Dems square off in races for Howell mayor, council
By Kathy Baratta
Dr. Mindy Factor-Spano, Tim Konopka
HOWELL — Incumbent Democratic Mayor Timothy J. Konopka faces a June 6 primary challenge from a zoning board member as he makes a bid for a second four-year term.
Konopka is being challenged by zoning board Vice Chairman Stephen Meier, who is making his first bid for elective office.
In the race for a four-year seat on the Township Council, newcomer Dr. Mindy Factor-Spano has joined forces with Konopka.
Factor-Spano is challenging incumbent Councilman Barry Segal, who won election to his first term when he ran with Konopka in November 1996.
Konopka and Spano are running as "Monmouth County Democrats."
Meier and Segal are running as "Demo-crats for Howell."
The two people who are to carry the Democrats’ banner in November will be determined by voters in the June 6 primary.
"Barry and I are still carrying the original ideas of the campaign — it’s broke and I’m going to fix it. We’ve got to get government back out in the open, stop the hiding behind executive session," Meier said.
Meier and Segal said the stifling of public access to government documents and the limits placed on residents speaking at council meetings are some of the problems facing Howell.
Meier said if he is elected mayor, one of the first things he will seek to do is add an additional monthly public meeting of the council at which no formal business will be addressed. The meeting would consist solely of comments and complaints from residents, he said.
"The rights of the citizens need to be protected," Meier said, adding, "They haven’t really been heard or addressed.
"Closed-door meetings that benefit the builders have to stop," Meier said, citing the plan to add more units at affordable housing site No. 6 (near Interstate 195, Route 524 and Route 547) where the recreational component was going to be removed in order to add more housing units.
Segal said if he is re-elected, he will see to it that an ordinance is adopted that will "amend the master plan to protect the people."
The councilman said steps need to be taken that will not only prevent the future clear-cutting of trees, "but will also provide for the planting of more trees."
Segal said proper zoning is needed that will make new construction stay in "character with the area" and said more state grants should be sought in order to help support the "active, working farms we still have in the township so that they keep working."
The candidate said a sewer master plan is needed in order to help control future development.
Segal reiterated Meier’s call to stop the overuse of executive (closed) sessions by the council.
"While I, of course, can’t discuss what has gone on in executive session, I can say there were many times executive session was held when it either wasn’t necessary or when it shouldn’t have been called at all."
In seeking a second term, Konopka said he is proud to run on his record. He cites efforts by his administration as having slowed residential development while working to seek clean, commercial ratables.
He noted the Benderson Group’s proposed Consumer Square retail center at Locust Avenue and Route 9 which recently dropped a 16-screen movie theater from the plan because of opposition from nearby residents.
Konopka said the mayor and council’s attention to these concerns are a testament to his dedication to the office he holds.
"We have set the town on a positive course and will continue that course," Konopka said of himself and Factor-Spano.
Konopka said if he is re-elected to a second term, he will continue working to control the type of growth that would increase the need for additional services such as police, fire and schools. He said he will work on "continuing the recreational upgrades in town," specifically referring to sports equipment as well as a proposed skateboarding facility.
Factor-Spano said she was prompted to run for a seat on the governing body after attending several public meetings.
"I liked the mayor’s goals and what he was doing to achieve them," Factor-Spano said of Konopka’s efforts toward the preservation of open space and his efforts to "minimize building."
Spano, a seven-year resident of the town who until recently operated a chiropractic office in Howell, said if she is elected to council, she will work to increase the town’s recreational services.
"We need these services for the kids, to give them something to do, to keep them busy," she said.
Factor-Spano also said she would work toward the establishment of "good ratables" along Route 9 in an effort to stabilize taxes.
"We’ll probably need another new school sometime soon. Good ratables will help," the candidate said.



