Meet the Candidates: Scott Lunn

On Nov. 8, Cinnaminson residents will vote for two open seats on township committee. There are five candidates vying for the spots. They are Republican incumbents Anthony V. Minniti and William B. "Ben" Young, Cinndependence Independents Steve Fowles and Ken Gertie and Independent Scott Lunn.

Cinnaminson Patch sent each candidate a list of questions to answer themselves and each day this week, we will provide those answers to you. The schedule of biographies is in alphabetical order, regardless of party affiliation or running mates. The schedule is as follows:

Oct. 3 — Fowles
Oct. 4 — Gertie
Oct. 5 — Lunn
Oct. 6 — Minniti
Oct. 7 — Young 

Each candidate submitted answers by the same due date so as to remain completely fair. So, no candidate will have seen another candidate's answers before submitting their own. Answers were edited for style, clarity and in some cases, down to the required word count.

Patch users must read our terms of service found here before commenting on this and any story. Comments will be deleted if they violate our terms of service—that includes a person's right to privacy, masked profanity, harassment, misleading information and more. 

Remember, candidates are not required to answer questions asked of Patch users. Further questions and comments must be directed to Editor Christina Paciolla at christina.paciolla@patch.com.

Third, we have Scott Lunn, who organizes the yearly and served as Barrington mayor from 1999-2001.  

Name: Scott Aaron Lunn

Age: 48

Political Party: Independent 

Years of residency in Cinnaminson: 10+ years 

Job: Third grade math and science teacher, Leap Academy Charter School, Camden

Education: Bachelor's in history—Rutgers University; Bachelor's in education—Richard Stockon College

Family: Married to Karyn; Currently in the process of adopting 

Volunteer Experience: Organized and presented 9/11 recognition ceremony for several years; Volunteered at St. Charles Borromeo Carnival, June 2011; Organized and presented Cinnaminson’s 150th Birthday Celebration Art Show at Cinnaminson High School, 2010; Created and endowed the Scott A. Lunn Peace Award, Cinnaminson High School, for student leaders who empower others, 2008 - present; Friend of Cinnaminson Library (current); Friend of Asbury United Methodist Church (current); Ambassador, Rutgers University Alumni Association (current); Member, Rotary Club of Cinnaminson (current)

Have you ever held a public elected office? If yes, please name the governing body and years of service. Independent Mayor, Borough of Barrington, 1999-2001; Councilman, Borough of Barrington, 1992-1999

Why are you running for Cinnaminson Township Committee? I believe in giving back to the community I live in and in servant leadership. My family raised me with strong values and respect for others. I feel it’s my duty to my community to serve it in the best way.

Cinnaminson is a great place to live, but it can be better. Currently, not everyone is being heard and the community is becoming divided. In challenging times like these, we need to use our best resources, which are the people, to solve problems. It troubles me when citizens are called liars at a public meeting or when a committee member tells a citizen to be quiet and sit down at a public meeting. I feel some of the people who have served the longest are becoming arrogant and are treating people like cattle instead of like family members. We need to bring civility back to the open exchange of ideas and to realize that we are role models to our children; children live what they learn.

I have the experience to help balance spending and revenue and keep taxes in line. I have the experience to help develop the Route 130 corridor, resolve safety issues, investigate the problems of businesses, and take steps to remedy those problems and limit political patronage.

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as a member of the Cinnaminson Township Committee? I have a great deal of experience in local government. As an Independent mayor, I forged a bridge across party lines to maintain commitments, breed fairness, patience and respect to all those concerned. I helped develop Barrington’s downtown business district, solved safety issues with traffic lights, speed bumps and signs, conducted a business summit to discuss community problems and took steps to remedy those problems. I kept taxes lower through sensible spending and good business practices. I investigated and implemented shared services and won an award for those efforts. I will do the same for Cinnaminson.

What are the three biggest issues facing Cinnaminson right now? How do you feel these issues should be addressed by Township Committee? The three biggest issues facing Cinnaminson are taxes, economic development and political patronage.

Property taxes have climbed 70 percent in 11 years. In some cases, Cinnaminson’s property taxes have increased 100 percent in 10 years. We need to attract high quality businesses to Cinnaminson as well as rein in spending in order to help curb property taxes.

Cinnaminson needs to develop a master business plan and stick to it to research and attract appropriate businesses. We need to hire professional assistance to help us re-evaluate some of our practices in order to attract such businesses and obtain grants. Cinnaminson has attractive commercial properties, but some current ordinances are not business-friendly and can negatively impact how businesses use that property. We need to re-evaluate some of those ordinances, without detracting from Cinnaminson’s ambiance and family character.

