Posted October 16, 2024
Marion Sanders, pastor, United Methodist Church in Millstone, ran unsuccessfully for Montgomery Township Committee last year in 2023, and appeared in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters in 2023. The Montgomery News gave each 2024 candidate for Montgomery Township Committee the opportunity to address their constituents for free in our newspaper and our website. Each were offered the space for 500 words to address issues of their choice. Some used the full word count, some did not. Best of luck to all candidates
In addressing why I am running for township committee, I would ask voters to keep in mind two words, “Montgomery Matters!”
Montgomery matters to me because I have lived in Montgomery for over 50 years, I attended the Montgomery schools and graduated from them. My husband and I have raised our son here, and he’s gone through the school system too. Also, my husband drives a school bus in the township.
Marion Sanders, Pastor, United Methodist Church
It matters to you because you are a Montgomery resident and a voter here and are reading this. Having lived in Montgomery for so long, I have seen tremendous changes.
There is too much development which has negatively affected our quality of life. Traffic by ShopRite is terrible, and, in my opinion, the township committee should have advocated for a walk-over or bike ride-over 206 overpass from the new housing units by Brecknell Way over to ShopRite. There is too much pedestrian and bike traffic now, which makes the area unsafe.
Crime also has risen in the township with more break-ins at homes and into cars and, also, car thefts and car accidents. When the population goes up and the traffic goes up there is so much more going on that more help is needed. Our police force (whose work my running mate, Pam Booth, and I greatly appreciate and respect) seems to be understaffed and maybe could use more police officers.
Montgomery schools had always had strong academics. Now, its focus is also increasingly involved with supporting progressive morals and ethical issues in addition to academics. Many of these moral and ethical issues should be under the purview of parents anyway. Pam Booth and I support parental autonomy in all moral and ethical issues. We want Montgomery children to have strong academic skills for a future with hope!
Currently the township committee and ancillary committees are entirely composed of Democrats and they have been for at least eight years. Has the quality of life in Montgomery improved in that time period? Do you know how your tax money is being spent? Pam and I support fiscal accountability and transparency by the township committee. On November 5, we encourage you to vote for the Booth/Sanders team, so that we can have more political diversity of opinions and to eliminate single party representation.
The Booth/Sanders team wants to be a voice for all of Montgomery including independent voters because Montgomery Matters.
Learn more at facebook.com/boothsanders4montgomery.
Learn more about the other candidates.
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