Haddon Heights mayor is not seeking reelection

Haddon Heights Mayor Scott Alexander, a rising star in South Jersey's Republican ranks, announced Monday that he would not run for reelection.

Alexander had come under fire from a small group of residents for his cost-cutting measures, but had won endorsements from the town's Republican Club and the party's Camden County chairman, Tom Booth.

Alexander, who has a digital consulting firm, wants "to focus his time on family and other interests," he said in a statement.

"My intentions have always been to just take care of some business for the town. I did everything I wanted to do," he said.

Word of Alexander's decision came as races around the region took shape on the final day for candidates to file for the June 7 primary.

In Camden County, Freeholders Louis Cappelli Jr. and Scot McCray will face a challenge in the Democratic primary from Amy LaConte-Smith and Thomas Stearns Jr., both of Blackwood.

The Camden County Republican Committee will back Joshua Rocks of Westmont and Eugene Lawrence of Blackwood for the posts. They will be challenged in the primary by Helen-Hart Magobet of Winslow Township and Fernando Powers of Blackwood.

Burlington County Democrats have endorsed incumbent Freeholder Mary Anne Reinhart, a private investigator and Realtor from Shamong, and newcomer Machell Still-Pettis, a Westampton resident who runs the Extended Hand Ministries homeless shelter in Mount Holly. They also have endorsed Sander Friedman, a lawyer from Medford, for surrogate.

Running as unendorsed Democrats in Burlington County are Paul Bracy of Mount Holly and Von A. Gordon of Willingboro for freeholder, and Brian Anatol of Delanco for surrogate.

The county Republican party has endorsed newcomers Leah Arter, a former Beverly City councilwoman who lives in Moorestown, and Joe Howarth, an Evesham councilman, for the two freeholder seats, and is backing incumbent Surrogate George T. Kotch.

Marion Eggleton of Medford filed for the freeholder race as a "senior citizen advocate."

In Gloucester County, where three freeholder seats are up for vote, the Democrats have endorsed incumbents Heather Simmons of Glassboro and Warren S. Wallace of Washington Township, and newcomer Lyman Barnes of Logan. The Republicans have endorsed newcomers Barbara Capelli of Wenonah, Mike Pantaleone of Elk Township, and Penni Heritage of Harrison Township.