Re: why the rock hard killer is ILLmatic" on 02:32:01 12/17/03 Wed

ahhh the courier post, such great good guys



Filmmaker, 20, challenges for mayor


By DANIEL WALSH
Courier-Post Staff
HADDON HEIGHTS

Tommy Avallone's stolen the headlines thus far, but the Haddon Heights mayor's race has a few more experienced candidates, too.

Republican Mayor Susan Griffith and former Democratic councilman Bill Kenney will face off with the 20-year-old filmmaker for a four-year term as mayor.

Avallone, a part-time video store clerk and community college student, has found himself making national news with his quirky run. He's had a song by "Tommy and the Politicians" on local radio, appeared on CNN, created his own commercials and generally turned himself into the "free media king."

Griffith, 48, says she's running on her record after two and a half years as mayor and two previous years on council.

In particular, Griffith notes municipal taxes have risen only 1 percent over the last four years, all under Republican leadership. Also, she points out Haddon Heights has pulled in $1.6 million in state grants over roughly the same period of time. Much of that money has gone to improving the downtown streetscape.

Currently, she is helping to lead the way on a merger of the Haddon Heights and Barrington fire companies and backs a proposed benefits program for volunteer firefighters and EMTS.

"We have a lot of projects going on," Griffith said.

"I have a proven record," she added.

Kenney, 50, is an attorney and president of the Haddon Heights Business Association. He faced off against Griffith two years ago for the right to complete an unexpired mayoral term.

Kenney is running again because he thinks the borough's governmental management has been "haphazard." In particular, he criticizes recent raises given to town employees -- three of them in 18 months. Griffith says they earned it and had been underpaid.

Kenney also says taxes are too high. He doesn't criticize the current mayor and council on this point but says they're the ones who have to do something about it.

"Taxes are too high," Kenney said. "People just can't bear this burden. No one else can cut taxes … state, school board. So we have to."

Avallone, the third candidate, who is running as an independent, has been the most publicized of the trio.

His platform consists of creating a social venue for young people in town … either a skate park, concert venue, or something similar … and ending the practice of police ticketing cars parked on streets in front of homes after midnight.

His campaign has brought visibility to the race, something Kenney appreciates, even if he thinks Avallone's campaign began as something lighthearted. Kenney won his first election at age 23, serving on Gloucester City's school board.

"Nothing but good can come out of it," Kenney said. "He's got more people paying attention to it."

Some older people have criticized Avallone's campaign, and he admits he hasn't really targeted them.

"I haven't really talked to older people yet," Avallone said. "I've only had a chance to talk to the younger kids by now.

"I genuinely want them to look past my age and see if I can do a good job."

Two council seats are also up grabs. Republican Kimberly Stuart Kluchnik and Beth Ann Haven are competing with Democrats Trish Shields and John Schmidt for two three- year seats.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] A key Democratic campaign issue is to reduce the cost of government by sharing services, such as consolidating municipal court with several nearby towns.

The Republicans point to their record of keeping the municipal tax rate stable while providing quality services.

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