Inform The Vote

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

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.
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)
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.
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.
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.

Carole Cossaboon

Running for:

Millville City Commissioner

Incumbent

Challenger

Websites

Quick Summary

Carole Cossaboon is the incumbent Millville City Commissioner, appointed in early 2025 to fill a vacancy and now running for a full term. A lifelong Millville resident, she has over 30 years of experience working in public education as an administrative assistant at Holly Heights School and as a substitute teacher. She holds an associate degree in education, a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and a graduate certificate in autism and behavior.

Cossaboon has been active in a wide range of community organizations, including the Millville Elks, the Planning Board, the UEZ Board, and several civic and charitable boards and clubs. She emphasizes accountability in local government, advocating for stricter enforcement on absentee landlords, more inspections of vacant properties, and cleaner, safer neighborhoods as a foundation for economic development.

Her platform focuses on addressing blight, improving code enforcement, and boosting public safety staffing to meet state standards. She also supports working with outside agencies to attract businesses, writing grants for local programs, and learning from other communities to create opportunities in Millville.

Cossaboon describes herself as approachable, candid, and respectful. As a registered Independent, she stresses that her only agenda is to work collaboratively with fellow commissioners, regardless of party affiliation, to serve the city’s residents. She plans to continue attending community events, meeting directly with voters, and listening to concerns as the election approaches.

This election is on November 4th, 2024

Transparency/Accessibility Rating: A Bit Above Average

Explanation

As a sitting commissioner, Carole Cossaboon began this election cycle with a positive start—promptly completing her InformTheVoteNJ questionnaire and providing clear written responses outlining her background and priorities. That early cooperation reflected an understanding of the importance of public access to information and initially placed her ahead of several challengers in terms of basic transparency.

Throughout the campaign season, Cossaboon maintained a steady community presence. She attended the Four Seasons Forum, the InformTheVoteNJ Meet & Greet, and likely the Housing Authority event, but did not attend the recorded Candidates Forum. Her Facebook campaign page also appears largely unchanged from last year’s race. I vaguely remember that she and other candidates have shared additional content scattered across various Millville community pages, but the burden of scouring those fragmented spaces shouldn’t fall on voters or the press. By this point in the season, every candidate has had ample opportunity to communicate directly and intentionally through established channels.

One of the more curious aspects in this campaign is Cossaboon’s possible camera-shyness. While she appears twice a week on public-access broadcasts from City Hall, she has declined opportunities to offer even brief, informal statements in front of other cameras or at public events. This reluctance, while not uncommon among local candidates, stands out for an incumbent who could provide invaluable context about what is actually happening from an incumbent's perspective. In a race where other candidates have participated in detailed interviews and long-form discussions, Cossaboon’s avoidance of those formats leaves a noticeable information gap.

As a sitting official, there’s an added expectation that she can articulate not only her own agenda but also explain ongoing projects, decisions, and departmental goals at a deeper level than new candidates can. When incumbents choose not to engage in that manner, it raises fair questions about whether transparency is being actively practiced or passively maintained.

Overall rating: A Bit Above Average (Stable) — cooperative early on and visible at events, but held back by possible camera-shyness and a lack of updated public communication. As an incumbent, her absence from in-depth formats feels like a missed opportunity to model the level of clarity and leadership that voters should expect from sitting commissioners.

Background and Campaign Message

I was elected to fill a vacant position that began in January of this year. I am seeking re-election for a seat with Millville City Commission in the November election. I believe now as I did then “now more than ever” our city needs a voice along with common sense judgement. Our city government needs to work together for one common goal, the future of Millville and the citizens who call Millville their hometown.

