Why I decided to run

Some of you may know me, many may not, so I’d like to introduce myself as a candidate for West Deptford school board who has decided again to volunteer time “for our kids.”

I am a 13-year resident of the township, where I live with my family of wife, Kristy, two grown sons and our 11-year-old grandson, a sixth-grader at West Deptford Middle School. Our oldest is a daughter who works in marketing and communications in Australia.

I was not born and raised in Gloucester County but have lived my entire life in either eastern Pennsylvania or South Jersey. I’m a diehard Phillies and Eagles fan and have vacationed in Sea Isle City with a large family for nearly 50 years. I have had extended family in Gloucester County longer than I’ve been alive. My father’s brother raised his family here and I have numerous first cousins and other family in and around the area.

I’m a lifelong journalist who got his start as a teenager at the Evening Bulletin in Philadelphia. You have to be a certain age to remember that since it folded in 1982 when I was still a teen. It was the largest daily newspaper in the city. I’ve lived and worked here in Gloucester County since 2012 and have closely engaged with the schools in the last eight years as our grandson has progressed through the system. I am proud and grateful to say that New Jersey, despite a different reputation for its schools, in fact has a marvelous system for early education. Our family has benefitted from that as I’m sure so many others have as well.

Community has always been important to me. I have spent more than 40 years in community journalism. I have coached kids in sports nearly all my life, including 11 years as a CYO basketball coach and three years on a high school baseball staff in Pennsylvania. Baseball is my first love in sports and I jumped two years ago when my grandson decided he wanted to play. I’m proud to be an active coaching member of West Deptford Little League. I’m hoping some of the connections I’ve made in WDLL will help me gain support in my effort to serve on the school board.

I’m also an active member of Knights of Columbus Council #6364 at Incarnation parish in Mantua. Our group of men works within our community to raise funds for various charities ranging from special needs children to a food bank to women navigating unexpected pregnancy and more. Our group has been cited for excellence by the state council of KofC. I have served on advisory boards with the Salem Community College Foundation, Northampton Community College and the John Cardinal Foley Chair for Homiletics and Communications.

I am not a politician. This is my first run for office. I have long been a keen observer and watchdog of local government. I have no political aspirations to do anything but bring my skills and willingness to the school board. “For our kids.”

What is my platform? It’s a question asked of me recently by a lifelong friend in journalism.

For our kids, I want to bring accountability.

For our kids, I want to bring transparency.

For our kids, I want to ensure safety.

For our kids, I want to control spending, treating tax dollars as if they are mine and yours. After all, those tax dollars represent our hard-earned money and we have so many other things we must do with our resources to raise our kids.

For our kids, I want to support the so many very great teachers we have here in West Deptford.

For our kids, I want to assist and direct administrators faced with so many important decisions.

For our kids, I want to root out anyone in it for themselves. It doesn’t matter if it’s board members, administrators or anyone else who doesn’t have the good of our kids, residents and taxpayers at heart.

And I want to eliminate ineptitude. We all know of such examples. And we all know for each one we learn about, there are more that exist under the cover of darkness. We must bring daylight to the process and be sure any wastefulness is eliminated.
That’s where accountability comes in.

For our kids, I plan to roll up my sleeves and find out where we can do better.
Recently, we learned of a lawsuit filed by WD school district against the town of National Park because the district was paying tens of thousands of dollars to NP for services not rendered over the course of about 10 years. One or more of West Deptford’s leaders were asleep at the helm. Same for school board members over a long period of time.

That’s the best case scenario. They weren’t paying attention. It could be worse.
I predict we will hear at the board’s next meeting that they cannot (translated as “will not”) comment due to ongoing litigation initiated by the district. They pay lawyers for answers like that.

Poppycock.

This is where transparency comes in.

Until they come clean on details, we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that it’s at best an embarrassing and costly — and let’s be honest, stupid mistake. But none of that prevents them from taking action now on learning where the failures are in the system and how many other checks are being written for phantom work or services.
Remember, this is an entity that was just granted $90 million of our money for projects large and small. Who will be watching?

It’s a matter of trust, and this type of thing helps school leaders lose credibility.
We have time to get to that. I filed my school board petition long before this latest atrocity became known to the public.

I am one of five township residents running for three seats. I will not engage in disparaging anyone else on the ballot.

I’m happy to be a part of any issues forum that includes interested voters. I’m also happy to speak to any group that wants to hear from me.

For our kids, I’d like to help make our schools better.

For our kids, neighbors, leaders, staff and fellow taxpayers, I’d like you to support Joseph Patrick Owens for West Deptford School Board.