Mary Singer bidding
for top elected position
Robert Kleinberg and
Mary Singer bidding
for top elected position
By jeanette M. eng
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — This year’s Republican candidates for mayor and Township Council share one issue that they hope to tackle — ongoing residential development.
The Republican Party candidate for mayor is Robert Kleinberg and his running mates for council are Fred DiGiovanni and Susan Bluth. All three are seeking municipal office for the first time.
Incumbent councilwoman Mary Singer will run for mayor in a Republican primary.
Republican Mayor Matthew V. Scannapieco is not seeking re-election to a fourth term.
The mayor’s seat and the council seats are for four-year terms.
Kleinberg is a member of Marlboro’s K-8 Board of Education. Sitting on the dais every Tuesday evening, Kleinberg, 47, acknowledges that he doesn’t say much. He said this is no indication of the fact that when he thinks something is wrong he’s tenacious about trying to right it.
"It has been my opinion as a long-time resident of Marlboro that the township is going in the wrong direction," the 18-year resident said. "Overdevelopment and high taxes are the reasons why I’m running."
He said his service as a member of the school board has made him more certain of the need to address these issues.
"I am now keenly aware of the impact that overdevelopment has on schools and on taxes," he said. "Our schools are growing by 200 students every year and every 800 students is a new school."
Kleinberg said he made the decision to run for office two months ago. He has his own practice as a chiropractor and resides in Marlboro with his wife and two children.
"I want to restore the pride back in Marlboro," he said.
To do that, Kleinberg will have to turn back the challenge of Singer in the June 3 mayoral primary.
Singer also said she wants citizens to have pride in their community. And despite not receiving the Republican Party nod to run for mayor, Singer is not walking away from the race.
"I believe that I can bring a degree of professionalism, integrity and excellence to the running of the town and its administration," she said.
Singer, 51, said she does not believe her party’s lack of support for her mayoral bid is representative of the residents at large.
"I have been absolutely humbled by the outpouring of support I am receiving," she said. "Everyone tells me, ‘Go, Mary!’ and I am even more encouraged to run."
Singer is completing her first four-year term on council. The 20-year Marlboro resident has been involved with the community since her arrival. Evidence of this is in her involvement as president of the Western Monmouth Newcomers Club, the Historic Committee and Swim Division, the PTA, the Mustang Diamond Parents Baseball Club and as vice president of the Mustang Football Parents Club.
As a councilwoman, Singer has added to her resume active roles in the establishment of the Open Space Committee, the Beautification Committee, the purchase of the Marlboro hospital property, the creation of a local cable television channel and the expansion of the public information department.
"I can win this election because of my reputation and record of accomplishment," Singer said. "I have no ties to developers and am not part of the scandals brought forth by the Asbury Park Press."
If elected mayor, Singer said, she would work toward the town’s planned purchase of the 400-acre hospital property on Route 520 and the purchase of open space properties.
She also wants to improve communication on many levels, including communication between administration and the council, between the departments within the administration and between the council and the two local school boards (Marlboro’s K-8 school board and the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education).
An advocate for open space and for limiting development, Singer’s plan of action is to take a proactive, not reactive, stand in the review of the community’s master plan.
"I don’t want the town to be open for legal challenge because of poor zoning or an incomplete master plan," Singer said. "We have to direct zoning in a responsible manner and legally limit development where possible."
As a councilwoman, Singer brought forward a resolution to increase the open space fund and plans to be aggressive in putting these funds to use in acquiring open space properties."I’m determined to win the election for mayor because I believe that the residents deserve the smoothest-running administration, the best communication within town hall and the best customer service that the administration can provide," Singer said.
Singer works as a retail sales specialist with Yves Saint Laurent Fragrances and resides in Marlboro with her husband. They have two daughters.
DiGiovanni, 54, has resided in town for seven years. The semi-retired owner of a school bus company in Staten Island, N.Y., is looking use this free time wisely.
"I don’t like what I read in papers, the overdevelopment and the taxes," he said. "These are issues that are on everyone’s mind and if I have the time, I want to help to make the community better for others who don’t have the time."
Although he has not been involved with Marlboro government, DiGiovanni was active in Staten Island on the New Springville Civic Association and as a Young Republican when Nelson Rockefeller was running for governor, he said. DiGiovanni has been a member of the Marlboro Republican Club for a year.
The antique car and train lover resides with his wife and two sons, ages 25 and 23.
Bluth was not available for comment.