Sayreville

Where they stand:

Daniel E. Buchanan* (D) Seeking council term Buchanan, 30, has a wife, Michelle, and a daughter, Kayla, 2. He is a life-long resident of Sayreville. Buchanan is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in administration of justice, and Middlesex County College with a degree in criminal justice. He currently works as an investigator for the state. He is a member of the executive boards of the Sayreville Democratic Organization and the Sayreville Athletic Association. He is the council liaison to the Recreation and the Cable Advisory boards, and a member of the Morgan Lions Club and the New Jersey State Federation of Umpires. What is the greatest challenge facing Sayreville and what should be done about it?

Daniel E. Buchanan* (D) Sayreville lacks leadership, direction and a solid plan for the future. After all these years under Mayor Kennedy O’Brien, we still face the same recurring issues of overdevelopment, road congestion, crowded schools and rising property taxes. We need a mayor people can hold accountable, not a mayor full of excuses. The only plan the mayor has is to allow his Planning Board to approve more new homes. Is it any wonder why traffic gets worse, schools and services are hard-pressed and property taxes are rising? For real change, we need real leadership and a master plan to move Sayreville forward.

Alvah M. “Al” Cox (D) Seeking council term Cox, 50, and his wife, Diane, have two children, Jessica, 22, and Alvah III, 19. He has lived in Sayreville for 26 years and has served as president of the Sayreville Board of Education. Recently retired, Cox was a detective with the Sayreville Police Department assigned to the Juvenile Aid Bureau. He is currently employed by the Motor Vehicle Commission. Cox was a CYO basketball coach at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church for many years. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the East Jersey Basketball Officials as a referee. * denotes incumbent Alvah M. “Al” Cox (D) As a 30-year veteran of the Sayreville Police Department, I am concerned that our present mayor has never offered a comprehensive plan to control violence and crime in our neighborhoods. I’m looking forward to working with Tom Pollando and the rest of the council to put in place a real action plan to keep residents out of harm’s way, especially our young people. As a councilman, I’ll work to improve recreation and create more safe and fun alternatives for our children, plus we’ll work alongside our police department to deploy even more officers into our neighborhoods.

David M. Kaiserman (R) Seeking council term Kaiserman, 29, lives with his wife, Melanie, in Sheffield Towne, where he is president of the homeowners association. He has a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University. He has worked in compensation analysis and computer diagnosis, and has managed his own production company. He teaches TV production at Matawan Regional High School, where he runs the cable television studio. He is a volunteer emergency medical technician [EMT] for the Sayreville Emergency Squad and served as first and second lieutenant. He helped lead Sayreville Emergency Squad’s EMS Day and other training programs. David M. Kaiserman (R) As a commuter, I believe one of the issues facing Sayreville is the increasing traffic residents face. The first line of defense for combating traffic would be to limit residential development. Next, I believe we need to actively seek ways to manage congestion. As a council member, I am determined to explore answers to this problem, and provide relief to frustrated residents. Last, I wish to analyze the municipal budget and analyze it to minimize costs. Kennedy O’Brien* (R) Next year, Sayreville will be forced to work within the confines of a 4 percent spending cap imposed by the state. While the pension costs are being transferred to the municipal level, we are forced to stay within the state-imposed 4 percent cap and provide the services our residents want and have come to expect. At the same time, Sayreville has been shortchanged by the state in the amount of aid we receive compared to neighboring towns. Financial reality will force the council to reconsider my request for a hiring freeze if we are to stop runaway property taxes.

Kennedy O’Brien* (R) Seeking mayoral term O’Brien has a wife, Janice, and is the father/stepfather of six children. He was selected in 1995 to complete an unexpired council term, and was then elected to a threeyear term on the council. He served that term, then ran for mayor and won a four-year term, and was subsequently re-elected to a second four-year term. He has served as a member of the Sayreville Housing Authority, Recreation Advisory Committee, Recycling Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Sayreville Citizens Against Dredge Dumping (SCADD), Morgan Lions Club, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Holy Name Society and other organizations. He has served as a manufacturers’ representative in the luxury bath industry for 25 years. Thomas V. Pollando (D) The most important challenge facing Sayreville is our lack of leadership and vision. Sayreville desperately needs real leadership with a real vision for our future. We cannot continue to allow neighborhoods to be overdeveloped with hundreds of big new homes on tiny lots. This only creates an additional burden on our schools, adds to the congestion on our streets, and pushes property taxes even higher. Real leadership and vision for our future will allow Sayreville to finally realize the potential of a revitalized downtown and waterfront, bringing back good-quality jobs, attracting new businesses and easing the tax burden.

