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Victoria Lods

Victoria Groetsch-Lods is a first-term Cumberland County Commissioner with a multifaceted background in communications, agriculture, education, and public service. She’s worked as a high school teacher, chief of staff in the State Senate, and served as the first executive director of Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity. Her public messaging emphasizes a commitment to education, agriculture, mental health and addiction services, and community resilience.

Lods is frequently seen at community events and regularly attends Republican gatherings, including the bi-weekly party breakfasts—though those events have recently shifted in nature, limiting public access. Still, she maintains a steady public presence and has become increasingly active on Facebook, using the platform to share her work and highlight specific priorities.

That said, her campaign has yet to present a fully structured platform outlining her policy goals or current stances in one place. While her messaging has grown more specific over time, much of it remains spread across individual posts and public appearances, making it harder for voters to assess her full agenda at a glance.

Click the red x at the top of this box and then scroll down down for more in-depth information and sources.

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Rating Explanation

Victoria Lods

Across the county, some local campaigns continue to fall short when it comes to transparency—offering little more than scattered social media posts, vague slogans, or interviews that veer off into dinner specials or decades-old political nostalgia. For voters trying to make informed decisions, this patchwork approach often becomes a barrier to engagement.

In that context, Commissioner Victoria Groetsch-Lods stands out for providing a clearly structured and relevant interview that breaks from the usual pattern. Rather than mixing in unrelated content or burying useful details, her recent interview offers two distinct halves: one focused on her background and experience, and the other on specific county-level issues and her forward-looking agenda. This format not only builds trust in the content itself, but makes it easier for voters to jump to the parts that matter most to their personal decision-making.

The interview now lives on this information hub as a reference point for the public—a strong step in the right direction. While this doesn't yet represent full-spectrum transparency, it sets a higher bar than many other candidates and offers a credible foundation to build on.

If future updates continue to follow this model—addressing more issues, making comparisons clearer, and responding to developments as campaign season unfolds—Lods could help reframe what transparency looks like for down-ballot races. The door is open for voters to stay informed, and for the candidate to continue rising above the status quo.

Click the red x at the top of this box and then scroll down down for more in-depth information and sources.



Suggested Use of Candidate Pages & Project Disclaimer

Note: There are a few ways to use this page. It mixes objective source material with light analysis and first-hand reporting so voters can choose their depth.

How to get the most out of this candidate page
  1. Start with the Quick Summary. Click the Quick Summary button underneath the websites section. It gives you the fast take: what we know from sources + brief analysis from a “data collector / local reporter” point of view.
  2. Scan the objective sources. If you want more data, jump into the source material we’ve collected:
    • Official campaign website (if available)
    • Social media pages and posts (if available)
    • Interviews (video/audio) and transcripts (if available)
  3. Check the agenda & positions. Look for the candidate’s stated agenda and issue stances. We try to group them plainly so you can compare across candidates quickly.
  4. Read the Transparency/Accessibility rating. For a deeper look at how transparent the candidate has been (web presence, interviews, follow-ups, meet n greets) and how communicative they've been in response to outreach, see the rating and its short explanation. This helps you understand what’s easy to find and who is easy to contact.
  5. Use the page as a multi-layered hub. If you 'just want the facts', stick to the source documents. If you want opinions about transparency, accessibility, and communication, check the transparency meter. If you want coverage somewhere in between, like interviews that range from introductory to moderately pressing, watch the interviews. Choose your own adventure.

Where we add context or opinion, it’s to help busy voters make sense of gaps in local information. Not everyone has time to be a volunteer politico.

Victoria K. Lods

Running for:
Cumberland County Comissioner
Incumbent
Challenger

Websites

This election is on November 5th, 2025

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Transparency/Accessibility Rating: Above Average

Events

Insight Interview With Commissioner Lods



📋 Click here for full interview summary 📋

In this 60-minute interview, Cumberland County Commissioner Victoria Lods sits down with former Freeholder Jim Quinn at the Queen Diner in Millville. The first 30 minutes could be seen as a somewhat informal 'meet the candidate' section as they discuss her personal and professional background, where the second half shifts to focus on a couple of major county-level issues and a long-term development goal.

County Jail Reform and Regional Collaboration:
Lods offers a detailed update on the long-delayed county jail project. While a 2019 plan to build a new jail was shelved, the county is now exploring a joint facility with Camden County—possibly including Gloucester and Salem as well. In the interim, Camden will house Cumberland inmates, replacing the costly and inefficient use of Hudson County facilities.

Broadband Expansion and Fiscal Responsibility:
Lods explains the trajectory of the federally funded Middle Mile broadband initiative. Originally led by Cumberland County, the project has experienced complications and unexpected costs. A pending vote may shift leadership of the grant to Salem County, allowing the project to move forward without additional taxpayer burden while still serving Cumberland residents.