Having the opportunity to serve Millville for the past 7 months and interact with the citizens, the one point that is consistently brought to my attention is “the deplorable conditions of our city and the crime rate. Sadly, poverty and unemployment lead to crime. My main goal is improving Millville by cleaning up our city. We need to take control of the number of rentals we have allowed in our city. Currently, the percentage of occupied rental housing in Millville is 37.9%. Most of these 37.9% landlords do not live in Millville or Cumberland County. We have absentee landlords who are not held accountable for their tenants or property. They have no clue how their tenants keep the property, nor do they care how their unmaintained properties are affecting our city. Many rentals are vacant or boarded up. Improvements to the living conditions for the underprivilege should be the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in society have. We need to force landlords to hold renters accountable too. Are background checks being done on prospective tenants? We need more boots on the ground, doing inspections and more often. Boarded up homes and vacant homes need to be either repaired within a reasonable time limit or be torn down. By doing so, we are showing our community and residence we do care.

As a current sitting commissioner, I listen to the citizens when they ask for help and work with them to find a solution. I am approachable, have the ability to work with all types of individuals, listening to both sides before giving a decision, speaking what is on my mind, with respect toward the other person. The only agenda I have is to do what is best for Millville and the citizens.

I may be short in stature, but I am big on respect for everyone.

Having been a public employee in the education field for over thirty years, I have obtained valuable knowledge and experience which I feel would be beneficial for both taxpayers of Millville and the current City Commissioners as well. I have the ability to view both sides of an issue, ask questions before giving a decision, as well as respect other’s opinions whether I agree or disagree. I understand the diversity of our city and have gained the respect of the families and colleagues that I have interacted with throughout my career. I can bring experience and time to invest in our city and work with this current commission and community to bring about positive changes for the city of Millville.

Agenda and Policy Ideas

Enforcing boarded and vacant homes to be repaired within a reasonable period.

Demolish homes that have been considered unsafe or uninhabitable.

Update ordinances with stricter regulations.

Seek ways to increase both police and fire department personnel to county/state required levels.

Work with the police department to pinpoint locations in the city with higher police activity due to shootings, fights, break-ins, etc.

Seek a grant writer to find grants for programs.

Research other communities that have created economic opportunities, provided access to essential services, and promoted community development.

Work with outside agencies to promote businesses to locate in the city (HCDC, CCIA, Citizens United).

If we do not begin cleaning up our city, the jobs, businesses, and affordable housing will not follow. We can no longer ignore the issues facing our city. These problems did not occur overnight, but with the next commission and community involvement, we can begin to reverse them together.

Overall Experience and Background

Work Experience

Millville Board of Education – Holly Heights School (Administrative Assistant, 1983–2013)

Responsibilities included ensuring the smooth operation of the school, handling all parental correspondence for the principal, managing the financial budget, processing purchase orders, scheduling parent conferences, and maintaining all office equipment and procedures. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Word Perfect. Skilled in collaboration with staff and effective communication with parents, students, teachers, and administration. Strong understanding of the community’s diversity.

Downe Township Elementary School (Substitute Teacher, 2017–2023)

Worked as a substitute teacher supporting classrooms across grade levels.

Education

Associate of Arts in Education – Cumberland County College

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – Thomas Edison College

Certificate of Graduate Study in Autism and Behavior – Rowan University

Community Involvement

Community involvement is an important part of every community. Resourcefulness is one of the most important qualities in a community leader. Leaders help set goals and promote positive changes by example.

Currently Active

Millville Elks – Lodge Secretary, grant writer for funding community projects serving underprivileged youth, veterans, the homeless, and food banks; manages weekly Bingo fundraising events
Millville Planning Board – Member
UEZ Board – Member
Board of Directors, Shirley Eves Center
Vestry Board, Church of the Resurrection Episcopal, Millville
Holly Society of America – Executive Board Member
Millville Woman’s Club – Member

Previously Involved

Millville Soccer League – Executive Board
Bacon School PTA – President & Treasurer
Holly Heights PTA – Treasurer
MEA Executive Board – Treasurer
MEA Negotiation Committee – Member
MEA Grievance Chair
Advocate for families with special needs children
Developed and conducted a social skills group for children on the autism spectrum (2007–2011)
Ran Babe Ruth and Little League concession stands (1983–1992)