Thomas V. Pollando (D) Seeking mayoral term Pollando, 55, has a wife, Rosemarie, and three sons, ages 24, 26 and 33. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he moved to Sayreville over 30 years ago. He is vice president of the Communications Division of Adco Electric/Scholes Electric. He is serving his second term on the Borough Council. Pollando has been president of the Sayreville Athletic Association since 1970, and has served as president of the Morgan Athletic Association and was instrumental in the development of the Youth Recreation Basketball League in Sayreville. Pollando has been president of the Morgan Lions Club since 1988 and a member of the Recreation Board since 1986. Paula Siarkiewicz (R) The greatest challenge facing Sayreville today is lowering property taxes. Taxes have soared to record highs with no relief in sight. I believe that fiscal responsibility should be our first priority. Unnecessary costs should be eliminated, while we actively seek cheaper methods for providing services. This can be best seen in the borough’s legal expenses. Currently, we spend 1 percent of our municipal budget on legal fees.

Paula Siarkiewicz (R) Seeking council term Siarkiewicz, 48, has a husband, Robert, and four children, ages 21, 17, 16 and 15. She previously worked as a paraprofessional for the Middlesex County Educational Services Commission, which runs special-needs schools, and later became union president and was responsible for chairing many committees. She sat on the Representative Council, Negotiations Team and Grievance Committee. She currently works in the finance department of Croda Inc., at Raritan Center, and sits on the Community Advisory Panel in her community. A Sayreville resident for 15 years, she has served as a soccer coach, Girl Scout troop leader and coach for Buddy Ball. What do you think should be done about the problems with violence and crowd control at borough nightclubs over the past year? Have town officials acted appropriately?

Daniel E. Buchanan* (D) We cannot allow violence and crowd control issues at local bars and nightclubs in Sayreville to continue to escalate. The mayor’s “three strikes” rule gives two too many chances to establishments that cannot control violence and prevent dangerous situations. The borough needs to be able to review each issue on a case-by-case basis and needs the authority to react immediately. When a situation so warrants, a nonresponsive establishment must be shut down to prevent any further incidents from getting out of hand.

Alvah M. “Al” Cox (D)

am particularly concerned how our borough works to contain and control potentially life-threatening incidents in our local clubs. This is one of the reasons I’m running for council. With one local club, it was clear that management failed to meet the safety conditions and requirements set by the borough’s special task force, and no attempt was made to adhere to the regulations set forth by the task force to increase the safety and security there. The establishment had to be closed so that the violence would not continue to escalate.

David M. Kaiserman (R) Clubs requiring excessive police intervention should be subject to losing their license, and existing laws should be enforced. I was shocked and dismayed when the mayor’s “three strikes” ordinance failed to be recognized by the Borough Council. The council stated they wanted to enforce current laws, but haven’t done anything.

Kennedy O’Brien* (R) Nightclubs with multiple incidents of violence pose a risk to our residents. In January, I introduced a “three strikes” ordinance that would have sent a message to all nightclub owners that owning a nightclub is not a right, but a privilege that can be taken away if abused. Instead, the council chose to give nightclubs unlimited strikes by shuffling the issue off to a task force that never issued recommendations. In the meantime, there were further instances of nightclub violence that could have been prevented. Therefore, I do not believe the members of the council acted prudently.

Thomas V. Pollando (D) “Three strikes and you’re out” may be fine for baseball, but when it comes to protecting lives at troublesome nightclubs, if the borough is forced to wait until “a third strike” to revoke a liquor license as the mayor suggests, the results could be disastrous. The borough needs to reserve the right to immediately shut down a dangerous operation if and when necessary. I led the effort to create a task force to investigate each incidence of violence at the nightclubs. After the Colosseum failed to follow safety requirements we set forth, we took action to revoke their liquor license.

Paula Siarkiewicz (R) I am a firm believer in the mayor’s “three strikes” ordinance. Any nightclub where there has been instances such as a stabbing, shooting and riots should have their license pulled. This would have happened under the mayor’s proposed ordinance. As far as crowd control goes, the fact that at one event three police departments were needed to regain control speaks volumes. Needless to say, I believe we need to do more and make this a priority.

How do you view the borough’s efforts with regard to economic redevelopment, including the handling of the former National Lead site?

Daniel E. Buchanan* (D) Mayor O’Brien served on SERA [Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency] for seven years, during which very little, if anything, was accomplished toward a redevelopment of National Lead. Since February, we have been able to clean up some of the stalled efforts and have been aggressive to re-open the bidding process for the site. The borough needs to attract new businesses to bring in local jobs, increase revenues and help ease the tax burden on homeowners. Redeveloping National Lead, revitalizing our downtown, and stopping the mayor from building so many new homes are the only ways we are going to stop property taxes from rising.

