Zack’s answers to Village Greene Civic Association candidate questions:

 

VILLAGE GREENE 2020 CAPE MAY CITY CANDIDATE INFORMATION FORM

 

Name: Zack Mullock  Running for: Mayor

 

CANDIDATE’S PERSONAL INTRODUCTION AND ELECTION PLATFORM:

 

As a person with businesses here in Cape May, and as a father raising my family here I care deeply about the future of Cape May.  I have a Masters in Business Administration and currently serve as a Councilmember. Right now Cape May is going in the wrong direction. Mr. Lear supported and is supporting Redevelopment Zones in Cape May, a legal mechanism that would give tax breaks to developers and allow for changes in zoning for special interests. As a developer myself, I know developers should pay for their own projects not the taxpayers of Cape May. Our taxes & fees have gone up each of the last four years. Our current projects have gone no where. We need our leadership to bring people together and get projects done! We need to bring fiscal responsibility back to City Hall. We need to focus on our future supporting our tourism and our residents, we need to focus on flood mitigation and make sure our City is protected well into the future.  

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PLEASE STATE WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES THAT YOU WISH TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR TERM IN OFFICE:

 

Objective Number ONE: 

Finishing all of the current projects that are bleeding taxpayer’s money.  While this is not the flashy or best sounding objective, it is the most important.  For four years City Hall has leaked, instead of fixing the issue the Lear Administration has purchased shower curtains leading into trash cans.  Lafayette St Park was supposed to be covered completely by grants, after 4 years of fumbling around the park looks worse than before and will cost taxpayers $3 Million+.  Soldiers and Sailors Park was supposed to cost taxpayers $0, now will cost $1 Million+, even the Library hasn’t gone anywhere since we approved the bond.  We cannot do new projects until we stop the bleeding of the current projects.

 

Objective Number TWO: 

Fiscal Responsibility. We have to get Cape May’s budget back on track.  Currently we are $5.5 Million short of our budgeted amount in the Current Fund.  The Tourism Utility is $1.1 Million short.  Those amounts will not be made up for before January 1, which means using our surplus and increasing taxes.  The City makes 0% on it’s investments, that is unacceptable, neighboring municipalities make much more, just 1.5% interest on are investments would be enough to cover a $6.5 Million bond (or a new Fire Station).  Under the Mullock Administration 0% interest on our investments will end.

 

Objective Number THREE: 

Protection of our City & leading us into the future.  As I did with the Harriet Tubman Museum I will bring the Community together in support of our Community projects.  I will bring the community together to build a new fire station on time & on budget.  Our own City Engineer estimates we need over $29 Million in repairs and upgrades to our Water System over the next 10 years.  Over the last 4 years we have done NO flood mitigation projects, and we have done almost zero road work.  This is putting our City at risk and pushing major expenses down the road.  We cannot afford another four years of higher taxes and fees each year, while our projects go stagnant and important upgrades are not done. 

 

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING 2020 CAPE MAY CITY BALLOT CHOICES WOULD YOU SELECT? 

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PLEASE BRIEFLY STATE THE REASONS FOR YOUR SELECTION: (select one option.)

 

Covid-19 hasn’t just changed the economy it has changed how we as a society function.  Universities, schools, Assisted Living Facilities, hospitals, etc. are all looking for ways to separate people.  Putting all of our First Responders in one location would be a mistake.   If you don’t believe me listen to the Former Chairman of the Public Safety Building Committee & Former Mayor, Jerry Gaffney, who said the building wouldn’t fit on that location.  Former Vice Chair of the Public Safety Building Committee and Former 25 year Volunteer Fire Chief agreed.  Some say, an elephant is a horse designed by committee.  That’s exactly what happened here.  This project started 3 years ago as a $4.7 Million estimated Fire Station, then it became a Public Safety Building estimated at $10 Million.  Then Professional estimates estimated the building they designed at over $21 Million.  You have to look at the projects this Administration has done on over the last 4 years, it has been a disaster.  To add a $21 Million building to their current mess would be a major mistake.  I fully support Ordinance 402.  As Mayor, I will get the Fire Station done on time and on budget!

 

 

Ordinance 392-2020 ($14,285,714 in bonds) ____________ 

Ordinance 402-2020 ($4,750, 000 in bonds) _____________

 

 

NEITHER ordinance REASONS:

There were two petitions from the public.  One was for a Fire Station, one was for a Public Safety Building.  The Council added the “no” option in a 3-2 vote.  It was a disgrace that Mr. Lear & Mrs. Hendricks added the “no” option to the ballot.  That simply serves to confuse the voter and leaves our First Responders with nothing.

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