The current committee has reduced spending in some cases, yet I feel they spend more on political patronage positions. Cinnaminson should re-examine the administrative structure and re-evaluate entities such as the sewer authority. Cinnaminson should also re-evaluate appointments to ensure that we are being served as cost-effectively as possible while keeping the town safe.  

Economic development is a big issue in Cinnaminson. How do you think the Rt. 130 corridor can be improved? A cohesive business plan will attract high quality, long-term new businesses to the Rt. 130 corridor and implement the vision of the community. A summit of business representatives and citizens can determine what the town needs to succeed, utilizing Cinnaminson’s brain trust. I will hire an independent part-time consultant and grant writer to research potential businesses that fit our business plan and to get the most funding possible. Then, attract these businesses to Cinnaminson with our outstanding attributes, not through tax breaks (PILOTs) we can’t afford. We must re-evaluate ordinances to make the Rt. 130 area more business-friendly.

What do you feel is Cinnaminson's biggest asset at this time? How would you exploit that asset to the township's benefit? Cinnaminson has a strong infrastructure, strong history, culture, offers diversity and a great location. But Cinnaminson’s biggest asset is its residents who arduously work to support their families, volunteer in our extracurricular activities and exemplify family values and the importance of education. Our residents have great ideas that should be heard, evaluated and acted upon. Cinnaminson has room to grow and excel, we have to put the right people in place to help this happen. 

How do you plan to balance spending and revenue in tough economic times? I will negotiate better contracts with vendors that are supposed to serve our community, examine the current administrative structure to maximize taxpayer monies and reduce excessive, unnecessary expenditures to control spending and enhance municipal services. 

As noted above, I will use various methods to locate and attract high quality, long-term businesses to the town. I will conduct appropriate due diligence and get bonds from potential businesses to ensure that they are legitimate, look at commercial ordinances to make the Rt. 130 corridor more business friendly while maintaining the town’s ambiance, and be more consistent and fair in the application of our codes. I will investigate every opportunity for shared services within Cinnaminson as well as with neighboring towns.

Finally, I will work ethically, effectively and cooperatively with committee, outside resources and neighboring towns. I will set up a task force to investigate state-of-the-art methods which are currently being used in other states and New Jersey. I will improve training of all employees through further education so they are able to deliver the best service possible to residents and make them feel empowered as valued members of a team. Employees who contribute to solutions to problems and save tax dollars would be rewarded through incentives. Safety, permanence, well-being of employees and education will reduce costs and maintain positive morale. Open lines of dialogue with Cinnaminson’s schools will be standard and can identify areas of cooperative services and cost savings. All expenditures by any department will be carefully scrutinized.  

Do you feel the current committee is effective? How so or why not? Where do you think the governing body could improve? I believe the current committee as a group is ineffective because they promise plenty but deliver little. They are inefficient managers rather than effective leaders. They have mortgaged our future by making deals that look good at election time but which burden the taxpayer long past the next five elections. The committee procrastinates on issues until election time and then moves quickly to make themselves look good, but instead we need to investigate issues ahead of time to maximize opportunities. The committee fails to utilize its greatest asset, the town’s citizens, and instead views and treats citizens as annoyances or worse.

We have fewer policemen and public works employees than any time in the last seven years. However, we have a sewer authority board hand-picked by the committee and a newly appointed director of public safety with a high salary instead of a respected policeman hired from within, who is familiar with our town and its needs. 

There’s no accountability or transparency; for accessibility you can talk to voicemail. There’s no personal service, which is important for the success of the community. The current committee doesn’t empower its workers. I feel morale among its employees is at an all-time low. Some of them have great ideas to better serve the community, but they aren’t given an opportunity to be heard and provide better service. I feel the current committee appoints and hires individuals they can control.

There’s an attitude of same old—same old business as usual we know best, with political and special and private interests placed ahead of the interests of the citizens. They believe it’s their way, or you can hit the highway. Committee members don’t welcome a fair exchange of ideas or dissent. I feel the present committee is very judgmental and does not keep citizens actively engaged. Citizens lose interest fast when they learn the political culture in Cinnaminson. Cinnaminson deserves better. We need to back people, not political agendas.

Your Call—A final response to the people of Cinnaminson: All community members should be heard. We need creative solutions to rising property taxes, reduced state relief and to attract new business. We must support long-term local businesses; protect services for families and seniors, not perks for politicians; eradicate unnecessary taxpayer-funded pensions; keep Cinnaminson affordable; investigate every avenue for saving money. Cinnaminson needs to value the contributions of its citizens, its businesses, and its employees. A responsive, proactive government should work for citizens, not political parties. We must keep our promises, be honest and realize that we are role models to our children. We should act as such.