West Deptford Gets New-Look Government Thursday Night

The change West Deptford voters backed in November is now a little more than a day away, as Republicans Sam Cianfarini and Ray Chintall will be sworn in as new township committeemen and flip the township committee to a Republican majority for the first time in over 25 years Thursday night.

Along with the new makeup of the committee comes the potential for a slew of new professionals and other appointments. Of the more than 15 professional positions, only two—that of appraiser and the employee assistance program—have just a single proposal on the table.

Most positions have at least three firms applying, and several have five or more. Donors to both the Democrats and Republicans are included in the mix.

The Republicans have been tight-lipped about what Thursday night will entail, as far as what happens with leadership and township professionals.

At the township committee closeout meeting, Chintall said some decisions have been made and there will be changes, though he declined to elaborate what those decisions are ahead of time.

One position that’s unlikely to change—at least for now—is that of township administrator Eric Campo.

While Campo serves at the pleasure of the township committee, by West Deptford statute, he can only be replaced with a supermajority vote. Township code calls for a two-thirds majority, but since the committee is only made up of five members, changing administrators effectively requires four votes.

That means the Republicans, should they vote as a block, will hold final say over the mayor and deputy mayor positions, as well as township professionals, but would need to pull one of the Democrats to their side to oust Campo.