LETTER: Belgard is committed to South Jersey

Now that Jon Runyan has decided to vacate his seat, those of us who live in the 3rd Congressional District will have the opportunity in November to choose his replacement. Our choice is between someone who has lived, raised a family and worked in South Jersey all her life, Aimee Belgard, and someone from North Jersey, Tom MacArthur, who thinks that with millions made from selling his insurance business, he can buy a seat by bombarding the airwaves, our mailboxes and our cellphones with advertising.

The choice is clear. MacArthur, the former mayor of Randolph, Morris County, has no legitimate ties to South Jersey, nor knowledge or interest in the issues that affect us. Political seats should not be for sale to the highest bidder, and we should not allow ourselves and our votes to be bought.

The dictionary definition of “carpetbagger” fits MacArthur: “a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics.” We don’t need people from North Jersey “meddling” in representing us.

By contrast, Belgard has lived with the issues that affect us. She graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High and Stockton College before obtaining her law degree from Widener University. She is a Burlington County freeholder, an award-winning volunteer community leader, and lives with her husband and two sons in Edgewater Park.

This election gives us an opportunity to say we cannot be bought.

RICHARD SCHALL

Moorestown