Allentown official eyes Assembly seat

Rovner seeking position representing 30th Legislative District.

By: Cynthia Koons
   ALLENTOWN — Newly appointed Allentown Borough Council member Jerry Rovner is interested in upping the scope of his political career with a run for New Jersey General Assembly this spring.
   He said he is running for one of two 30th Legislative District seats in the Assembly, which are currently held by Assemblymen Joseph Malone and Ron Dancer. Mr. Dancer also serves as mayor of Plumsted Township.
   The deadline to file in the Assembly primaries was Wednesday. A complete list of those seeking their party’s nomination in the primaries was unavailable before The Messenger-Press’ Tuesday deadline.
   A Republican candidate, Mr. Rovner said his run is not a slight to the work Mr. Malone and Mr. Dancer are doing in the Assembly but is simply his way of becoming more involved at the state level.
   "I was on active duty for the past year, since 9/11," he said. "I think I would be a real asset in the homeland security areas."
   Mr. Rovner, a member of the Naval Reserve, was activated and mobilized to provide port security in the New York City harbor after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
   "From a state level, I want to make sure the homeland security issues are being addressed," he said.
   If elected, he said, his first order of business is to determine how the state is utilizing its assets to ensure residents’ safety.
   Beyond that, Mr. Rovner hopes to use a state government position to address development issues in the region. The 30th Legislative District covers 15 municipalities in Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as Washington Township in Mercer County.
   "With all the growth that’s surrounding us, we need some state attention," he said. "In our section of Monmouth County and Mercer County, we need to see representatives to reach out for each individual community."
   He said his primary concern is the sheer volume of growth in the district, which includes Washington, Allentown, Upper Freehold, Plumsted and Roosevelt.
   "What’s the infrastructure (for growth) and how is the water going to be affected?" he posed as two questions he wants to bring to the state. "Every time you close your eyes, there’s another development popping up. Residents don’t want any more development."
   Mr. Rovner said he would continue to serve on the Allentown Borough Council if elected to the Assembly. The term on his council seat expires at the end of the year and he has filed to run for a full, three-year term beginning Jan. 1.
   He served on Borough Council from 1980 to 1991 and was appointed to fill the seat vacated by former council President Peter Pantages in February of this year.