Election 2021: Chester Township Council Candidate Thomas Grego

NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks the first wave in election season 2021 reaches the Garden State and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the June 8 primary election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the primary election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com.

• Name: Thomas A Grego
• Age: Young enough to do - Old enough to know better
• Town of residence: Chester Township, NJ
• Position sought: Councilperson - Chester Township
• Party affiliation: Republican
• Family: Wife - Chris, Two sons TC who lives in Chester with his family and Tony who is in the US Navy Submarine Service and his family.
• Education: BS Industrial Safety Management Minor Business Administration
• Occupation: Senior Manager EHS-Security Veeco Instruments
• Previous or current elected appointed office: None - but spent over 6 years on the Parks Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?

To bring transparency back into the council's activities and develop a long term strategy of environmental conservation so my grandchildren and those with similar generational families can enjoy the Chesters long after I am gone.

The single most pressing issue facing us is recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you intend to do about it?

This worldwide pandemic will be with us for a very long time, and recovery will be dependent upon the people getting the best information possible to make informed decisions. This councilperson's position has influence only over our local communities, thus my concentration will be there, not at the state, federal or international levels.

I have about as much influence to change the outcome of this pandemic as the next person, thus what I can do as a councilperson or routine citizen is very limited. We have more pressing issues locally that I believe we can manage such as Ash Tree losses that may be as high as 85%, by replacing them with similar or more local non-evasive trees; Spotted Lantern Fly that will do other major damage to our fauna and flora by having the Ag committee develop or deliver ways this evasive insect can be managed.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Both gentlemen that are also running for the Councilperson position are viable individuals in their own right. Where I differ is with the environmental conservation and project management planning on the long term scale. Also a close relationship with our local emergency responders who's ranks are slowly shrinking every year and understand what they need to support our community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In the past 10 years I have expanded the youth sports activities at the local and high school levels with rugby and fencing. During that period I put Chester Township on the map by organizing such a large Youth Rugby Festival that it was acknowledged in the Guinness Book Of Record which still continues. While on the Parks Committee updated the ordinance for park and field access and developed a scheduling profile so organizations could have access without conflict with other groups and maintaining the environmental integrity of our lands. These are accomplishments that have long term value to Chester Township.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Family First - Everything else will fall in place after that.

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