Four men are running for the right to serve the remainder of the mayor’s term in Jackson from November through June. Polls will be open on Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
John Gaskill The candidates are John Gaskill, Michael Kafton, Michael Reina and Angelo Stallone.
Reina was appointed Jackson’s mayor following the resignation of Mark Seda and is now running for the right to complete the term.
In May 2010 there will be an election for a full four-year mayor’s term. The winner of that election will become Jackson’s mayor on July 1, 2010.
Each candidate was asked to respond to a set of questions provided by the Tri- Town News. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order.
Gaskill has lived in Jackson since 2001. He performs contract based project management services for various clients. He has served as the co-chair of the Going Green Committee, the co-chair of the Mayor’s Committee on Parks and Recreation, the Economic Development Advisory Committee, and served a term on the Environmental Commission last year.
Mike Kafton Responding to the question, “What professional and educational skills do you bring to the table that you believe will benefit or help your ability to govern the township?,” Gaskill said he has worked on government projects with an aggregate value into the tens of millions of dollars, as both a project manager and as a subcontractor.
Gaskill said he has an understanding of how government works and how it does not work.
“I have the ability to get things done on time, within budget, and in accordance with specifications,” he said. “I am an excellent negotiator. I have to be, when bargaining with subcontractors.”
The candidate said he grew up in a family of modest means and has a good understanding of what people need versus what they want, and said he will set the municipality’s priorities accordingly.
Responding to the second question, “What specific areas of concern are there in the township that you would personally like to address as a township official?,” Gaskill said Jackson’s population has grown drastically in recent years. He said the social dynamics of the town have changed and said residents’ expectations from their representatives have changed as well.
Mike Reina “Our tax rate is going to be over 50 percent higher than surrounding towns (coming) out of a revaluation,” Gaskill said. “We deserve better services for those high taxes.”
The candidate said residents deserve garbage collection and said officials also need to address the issue of solar panels, cleaning Jackson’s lakes, funding open space preservation, and eliminating the air of entitlement from politicians.
Responding to the third question, “Beyond those specific areas, what other issues do you believe need to be addressed over the next three years, especially considering we are in an economic climate that the country has not seen in decades, and what challenges do you expect to face in the process of governing the town?,” Gaskill said the first thing he will address is what he called graft and cronyism.
“I will accomplish this by changing the way professionals are appointed through the mayor’s office,” he said. “I hope that the Township Council would follow suit.”
Angelo Stallone Gaskill said he will start to strictly enforce nepotism rules that are in effect.
“I will better use the Department of Public Works to reduce the costs associated with contracting our services out to vendors,” he said. “I will focus on acquisition of federal grant money and will work directly on ensuring it is well spent.”
Gaskill said Jackson is facing the prospect of reduced state aid again and said he believes the economy and housing market will be weak for at least two years. He said officials need to be responsible and said every department head will have to rationalize a request for every dollar.
Gaskill said that if he is elected on Nov. 3, he will release a preliminary budget in January so there will be extra time to review and improve the spending plan. He said the extra time will allow officials to find more reductions in the spending plan.
Kafton has lived in the Jackson for more than 40 years. He is the owner of the White Butterfly Gift Shop and he is the broker of George Realty, both in Jackson.
He is a member of the Jackson Economic Development the Jackson Going Green Committee, the Jackson Food Pantry, Project Playground, and created the Meet the Mayor program.
Responding to the first question, “What professional and educational skills do you bring to the table that you believe will benefit or help your ability to govern the township?,” Kafton said he has served Jackson as a township committeeman, mayor, deputy mayor and presently as council president.
As a business owner in town, he said he has always been available to address any issues that may arise in the community.
“As an elected official, I have been instrumental in instituting the most aggressive tree (save) ordinance in New Jersey, changing zoning, preserving hundreds of acres of open space and preventing hundreds of homes from being built, and cut the tax rate in the years 2001-2005,” said Kafton. “I believe this experience makes me uniquely qualified to move Jackson forward.”
Responding to question No. 2, “What specific areas of concern are there in the township that you would personally like to address as a township official?,” Kafton said of utmost importance to him is preserving the environment and open space, and reducing the tax burden that has been placed on residents.
“I introduced the Economic Development Council, which was designed to attract businesses, including restaurants, to Jackson, thereby easing the tax burden on our residents,” the candidate said. “I have also introduced the Going Green Committee, which will allow us to explore alternative sources of energy to save taxpayers money.”
Kafton said he recently suggested the creation of a Safe Roads Advisory Committee, which would work to make Jackson’s roads safer.
Responding to question three, “Beyond those specific areas, what other issues do you believe need to be addressed over the next three years, especially considering we are in an economic climate that the country has not seen in decades, and what challenges do you expect to face in the process of governing the town?,” Kafton said he has always been in the forefront of enhancing services for senior citizens.
