By: Scott Morgan
With Election Day closing in, candidates for local government seats are looking to get the word out about their positions.
On Nov. 7, there are contested races for the township committees of Millstone and Plumsted, and two local uncontested races, one for Allentown Borough Council and the other for Upper Freehold Township Committee.
Below is the first of two candidate profile articles, looking at the races in Upper Freehold and Millstone.
Next week, the Allentown and Plumsted races will be featured.
UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
There are two three-year seats on the Township Committee this year. Republicans Robert Faber Sr. and Steven Alexander are running unopposed.
Robert Faber
Mr. Faber, 69, has lived in Upper Freehold for 60 years. He is a Republican, running for his first term on the Upper Freehold Township Committee.
A 1955 graduate of Upper Freehold Township School, Mr. Faber is a farmer who lives on Emley’s Hill Road with his wife, Pat. They have two daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.
For 10 years, Mr. Faber served on the Upper Freehold Township Vision Committee. His interests include outdoor sports and car racing.
"I would work to keep Upper Freehold as rural as possible," Mr. Faber says. "I would work to preserve as many farms in Upper Freehold as possible. If we are to have Smart Growth in Upper Freehold, we need to keep the one true industry that we have … farmland. I do not support, and never have supported, town or village centers on White Birch Farm. With town or village centers comes the impact of traffic, more schools requirements, and sewer plant installation. I also see no way that Breza Road can be closed."
Steven Alexander
Mr. Alexander, a Republican, is running for his second term on the Upper Freehold Township Committee. He is a U.S. Air Force Reserve officer who recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
He did not return his candidate profile questionnaire to The Messenger-Press.
MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
There are two three-year seats open on the Township Committee this year. Republican incumbents Nancy Grbelja (currently serving as mayor) and Elias Abilheira (currently serving as deputy mayor) are seeking re-election and are facing independent candidates John Pfefferkorn and Bill Nurko. Both Mr. Pfefferkorn and Mr. Nurko are former township committeemen.
Elias Abilheira
Mr. Abilheira, who lives on Haviland Drive, is seeking his second Township Committee term. He has served as both mayor and deputy mayor and also has served on the Planning Board and the Crosswicks/Doctors Creek Watershed Council. He currently serves on the Open Space Council.
A graduate of both Princeton University and Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Abilheira is a senior partner in law firm Abilheira and Newman, representing Fortune 500 corporations in New Jersey and New York federal courts. He is married with one son in the Millstone School District and is a member of various conservation groups. He serves on the board of directors of Freehold Center Partnership and has been a federal arbitrator appointed by the U.S. District Court in New Jersey.
"The main thing I bring to this office is ethics and reform," Mr. Abilheira says. "Nancy Grbelja and I have refused to take special interest money and only funded our campaigns with contributions from residents.
Mr. Abilheira said the comprehensive financial reforms that he and Ms. Grbelja introduced in 2003 had averted a projected 27-cent municipal tax rate. (The current tax rate is 9 cents per $100 in assessed valuation). "This year alone we will earn $1.2 million in interest revenue. Under our opponents’ old financial program they would have earned less then $500,000 for the residents. We have also introduced our solar energy initiative this fall. It will save the taxpayers about $10,000 from the get-go and, once fully implemented, could save over $100,000 a year in energy costs.
"In the next three years, we hope to complete the long-term reform we started last year to attract clean commercial ratables on our highway corridors."
Nancy Grbelja
Ms. Grbelja, 51, has lived in the township for nine years. A Republican, she is seeking her second term on the Township Committee. She has served as both mayor and deputy mayor.
Ms. Grbelja graduated magna cum laude from Montclair University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She works as a labor relations representative for school employees, is a member of the Horseman’s Association of Millstone Township, the Standard Breeder’s and Owners Association, the Monmouth County Transportation Council, and the Millstone Township Planning Board. She also is a liaison to the township Drug Alliance and the Historic Preservation Council.
