BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
HAZLET — With the November elections just around the corner, candidates are surely looking for any edge they can get in order to enhance their campaigns.
Most will hang up signs around town, and some may even hug and kiss a few babies if they have to. But for a select few in Hazlet, having Scott Broschart on their side could make a difference on Nov. 2.
Broschart, a 25-year-old township resident, created www.hazletgop.com, a Web site devoted to bringing local politics into the homes of Hazlet residents.
"I thought this would be a good opportunity to let people in the community know who is in charge on the local level, as well as giving them some insight as to who some of the people are who will be running for office in the next election," Broschart said.
Broschart got the idea from seeing politically related Web sites in other nearby communities.
"I looked at Web sites that were based in places like Middletown and Wall, and saw what those sites looked like and the content that they had. I thought it was something that we could do here in Hazlet, and so I went ahead and did it," Broschart said.
The site, unveiled last Monday, features links that enable readers to learn more about elected officials, voter registration, and the Republican Club, of which Broschart is the president.
Although the site is up and running, Broschart says that it will become more in-depth, with profiles about some of the candidates being posted within the next few weeks. Currently, the site has profiles on elected officials such as Mayor Paul Coughlin, Deputy Mayor Michael Sachs, and council members Tracey Maffiore and Scott Aagre.
"I was aiming to develop the best local political party Web site in New Jersey, and I think I have succeeded in that goal," Broschart said.
Also on Broschart’s plate is his newly appointed role as leader of the campaign committee for Sachs and Bridget Antonucci, who is seeking her first term on the committee.
"We were looking for some new and innovative ideas for this year’s campaign and we believe Scott is the right leader to breathe new life into the process," Sachs said.
Due to the recent launch of the site, Broschart said that he has not received much feedback yet, but there is at least one person who thinks the site will be an asset.
"I think this will be a vital tool for the residents of Hazlet with respect to understanding what the candidates are about and also to add clarity to what the existing committee is doing," Coughlin said.
"I think it was a good idea to start this Web site. I think it’ll be a nice communications vehicle, and it’s something that people can refer to when they’re looking for information on candidates in Hazlet," Broschart said.