November elections are quickly approaching and each party has laid out their candidate for mayor of Washington Township. On the Democrat’s side, Barbara Wallace is running, and on the Republican’s side, Kevin Murphy is running.

Wallace began her political career as a constituent services representative for U.S Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg in 1994 and stayed until 2000. In 2001, she became a constituent services representative for U.S Sen. Jon Corzine. She was asked to run for mayor in Washington Township.

“I care about my township,” Wallace said. “I am an active and involved taxpayer. I was asked to run and this was something I wanted to do, I was very interested in it.”

With the drama that has surrounded the mayoral position in Washington Township in the last few months, Wallace is looking to bring some stability back to the township.

“I’ve lived in this township 41 years. I want to bring stability back to the township,” Wallace said. “I want to bring people together. This is why I want to be mayor. I am running with my neighbor (Kevin Murphy). His wife grew up two doors down from me. Folks in Washington Township are all neighbors, no matter what side we are on.”

If elected, Wallace wants to assess what needs to be done for the township.

“The services in the township are wonderful,” Wallace said. “I know they have had to consolidate some offices because of the economy and make some cutbacks. I will need to go in and assess what needs to be done.”

In addition to her political positions, Wallace has also been involved in many community organizations. She has worked with and in the Washington Township Athletic Association, parks and recreation, the board of education and Girl Scouts.

“I had a stellar record with the board of education. It was a tough time, but I hope I left it better than I got it,” Wallace said. “I have been (with) Girl Scouts for 55 years teaching and mentoring girls. I blended our council with Burlington County to form the largest council and now it has blended again with South Jersey. This is what I can bring to the table as mayor: a vision of looking forward, bringing people together and doing better.”

Murphy is currently the assistant principal and athletic director at Washington Township High School. He has lived in the community since 1991. His wife, Ginny, is a board of education member and they have two sons, Ryan and Matthew. Murphy also works with the Washington Township Parks and Recreation Department, The Knights of Columbus, and his church, the Church of the Holy Family, involving youth athletic programs. He is also involved in many educational organizations and has served as the president of the Olympic Conference.

“I am a longtime Washington Township resident and come from a family committed to public service,” Murphy said. “In 1991, Ginny and I chose to live in Washington Township and raise our boys in a wonderful, vibrant, family-oriented community. Unfortunately, I’ve seen the worst come out of the political arena over the past decade. With the doubling of property taxes, reductions in services, and a terrible business-friendly environment, the township has lost its way and become stagnant. During the past decade, I have taken the pulse of our community and am in a unique position to bring out the B.E.S.T. (Business, Efficiency, Services and Taxes) that Washington Township has to offer and redirect the township onto a course of public service instead of self-service.”

If elected, Murphy wants to focus on getting the township back on the right track.

“We should only accept the B.E.S.T. practices for our township and together we will do the following: develop and sustain business opportunities, value and demand efficiency, analyze and improve services and reduce our tax burden,” Murphy said.

Murphy hopes to assemble a team that includes Republicans and Democrats in order to reach across the aisle and work together.

“When I am elected, our team will include both Republicans and Democrats. It will be a team that will reflect the residents of our township,” Murphy said. “Working together with pride will be our unifying bond.”

“Washington Township is the crown jewel of Gloucester County,” Murphy said. “It is my goal to make that jewel shine as brightly as possible by restoring pride, thorough leadership, for our residents.”