Economic Development through Bayshore Promotion:
In her broader agenda, Lods emphasizes marketing the Bayshore area—kayaking, bird trails, scenic byways, and local dining—as a tourism and quality-of-life attraction. Part of the goal is to entice outside businesses and residents by building a lifestyle-friendly brand for Cumberland County, boosting long-term economic prospects.

Final Thoughts:
Throughout the interview, Lods presents herself as a pragmatic coalition-builder who values cross-county collaboration, infrastructure modernization, and community vitality. Whether you're a casual viewer or closely tracking county affairs, this conversation offers a direct look at her leadership style and priorities ahead of the 2025 election.



⏳ Click to view timestamps, topics, and takeaways ⏳

Interview Summary – Victoria Lods

This table highlights the key topics covered in the interview, summarizing major takeaways per section.

Timestamp Topic Key Takeaways
0:00–30:00 Background & Experience Lods discusses her Vineland roots, time as Senator Asselta’s Chief of Staff, nonprofit leadership at Habitat for Humanity, and current work as a Millville High School English teacher. Emphasizes civic values, adaptability, and public service evolution.
30:00–34:00 Governance & Bipartisanship Highlights the importance of working across party lines. Reflects on past local cooperation and her efforts to build relationships that make government more effective.
34:00–43:00 County Jail Project The original plan to build a new jail in 2019 was abandoned due to escalating costs. Inmates are currently housed in Hudson County at high expense. Cumberland is now pursuing a regional jail model with Camden, with possible participation from Gloucester and Salem. Camden will house inmates in the short term, reducing transport costs.
46:00–53:00 Middle Mile Broadband Federal grant (secured by Van Drew) aimed to improve broadband access in Cumberland and Salem counties. Cumberland was the lead agent but is considering passing that role to Salem due to cost concerns and administrative complexity. Cumberland residents would still be served under existing engineering plans.
53:00–56:00 Promoting the Bayshore Lods wants to market the Bayshore as a regional destination for kayaking, restaurants, bird trails, and eco-tourism. This could be tied to prior messaging about economic development—enhancing quality of life as a means of attracting businesses and residents.

Agenda

  • Education Advocacy: Continues to champion the role of schools and educators, both as a teacher and policymaker, supporting local students and promoting state-level funding for county districts.


  • Agricultural Representation: As a lifelong farmer, Lods brings direct knowledge of agricultural challenges and pushes for supportive local policies and economic opportunity in the farming sector.


  • Mental Health & Addiction Services: Vocal about expanding access to these services, though specific initiatives are not currently well-publicized online.


  • Promoting the Bayshore/Economic Development: Lods wants to market the Bayshore as a regional destination for kayaking, restaurants, bird trails, and eco-tourism. This could be tied to prior messaging about economic development—enhancing quality of life as a means of attracting businesses and residents.

Issues

  • Mental Health & Addiction Services: Lods has been vocal about the importance of addressing mental health and addiction issues, particularly among students. She noted that many programs already exist to combat these crises and supports expanding awareness and access to them. Her recent attendance at the Maryville Recovery for Life Gala highlights her commitment to supporting recovery programs and recognizing leaders like Senator Michael Testa, who are working to improve access to treatment.


  • Community Engagement: Lods encourages more civic participation, especially among youth. She believes that community members should be involved in political discussions and campaigns and that public servants should remain visible and connected to the residents they serve.


  • County Jail Project: In a recent interview with Jim Quinn, Lods explained that the original plan to build a new jail in 2019 was abandoned. Inmates are currently housed in Hudson County at high expense. Cumberland is now pursuing a regional jail model with Camden, with possible participation from Gloucester and Salem. Camden will house inmates in the short term, reducing transport costs. We assume at this point this is her general position on how to handle the issue.


  • Middle Mile Broadband: In a recent interview with Jim Quinn, Lods explained that federal grant (secured by Van Drew) aimed to improve broadband access in Cumberland and Salem counties. Cumberland was the lead agent but is considering passing that role to Salem due to cost concerns and administrative complexity. Cumberland residents would still be served under existing engineering plans. This seems to be her general position on how to handle the issue.

Experience

  • Education: Graduated from Cumberland County College and Rowan University with a B.A. in Communications and Journalism


  • Professional Roles:
      Chief of Staff to former State Senator Nicholas Asselta

    • First Executive Director of Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity


    • High school educator in Bridgeton and Millville


  • Community Service:
    • Member of the Vineland Zoning Board


    • Member of the Cumberland County Board of Taxation


    • Member of the local NAACP chapter


    • Active on her family farm, “Victoria Farms,” which donates produce to local families