Drawing on her fifth-generation farming background, Lods aims to stabilize and grow local agriculture by: (1) acting as a county-level conduit between farmers and Trenton (alerts, grants, and program access); (2) strengthening Rutgers/Extension partnerships (e.g., on-site packaging/processing options and crop modernization); (3) practicing true “meeting people where they are” outreach (avoid 9 a.m. visits mid-harvest; bring info to auctions/meetups); (4) advocating for incentives that address the cost–price squeeze driving family farms out of business.

As a high school teacher and commissioner liaison, Lods emphasizes adapting instruction to today’s tech realities, expanding CCTECH seats (Cumberland County Technical Education Center), and aligning districts with RCSJ and union apprenticeships. Priority: build a skilled workforce pipeline so employers see Cumberland County as a place to hire and stay.

To attract businesses and retain families, Lods supports rapidly standing up a county recreation function (a gap she identified), linking open space, health, and recreation to talent attraction and long-term economic development.

Treat addiction as a countywide health priority: promote overdose spike alerts, expand outreach at back-to-school events, and equip parents with practical knowledge (vapes, edibles, hidden paraphernalia). Notes a generational shift—youth are increasingly cautious after witnessing harms in their communities.

Back the Nabb Ave extension to add an artery from Route 55 to the airport/industrial area, relieving congestion and unlocking jobs, funded via a four-pronged approach (federal, state, county, municipal). Emphasis on planning, sequencing, and fiscal stewardship.

With a journalism/PR background, Lods underscores that robust communication is core to governing. She supports rebuilding public-facing information flows (press, forums, liaison reports) and expects candidates/officials to engage substantively with voters and local media.

Input costs rise while farmgate prices lag. Lods argues for targeted state and federal incentives, plus value-add options (pack/freezing, crop shifts) to improve margins, and county-facilitated access to programs.

Acknowledges local performance concerns; focuses on CCTECH growth, early college pathways, and district–employer alignment to raise outcomes and meet labor demand.

Supports Human Services/Prosecutor outreach and alerts; notes the Seabrook House closure removed regional rehab capacity, reinforcing the need for coordinated treatment access and prevention.

Helped organize/participate in town-hall style sessions connecting growers with available programs; advanced a “bring it to them” model (auctions, on-site meetings) so time-constrained farmers can actually apply and benefit.

As liaison for RCSJ, CCTECH, and K-12 districts, supported the successful pursuit of funding to expand CCT seats and strengthen school–college–union pipelines into the trades and advanced manufacturing.

Identified that Cumberland was one of the few counties without a recreation department/board; pushed to move from recognition to rapid implementation to support health, quality of life, and employer attraction.

Backed engineering/planning work and a multi-level funding strategy (federal/state/county/municipal) to keep the project viable while protecting taxpayers.

Lods emphasizes concrete liaison work (farm programs, CTE seats, recreation build-out) and collaborative planning, contrasting with platforms that remain vague or light on implementation detail.

She consistently engages in public interviews and expects officials/candidates to communicate openly; positions communication as a job requirement, not a campaign choice.

Frames the county’s role realistically—conduit, coordinator, and advocate—rather than promising fixes outside county authority. Supports four-corner funding for major projects instead of single-source pledges that can stall.

B.A. in Communications/Journalism (Rowan); educator in Bridgeton and Millville; earlier service as Chief of Staff to former State Senator Nicholas Asselta; first Executive Director of Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity.

Member, Vineland Zoning Board; Cumberland County Board of Taxation; local NAACP; active on family farm “Victoria Farms,” donating produce to local families.

Growth-mindset problem solver; prioritizes communication, coalition building, and responsible, planned development. Comfortable seeking expertise and collaborating across municipal, county, and state levels.