Alvah M. “Al” Cox (D) Redeveloping the National Lead property and stabilizing Sayreville’s property taxes go hand in hand. Our borough’s future is linked to this key economic development site. We’ve given Republican Mayor O’Brien his chance. After nearly a decade, the result of that experiment is no progress and even higher taxes. To build National Lead into an economic growth engine, we need a plan to utilize smart growth, attracting new businesses, creating local jobs, and producing real tax revenues. If the mayor had his way, he would have allowed 4,000 new homes to be built there. That’s not smart growth. That’s overgrowth.

David M. Kaiserman (R) Since the Democrats removed the mayor from SERA, I believe we’re in a leadership vacuum. An economic project of this magnitude may happen once in a century, and to rush it through the selection process, and by not going through the public process of review and comment, without a referendum, is contrary to any accepted business and public policy. I believe it would be my duty as councilman to act on the general belief of the public. As an example, many residents want zero to limited residential development and a focus on preserving the natural beauty at National Lead, and I will make sure their voices are heard.

Kennedy O’Brien* (R) Last September, I was disappointed to watch seven years of hard work come to naught due to partisan politics. But I remain an optimist about Sayreville’s future. I believe a mixed use of small shops and restaurants, combined with office, hotel and marina, and hopefully a minor league sports franchise, would bring enjoyment for Sayreville residents while providing much-needed property tax relief to the homeowners. Because the redevelopment of the National Lead site will define Sayreville for the 21st century, the people of Sayreville have the right to widely noticed public hearings on how it is redeveloped.

Thomas V. Pollando (D)

After nearly a decade in office, the Republican mayor still has no plan to properly redevelop National Lead. Combine that with the mayor’s inability to plan for the revitalization of our downtown, and you’ll understand why residents are frustrated with his lack of leadership. And when he tried to negotiate a development deal at National Lead, he nearly saddled the borough with another 4,000 new homes. This would have severely worsened the overdevelopment crisis the Republican mayor and his Planning Board have helped create. Sayreville needs new businesses, good-quality jobs and new tax ratables. We don’t need more homes.

Paula Siarkiewicz (R) Redevelopment is essential for economic prosperity and to provide much-needed tax relief by bringing in ratables. While we need to be cognizant of our environmental obligations, that needs to be balanced with preserving wetlands to create an eco-habitat for indigenous wildlife native to the Raritan River estuary. Why should people vote for you Nov. 6? Daniel E. Buchanan* (D) I am a lifelong resident of Sayreville with strong ties to the community. And currently, as liaison to the Recreation Board, I am dedicated to bringing quality family events to the borough. I also know that Sayreville’s traffic is terrible and our kids’ schools are overcrowded. While the mayor’s Planning Board keeps approving more and more big homes on tiny lots, our new leadership is working on a master plan to protect taxpayers, children and Sayreville’s precious open space by reducing the number of new residential homes allowed in the borough.

Alvah M. “Al” Cox (D) Sayreville has been my home for nearly three decades. My wife and I raised our two children here. I owe an awful lot to this community, and I’ve spent most of my life giving back to the people of Sayreville. Whether as a police detective in our juvenile bureau, helping young people learn from their mistakes, or as school board president, where I worked to provide our children with a quality education, while trying my best to be accountable to the taxpayers of our borough. As your councilman, I will continue to work for, and earn, your support.

David M. Kaiserman (R) As a proud volunteer first aid squad responder, I enjoy serving and protecting the lives of my fellow neighbors, and running for council is a natural progression of this enjoyment of serving people and civic responsibility. I want to make sure the Sayreville residents have a voice that represents them on the council. Therefore, I believe my character, honesty and professionalism, combined with my business background and my advanced university degrees, will restore faith and confidence in the Borough Council.

Kennedy O’Brien* (R) In my eight years as mayor, I have been steadfast in ensuring that local government is transparent, open and fiscally responsible. Despite the many challenges Sayreville has faced, Money magazine has rated our town as one of the top 50 places to live in America. If re-elected, I will continue my efforts to make Sayreville a better place to live.

Thomas V. Pollando (D) After nearly a decade, Mayor O’Brien still has no plan for our borough. He’s had his chance. I have a clear vision for Sayreville’s future and a plan to get us there. I helped run a Fortune 500 firm, so I know how to attract the businesses and good jobs needed to revitalize our economy. I’ll bring people together and get things done, like I have as Sayreville’s Athletic Association president. Remember, Money magazine didn’t rate Sayreville one of the best places because of our mayor – it was because of the great people who call this town home.

Paula Siarkiewicz (R) As a working mother of four children, with one having special needs, and also having served as union president for six years, I believe I bring a muchneeded unique perspective to local government. I bring balance, consensus-building skills, financial organizational skills, and like all working mothers, I am a master at multi-tasking.