Port Norris Fire Company — Commercial Township Fire District 1
Quick summary: Port Norris Fire District 1 appears to have two open commissioner seats, with Robert Goodheart and Guy Fabreze running (spelling to be confirmed). These seats appear to be unfilled at the moment, echoing broader concerns that fire districts often struggle to recruit candidates for commissioner positions. There are no confirmed ballot questions this year; a previously discussed LOSAP-related question appears to have been pushed to next year’s election. I may be able to gather additional information and hand over questionnaires at the next scheduled meeting on February 12.
Candidates
Robert Goodheart
- ✓ Outreach planned / in-person delivery expected (Feb 12)
- ✕ Response received
Guy Fabreze
- ✓ Outreach planned / in-person delivery expected (Feb 12)
- ✕ Response received
Ballot Questions
No ballot questions confirmed for 2026
A ballot question related to LOSAP was discussed previously, but it appears to have been deferred to next year’s election cycle.
Issues
District-specific issues (Port Norris FD1)
- Volunteer recruitment: There was extensive discussion about difficulty recruiting enough volunteers. I was even provided a lawn sign to help raise awareness.
- Commissioner recruitment: The two open seats highlight an ongoing challenge in finding residents willing to serve as fire district commissioners.
County-wide issues (applies to all districts)
- Firefighter and EMS staffing shortages
- Volunteer model vs cost-of-living pressures
- Extremely low voter turnout
- Limited public visibility and press coverage
- EMS uncertainty related to Inspira contracts
- Radio communication limitations during mutual aid
Coverage
Coverage log
- Volunteer outreach: Provided a lawn sign to assist with recruitment efforts.
- Next meeting: February 12 — plan to distribute questionnaires and confirm election details.
- Interviews / posts: TBD