BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
“I have serious concerns as to the quality of life here, and I want to do something about it.” — Joseph Locricchio Democratic candidate for council
MANALAPAN — Two candidates are vying for one available three-year seat on the Township Committee in the Nov. 4 election.
Incumbent Democrat Drew Shapiro is seeking re-election to his second term. Shapiro is serving as Manalapan’s mayor in 2003. At present, all five members of the governing body are Democrats.
Shapiro is being challenged by Republican Joseph Locricchio, who is seeking public office for the first time.
"Government needs strong leadership, not politics," Locricchio said. "I want to give the people of Manalapan what they deserve, an advocate of the people to help their needs and listen to their concerns."
“I have dedicated over 12 years of my life to community service in Manalapan.” — Drew Shapiro Mayor of Manalapan
Locricchio said he is running for office because he believes it is time for fresh ideas and a newer, stronger approach to leadership in Manalapan.
"I have serious concerns as to the quality of life here, and I want to do something about it," he said.
Locricchio said he does not want Manalapan to continue to be overtaxed and ignored on other issues, such as overcrowding and overpopulated schools. He said he is looking to reunite the town and give the people what he said they are not getting now, a real voice in the community.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Locricchio, 39, said he lettered in three sports in high school and graduated from Brooklyn Academy Prep in 1982. He attended Kingsboro Community College to major in business administration. Shortly after attending his first semester, his situation changed and he went into business on his own.
Locricchio opened a retail card and gift store at the age of 19. At the age of 21, he said, he entered into a career as an employment consultant on Wall Street. In 1995, Locricchio and a business associate opened an own employment agency on Wall Street. He said the business was successful up until Sept. 11, 2001. At present, he said he is a local businessman.
"We moved to New Jersey in 1995 in order to enjoy the educational system and quality of life that this area has to offer," he said.
Locricchio and his wife, Vicki, have two children, Joseph and Nicholas.
"I want to start making tomorrow better today," he said.
Shapiro, 43, said his record of community service is the key to his candidacy.
"I have dedicated over 12 years of my life to community service in Manalapan," he said. "Before being elected as a committee member two-and-a-half years ago, I was on the Planning Board for 11 years, serving two years as chairman."
Shapiro said he also served as a recreation commissioner and as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
"I have been the police commissioner, and I have served on the community alliance for drug and alcohol awareness, as well as on the finance committee and the board of public assistance," he said.
Shapiro said he is a past president of the Manalapan Optimist Club. He is a former youth soccer coach and league officer.
"I believe I have lived up to my commitment that I would always look out for the residents of Manalapan, making sure the people of Manalapan came first," he said. "I am, as always, running on my accomplishments and experience.
"During my tenure as a committeeman, we have downzoned the town, which means a developer coming into town can only build on 3- and 4-acre lots. No longer can they build on half-acre lots as before," Shapiro said.
He said the downzoning deterred developers from coming to Manalapan, which is evident in Planning Board meetings being scaled back to once a month, due to a lack of applications.
"We have also acquired over 640 acres of open space and acquired more land for recreational use," Shapiro said. "We have increased our police force and acquired vehicles and equipment for the first aid squad."
Shapiro said that during his year as mayor, Manalapan was named one of the top 10 south/central New Jersey towns by New Jersey Monthly magazine.
Road improvements have begun at the intersection of Tennent and Taylors Mills roads, with work at the intersection of Route 522 and Tennent Road due to begin shortly, he said.
"My vision of a teen/community center has begun to become a reality," Shapiro said.
A private committee is presently working on plans for a teen/community center at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522.
Shapiro and his wife, Susan, are the parents of three daughters, Chelsea, Marissa and Jenna. Shapiro is a principal in a local manufacturing firm.
This is the first in a series of stories that will focus on the 2003 municipal election in Manalapan.