Stacey Jordan

Stacey Jordan
Councilwoman of Moorestown Township, New Jersey
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2010
Preceded by	Chris Chiacchio
Mayor of Moorestown Township, New Jersey
In office January 7, 2013 – January 6, 2014
Deputy	Chris Chiacchio
Preceded by	John Button
Succeeded by	Chris Chiacchio
Deputy Mayor of Moorestown Township, New Jersey
In office January 6, 2014 – January 6, 2015
Preceded by	Chris Chiacchio
Succeeded by	Phil Garwood
Freeholder of Burlington County, New Jersey
In office January 2008 – January 2009
Preceded by	Dawn Marie Addiego[1]
Succeeded by	Christopher J. Brown and Mary Anne Reinhart [2]
Personal details
Born	Stacey Farias (1970-09-29) September 29, 1970
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Andrew "A.J." Jordan
Children	4 children
Alma mater	University of Delaware
Religion	Presbyterian

Stacey Jordan (born Stacey Farias on September 29, 1970) is an American Republican politician who is currently serving as a Councilwoman in Moorestown Township, New Jersey, being elected from among her peers on Township Council in the Faulkner Act form of government. She began her term on the Moorestown Township Council on January 10, 2010, and served as Mayor during 2013 and Deputy Mayor during 2014. She previously served on the Board of Chosen Freeholders for Burlington County, New Jersey from January 2008 until January 2009.

Personal life

Jordan is a graduate of Holy Cross High School in Delran Township, New Jersey. She then went on to earn her bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware, where she met her husband, A.J. Jordan.

A former teacher, Jordan serves as Operations Manager for Farias Surf & Sport, a chain of stores selling recreational equipment and sports attire along the Jersey shore. She has also served as President of the Surf City Merchants Association.^[1]

Jordan has been active in numerous civic organizations and activities, including the Girl Scouts of the South Jersey Pines, Moorestown Home & School Association, March of Dimes, Burlington County Special Services School, and First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown.

Jordan's father, Vince Farias, was a longtime Freeholder in Burlington County.^[3]

2004 Moorestown Township primary

In March 2004, "Stacey" Jordan announced that she would run for Moorestown Township Council along with Deputy Mayor Jeff Harding and Cindi Maahs-Knobbs against the Republican Party backed slate of Harvey Howard, Lois Downey and Larry Anastasi. The challengers cited a number of issues they disagreed with the party slate on, including zoning, housing density, open space and ethics.^[3]

After a contentious campaign, Jordan's slate lost the primary election. The Howard, Downey, and Anastasi slate would go on to lose the election in November.^[4]

Freeholder

Jordan was appointed to the Freeholder Board in January 2008 to complete the unexpired term of Dawn Addiego, who resigned following her swearing-in as a newly elected member of the New Jersey General Assembly. During her time as Freeholder, Jordan's assignments included oversight of Health and Human Services, Consumer Affairs, and Buttonwood Hospital. She also served as the Burlington County alternate county delegate to the New Jersey Association of Counties.^[1]

Jordan and her running-mate, incumbent Freeholder Director Aubrey Fenton, faced a primary challenge from two slates: Councilwoman Debbie Sarcone of Evesham and Mayor Jon Shevelew of Shamong; and married couple Carole Lokan and William Moore.^[5] In the June election, Jordan and Fenton defeated their nearest primary opponents by more than 2-to-1.^[6]

In November 2008, Jordan and Fenton, lost their bids for re-election to Democrats Christopher J. Brown and Mary Anne Reinhart, who were boosted by increased turnout for Barack Obama.^[7] Brown would later change parties to become a Republican in 2010, and would successfully run for the New Jersey General Assembly on the Republican ticket in 2011.

Town Council

Mayor "Stacey" Jordan with her 2010 running-mate, Deputy Mayor Chris Chiacchio

In 2010, Jordan launched her political comeback, running for Moorestown Township Council with lawyer Chris Chiacchio. The pair were running for the seats held by Mayor Dan Roccato, a Republican who chose not to seek re-election, and Seth Broder, the Council's only remaining Democrat at the time. Broder ultimately withdrew from the race, and was replaced on the ballot by businessman Brian Sattinger.^[8] On election day, Jordan and Chiacchio were declared the winners.^[9] Jordan was the top vote-getter, receiving 4,829 votes, while Chiacchio received 4,669 votes and Sattinger received 3,696 votes.^[6]

During the first two years of her term, Jordan and Chiacchio frequently disagreed with fellow Republicans John Button, Greg Gallo, and Mike Testa on an array of issues. Most notably, Jordan and Chiacchio stood against the plan to use funds from the Moorestown Open Space Preservation Trust Fund to build turf fields. Jordan said she and the open space advocates were not against improving the parks, but they were opposed to raiding the trust fund to pay for the project.^[10] The Moorestown Republican Municipal Committee opted to vote against running Mayor John Button for re-election in 2012, citing a difference of opinion with him on key issues such as open space funding, as well as his inability to work with Jordan and Chiacchio^[11]

Mayor and Deputy Mayor

"Stacey" Jordan being sworn-in as the first female Mayor of Moorestown by Senator Diane Allen

On Election Day 2012, Republicans Victoria Napolitano (5,580 votes) and Phil Garwood (5,467 votes), along with Democrat J. Greg Newcomer (5,345 votes), won election to the three open seats on the Township Council, outpacing Republican Pete Palko (5,321 votes) and Democrats Brian Sattinger (4,899 votes) and Mark Hines (4,869 votes).^[12] In December 2012, it was decided that "Stacey" Jordan would become Mayor at the reorganization meeting the following month.

Jordan was sworn in as Moorestown's first female Mayor on January 7, 2013, by State Senator Diane Allen.^[13]

Jordan said she believed that the issues that had most divided the Moorestown council in recent years - how best to use open-space lands, and the choice of a new municipal building and library - were now "behind us."^[14]

Jordan said that she takes credit along with Chris Chiacchio for helping to lead the Township Council toward choosing a design and to budget for the new municipal building and library complex. The project, which will replace the old structure that was damaged in a fire in 2007, was completed in 2014.^[15]

In January 2014, Jordan stepped down as Mayor in order to allow another member of Council to be elected to that position. Along with the other 3 members of Council, Jordan supported the election of Chris Chiacchio as Mayor, and was chosen to be Deputy Mayor for 2014.^[16]

Second Term

Jordan sought re-election in November 2014 with her runningmate, Manny Delgado. Her former runningmate, Chris Chiacchio, has opted not to seek a second term.^[17] Jordan and Delgado emerged victorious, defeating their Democrat opponents by a large margin.^[18] Jordan was sworn into her second term on Council on January 6, 2015.

Election history

References