Plumsted incumbents
cite accomplishments
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED — Republicans Bonnie Quesnel and Joseph Przywara hope voters will re-elect them to three-year terms on the Township Committee based on their records.
The incumbents are being challenged by Democrats Mitch Geier and Donald Knause, a former member of the Township Committee.
Quesnel, 55, a school administrative assistant, is finishing her 12th year on the committee. Noting her tenure in politics as well as a previous six-year stint on the Board of Education, Quesnel said she is experienced and understands budget issues.
Przywara, 57, director of the Ocean County Health Department, is in his 10th year on the governing body.
Quesnel and Przywara said talks are under way with a commercial entity that may share in the cost of building a sewer plant and installing sewer lines. The candidates did would not be more specific about who township representatives are in talks with regarding the sewer project.
Przywara, who also is a member of the municipal utility authority, said the total cost of the sewer project could be as much as $10 million. It is not known what Plumsted’s cost of the project would be. Przywara said he understands what would be involved in installing sewers in the community.
Both incumbents noted their accomplishments on the committee, including the development of a full-time police department and the construction of a new municipal building, which they said was built with savings rather than with borrowed money.
They said with 3,000 acres preserved, Plumsted is a state leader in farmland and open space preservation.
The GOP candidates also said they are proud of being able to maintain a stable municipal tax rate despite the rising costs of employee benefits and health costs.
"There are so many positives we have achieved," said Quesnel, who added that the next two years will see "great changes," including the potential installation of sewers.
"We’ve made an impact and more positive things are being done. We’d like to see it through," said Przywara.