COURT HOUSE — How to stimulate jobs, what to do with the Beesley’s Point bridge, and how the county manages itself and its services were topics of debate Monday evening in an event featuring freeholder candidates sponsored by the Cape May County League of Women Voters.

Republican incumbents Gerald Thornton and Ralph Bakley, Sr. faced off against Democratic challengers Robert Jackson and Steve Bacher at the Old Courthouse building in the heart of Cape May County here, answering questions posed from an audience of about 85, with a moderator from the Camden County League of Women Voters keeping the discussion in line.

The tenor of the debate was civil. Thornton even commended his challengers for sticking to the issues this electoral season, before asking voters to return him and his running mate to their seats on the freeholder board.

There were differing views on issues, nevertheless.

A questioner asked what was the most pressing problem of county government and how each candidate would take the lead in solving it.

“I think the most pressing need in the next two years are our roads and our bridges,” said Bakley. “They indeed are going to be a costly item. It’s a big step, it has to be done, we need help desperately.”

Jackson emphasized long term planning.

“We need to have longer, concrete plans for dealing with our structures not only for our roads but for our libraries. We’re dealing with things on too short a term which costs us more money. … I think our roads and our bridges which are some of our evacuation routes are critical.”

“I think I agree with what these individuals have stated,” said Thornton. “The county has been planning for years, so that we can control growth and protect the environment,” he said.

Thornton’s concern, however, is the unprecedented growth in the elderly population with baby boomers retiring. More than 25 percent of county residents are senior citizens, he said.

“It’s the fastest growing segment of our county and will be a challenge to us. We’ve been planning now for two years to address that issue and address the needs.”

Bacher said better government across the board was needed.

“We need people looking at long term planning. Things don’t happen in two years with an organization this big. But what does happen over time is you ignore the libraries on the barrier islands and all of a sudden they’re threatening to pull out and take their tax dollars with them unless you build them a palace; and that’s what’s happening in Stone Harbor.”

Bakley, who oversees the county library system on the freeholder board, jumped in.
“You all are under the misconception that these libraries are going to belong to that municipality,” he said. “It’s municipality ground but there are Cape May County libraries and they are our libraries and our libraries to stay. And wherever you’ve heard that innuendo that they are going to pull out of the library system, I’ve never heard that before Mr. Bacher and Mr. Jackson.”

Bacher responded as well.

“At a recent freeholder meeting I asked Mr. Bakley what the timeline was for the roughly one-half million dollars in repairs that the county’s own consultant said are needed for the Upper Township, Lower Township and Wildwood Crest branch, and he said there’s no time line and we have no priorities among them; he said the first priority is to build a new branch in Stone Harbor and that’s what I have a problem with.”

Thornton jumped in and responded that when Avalon pulled out of the county library system, it was the Avalon school system that was pressuring them with the thought the elementary school would support the new library there.

The Beesley’s Point Bridge, the privately owned bridge that connects Upper Township to Somers Point and has been sitting idle for years due to unsafe conditions and neglect, was the subject of a question from the audience.

“I support the plan that Jeff Van Drew and four of the five current freeholders are working on which is for the county to take the bridge by eminent domain,” said Bacher, “because private owners have failed to maintain it.”

He added the county should manage the bridge once the state pays to repair it.

“I totally agree that that bridge just sitting there idle in case of an emergency for public safety should be open,” said Bakley.

“That bridge represents a true eminent domain issue,” said Bob Jackson. “That bridge should have been forced to remain open by whatever means necessary,” he said.

“I’m the one out of the five who have had questions about that bridge,” said Thornton. “That bridge sits on a state river; it’s a privately owned bridge. The state of New Jersey Department of Transportation says it’s going to be $20 million to refurbish that bridge -- my personal opinion is it will be $50 million. … I want to be assured from the state that before we take over a private bridge and invest $8 million that someone’s going to be responsible.”

“I’m not opposed to that bridge opening,” he added. “I’m in favor of it. It gives an evacuation route.”
Jackson responded.

“The real issue is there needs to be a two-fold approach to that bridge. One, it needs to be maintained however to stay open; but, there also needs to be a comprehensive plan of what’s the next step. It shouldn’t be just dump millions and millions and millions year after year after year into a bridge that’s unstable.”

Ideas for stimulating the county economy and creating jobs surfaced in responses to a question.
Thornton referenced the county’s economy as solidly based in tourism, and fishing, with the fifth largest port on the east coast and 14th in the nation as far as generating revenue from fishing.
Bacher said he believed the county should treat its employees better, while attracting light industry to the area by providing tax incentives for companies to move here.

Bakley referenced the budget cap and the constraints involved in keeping employee costs down, while pointing out that an unskilled worker in the county can realize over $40,000 a year in salary and benefits including health care, and pension.

Jackson said having benefits for county employees was good, but that low salaries hurt families; the cost of living has gone up dramatically in 20 years.

“You can’t take home and eat health benefits,” he said.

Thornton highlighted an outstanding benefits package for county employees, and that surplus at the Crest Haven Nursing Home was plowed back into improvements at the facility that benefited the residents of the county.

Bacher said earning a small salary, no matter what the benefits, was not good enough.

“People who’ve been here generations, the next generation is moving out because they can’t afford to live here,” he said.

Contact Avedissian at (609) 886-8600 Ext 27 or at: savedissian@cmcherald.com.