Year in Review: West Deptford Government News

had a history-making year in 2011 when it comes to the town’s government. 2011 was bookended with West Deptford’s committeeman in 20 years and the township elections that saw come into power and the town’s first independent candidate make a .

Along the way, that first Republican committeeman, Sean Kilpatrick, drew ire when he the GOP ticket—before —and the mayor announced her , which in December.

The election season saw by township contractors and an election that previous spending records.

Of course, not all town government news was election-related this year. Energy issues took all forms. Though its fate isn't fully decided, won conditional approval at a contentious township committee meeting, the PSE&G solar farm and a proposed gas-fired power plant failed to in a state incentive program before finally getting needed funding outside that system to .

Sunoco’s shuttered Eagle Point refinery, meanwhile, with , a process that will continue into 2012.

A tough budget season also saw the committee away from the solicitor and elected officials, a move that became . The town’s , as did municipal tax bills.

In other government news, West Deptford employees got their in four years, the rent control board at Willow Woods, and the township committee cash for gold businesses and as the RiverWinds redeveloper. Over at Rivercove, the complex’s came under debate and the property was in October.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Gov. Chris Christie in February, pushing his plan for .

Now, you can vote on what was the biggest piece of government-related news .

That’s just a slice of West Deptford Patch’s 284 articles on town government news in 2011. Visit our government and election topic pages for up-to-the-minute news year-round.