Six candidates are running for Moorestown Township Council in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Three Democrats, Chris Keating, Sue Mammarella and James Barry, are running against three Republicans, Nicole MacHenry, Sam Foster and Gary Morris.
Candidates were asked to submit election questionnaires. As of deadline, Morris had not yet responded.
Name: Chris Keating
Age: 37
Years in town: Three
Married? Children? Married, two children, 6 and 3
Schools and degrees: Seton Hall Law School, JD, 2014; Rutgers-New Brunswick, bachelor’s 2009.
Profession: Attorney, owner of Keating Law Firm LLC
Elected positions: I was appointed to fill a vacancy on council in January 2024. This is my first time running for a council seat.
Community involvement: Current Moorestown council member; planning board member; Moorestown Business Association, member and Diamond sponsor; Moorestown Youth Baseball Federation coach; Moorestown Recreation Soccer coach; former member, Moorestown Library Board of Trustees.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running for an elected seat to serve the community my family calls home. I believe my criminal prosecution and civil litigation experience will be an asset to Moorestown, as we confront difficult and complex issues facing the township, its residents, and its businesses. I am willing to put in the time and do the work, and to serve and collaborate with every resident regardless of political affiliation. Most important, my goal is to hand our children and the next generation an even better Moorestown than the one we have today. Working together, we will achieve that goal.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Public safety is a priority for me and my family. As a former criminal prosecutor, I understand the needs and complexities of our law-enforcement officers as they protect our communities and investigate and deter criminal activity. Recently, my council colleagues and I reviewed and fully funded all equipment requests made by the Moorestown police department, including new vehicles, a speed trailer and a drone. If elected, I will continue to work to responsibly fund and grow our police force proportionally to our need and population growth. Every Moorestown resident deserves to feel safe in our community.
Name: Sue Mammarella
Age: 62
Years in Moorestown: 25
Married? Children: Married, one adult daughter
Education: Temple University, Rowan Community College.
Profession: Retired business owner/entrepreneur in health-care contracts and revenue cycle
Elected positions: Ran for council in 2020; currently in my fourth year.
What is your involvement with the community? Former deputy mayor, 2021-’22, and current councilwoman; member of Inspiring Life Together, supporting mothers with breast cancer; active with the Historical Society of Moorestown and Saving Historic Moorestown; weekly volunteer on the Moorestown Tree Committee Prune Squad; involved in Better Together Moorestown task force and founding committee; council liaison for the Moorestown Appearance Committee and Sustainable Moorestown
Green Team, where I am also an active participant in community events; and regular volunteer for park cleanups and community events.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running for reelection because I care deeply about Moorestown’s future. My involvement in the community has allowed me to connect with residents, understand their concerns and identify what is needed to make a difference. My experience as a small business owner and current council member equips me to address our town’s challenges effectively.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? While many issues require the council’s attention, I am particularly passionate about preserving Moorestown’s architectural heritage. Currently, three historic buildings in our town center face the threat of demolition. I believe we must enact an ordinance to safeguard these structures, which not only reflect our community’s history, but also attract residents and visitors to shop, dine and gather in our historic commercial core.
Name: James Barry
Age: 42
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Three-plus
Marriage? Children? Married, two children, 10 and 8
School and degree: Rowan University, BA History, Rutgers-Camden School of Law, JD.
Profession: Attorney
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for council? Yes.
What is your involvement in the community? I’m currently serving on the planning board in town for a second year. Prior to that, I volunteered on the Moorestown Environmental Advisory Committee. I am also a member of the 4th of July committee and the Moorestown Historical Society. We also have family memberships in STEM and the Moorestown Improvement Association.
Why are you running for an elected seat? Dara and I chose Moorestown to raise our family for the same reasons a lot of people choose Moorestown: open spaces, great schools and a feeling of community. Moorestown has provided all the things we hoped it would, in particular a great community where we felt welcome as soon as we moved in. I’m running to help protect the open space, and work with the school board to maintain our schools while also promoting Moorestown as a place where everyone feels the welcoming community that I did when we moved here.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected, I plan to use my experience in environmental law to assist with the redevelopment of the Pulverizing Services site on New Albany Road. While that site is limited in how it can be developed because of the contamination on the property, I would like to assist in making sure it’s developed in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way. In addition, I aim to work proactively to identify and preserve new areas of open space within Moorestown. Protecting and enhancing our town’s green spaces will not only enrich the community, but also safeguard the environment for future generations.
Name: Nicole MacHenry
Age: 44.
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Nine
Married? Children? Married, five children
School and degree: Rowan University undergrad; MBA, organizational leadership and marketing, Ashford University.
Profession: Full-time Realtor and team lead for the Michelle Carite Group of Weichert Moorestown. Part-time art teacher.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for council? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? I am a board member for both the Moorestown Youth Football and Trinity Episcopal Preschool. Three years ago, I brought back and continue to run the Moorestown Youth Cheerleading Program, and I’m a coach for the Moorestown Lacrosse Club and various other sports programs through the rec center. I also volunteer as a parish catechist in the summer and year-round programs.
Why are you running for an elected seat? When we decided to set our roots in Moorestown, I was committed to making sure our children were going to experience a quaint little town with amazing schools, beautiful parks, a flourishing Main Street and more. With my community involvement I have heard what the people are concerned about and I owe it to all of those who are part of Moorestown to be a voice for their concerns and help make changes.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? One of the biggest things of concern right now is the town’s rapid growth and its impacts. If elected, I hope to be a voice between the township and the school system to navigate through these changes so that we can preserve our award-winning schools and teachers without causing hardship to the community members. I also intend on fighting to maintain our open spaces, improve our parks and recreation facilities, focus on small businesses that will bring value to our town and neighborhoods, and support our first responders to ensure our town’s safety.
Name: Sam Foster
Age: 42
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Four
Married? Children? Married
School and degree: BS in mathematics, College of William and Mary, MBA, finance, Temple University Fox School of Business
Profession: CEO of PRG Real Estate, national multi-family owner, operator and developer with 12,000 apartment units, 300-plus employees.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for council? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? Volunteer, member of Moorestown Breakfast Rotary Club, supporter of Jewish & First Responder causes.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I will work to reduce township debt that has grown by more than $45 million in recent years, stop the excessive tax and fee hikes that have given Moorestown the highest property taxes in Burlington County, bring our Moorestown police department back to appropriate staffing levels and bring transparency and open collaboration with our residents back to town hall.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Smart development. I will not let the voices of citizens be silenced when it comes to development decisions that impact our quality of life. I will ensure the town is not taken advantage of by institutional developers, and I will guarantee a completely transparent process in all matters that come before town council.