I am committed to the township of Millstone," Ms. Grbelja says. "I believe Elias Abilheira and I represent the average resident. We have done a great deal over the last three years to implement reforms that affect every resident. We never anticipated the extent of the problems we uncovered the first year in office. We revitalized the Open Space and Farmland Preservation program, instituted financial reforms that increased the township’s revenue, thereby preventing increases in taxes; developed a plan to reduce debt and curb spending; replaced numerous professionals which reduced costs and improved services to residents; (and) engaged in studies to increase potential ratables and recreational needs of the community.
"Although we have accomplished a great deal, our work has only begun. We have started many projects and still have many more to implement. I would like an opportunity to continue with the plans we initiated."
Bill Nurko
Mr. Nurko, a 62-year-old engineer, has lived in Millstone his entire life. Though running as an independent candidate, he served on the Township Committee as a Democrat from 2000 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2005. He served as mayor in 2003.
A graduate of the Peddie School, Mr. Nurko earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also graduated from U.S. Naval Civil Engineer Corp Officers School. He currently is director of building services for an assisted-living facility. Previously, he spent 36 years in various manufacturing management positions.
Mr. Nurko has been married to his wife, Clara, for 37 years. They have two married daughters, Christina (with granddaughters Graciella Lynn and Kali Anne) and Patricia (with grandson Sean William).
Mr. Nurko is a member of the Millstone Township Senior Citizens. He enjoys gardening and yard work and spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren.
"First and foremost," Mr. Nurko says, "I bring six years of previous elected service experience on the Township Committee, and having worked with nine different committee persons. I maintain an open mind and do not distinguish Republican, Democrat, or independent, but rather what the individual brings to the table.
"Being a lifelong resident of Millstone, I have witnessed and participated in the changes and impacts brought on with the municipality’s growth," he said. Mr. Nurko added that he seen firsthand "… how the methods to manage this growth and address the changing community needs have evolved to preserve the quality of life that continues to attract new residents to Millstone Township. As a lone (independent) Democrat seeking a seat on a totally Republican committee I bring another set of ‘eyes’ to the governing body rather than just another ‘aye.’
"Being an engineer, my thought process is very structured and logical in analyzing problems and formulating solutions. As such, I believe I bring balance to the position I am seeking."
John Pfefferkorn
Mr. Pfefferkorn, 51, has lived on Lyle Farm lane for nearly 10 years. He served on the Township Committee from 2001-2003.
Though running as an independent candidate on Nov. 7, Mr. Pfefferkorn defines himself as Republican. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting, his master’s degree in finance and his post-graduate certificate in international business from Seton Hall University. He is the director of cost/inventory accounting for Tiffany & Co. in New York.
Mr. Pfefferkorn has been married to his wife, Anita, for 19 years; they have three children (two in Allentown High School and one in Millstone Middle School). He has served more than 10 years as a Shriner clown raising donations for the Shriners children’s hospitals; as public relations chairman for Crescent Shrine promoting free health care at Shriners Hospitals for Children; as public relations chairman (2005 2007 ) for the American Cancer Society’s New Egypt-area Relay for Life donation fundraiser, as catechist and lector at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Millstone and as Boy Scout instructor for Millstone Boy Scouts. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus and a character actor in family’s annual Jersey Devil Haunted Hayride. He has received the International Shrine Clown Association’s "Red Nose Award" in recognition of his extensive hours raising funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
"All of New Jersey has a tax crisis and Millstone is no different," Mr. Pfefferkorn says. "There are no magic bullets to deal with this problem, but proactive action can begin to make a difference. We need quality ratables on our border highways; without these we will continue to rely almost exclusively on residential property taxes to fund education, government services, recreation, etc.
"By the current Township Committee adopting an ‘anti everything’ approach under the guise of protecting our quality of life, they are not doing this. In fact, the exact opposite is true. They are against ratables, they have taken away property rights, and continue to assault the rights of families. Some even sued taxpayers and tried to stop the Little League from growing.
"I have the skill set, passion and experience to make a difference in Millstone and finally, I represent much needed change in Millstone."