“I helped find a home for the nutrition center, brought the Caregivers program into town, volunteered at the food pantry, hosted informational seminars and supported programs at the senior center, including the expansion of (the center),” he said. “I am always available to address the needs of the seniors collectively or individually.”
One of the biggest challenges Jackson faces is the mandates set forth by the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), the candidate said.
“We need to provide affordable and safe housing for those who need it, but we must find ways to accomplish this without bankrupting municipalities and by adding to an already overburdened infrastructure,” said Kafton. “As mayor, I will continue to be in the forefront of this battle.”
Reina has lived in Jackson for more than 22 years. He works in security at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey.
He served on the Planning Board for six years and chaired the board for two years. Reina has served with the Jackson Office of Emergency Management. He said he has volunteered at the Jackson Food Pantry.
Responding to the first question, “What professional and educational skills do you bring to the table that you believe will benefit or help your ability to govern the township?,” Reina said he brings a volunteer’s attitude to the table every time he does business, regardless of the situation.
“Instead of worrying about who should get the credit, I remain focused on the task at hand until it is completed,” he said. “Possessing the best credentials in the world does not make an effective leader. Having the ability to listen and understand what is going on around you is an invaluable tool most often overlooked.”
Reina said common sense is the skill he relies on, and he said using common sense combined with an open line of communication with residents will continue to benefit his ability to govern Jackson. The candidate said this attitude puts integrity back in government.
Responding to the second question, “What specific areas of concern are there in the township that you would personally like to address as a township official?,” Reina said the revenue Jackson derives from commercial ratables is way too low.
“We need smart economic development,” he said. “Modifying business roadblocks and working with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Pinelands Commission is a must; opening lines of communication with businesses.”
Reina said investments must be made with future paybacks, while runaway labor costs and giveaways must end.
With major contracts being negotiated, changes must yield productivity gains, he said.
“This raises the question of level-setting reality or cutting staff and reducing township services,” said Reina. “A townshipunion partnership must happen.”
Responding to the third question, “Beyond those specific areas, what other issues do you believe need to be addressed over the next three years, especially considering we are in an economic climate that the country has not seen in decades, and what challenges do you expect to face in the process of governing the town?,” Reina said balancing Jackson’s needs in a fiscally responsive manner is a key issue.
“Encourage a highly educated township work force,” he said. “Develop a friendlier business/commercial environment to expand our tax base.”
He also suggested reducing expenses through a meaningful and practical shared services program within the township and with other towns, reaching out to retired professionals for their knowledge and experience to provide cost-effective ideas and strategies used successfully in the private sector.
Reina said local officials should challenge the state on unfunded affordable housing and environmental regulations that he said create a stranglehold on the township’s economic development and tax base.
“Support the Board of Education to modify (state aid) funding,” he said. “Upgrade our technology investment to improve productivity, and expanding the public’s safety and welfare has to always be a priority.”
Stallone has lived in Jackson for 24 years. He owns and operates an electronics services business. He is a former member of the Township Council, serving from 2006 to 2008.
He said that while he was on the council, he was the liaison to the Office of Emergency Management/ Community Emergency Response Team for one year. During that time, he met with the Governor’s Commission on Teen Driving Safety and said he was instrumental in having one of its programs instituted in Jackson.
Responding to the first question, “What professional and educational skills do you bring to the table that you believe will benefit or help your ability to govern the township?,” Stallone said that as the owner of an electronics services business for more than 30 years, he knows the importance of strong financial planning and good management. He said he knows how to balance a budget and reduce wasteful spending.
“This experience was critical to the many decisions I made during my term on the Township Council,” he said. “At the end of my term on the council, Jackson was in good financial health with a $6 million surplus. One year later, Jackson’s property taxes are the highest in history. We must rein in this outrageous spending.”
Responding to the second question, “What specific areas of concern are there in the township that you would personally like to address as a township official?,” Stallone said that as mayor, he will watch every penny, nickel and dime, while maintaining Jackson’s affordability for all individuals. He said he has been told Jackson’s next municipal budget faces the prospect of a deficit.
By law, a municipality may not operate at a deficit.
“I will encourage new businesses and clean commercial ratables to increase our revenues and create jobs,” Stallone said. “To be an effective mayor, you must feel the pulse of the community. This year, online minutes of Township Council meetings have been withheld from the residents for five months or more, keeping residents in the dark. As mayor, open communication will be my priority.”
Responding to the third question, “Beyond those specific areas, what other issues do you believe need to be addressed over the next three years, especially considering we are in an economic climate that the country has not seen in decades, and what challenges do you expect to face in the process of governing the town?,” Stallone said everyone across the country is tightening their belt, and so must Jackson, but not at the expense of needed services.
“A town the size of Jackson needs more police protection,” said Stallone. “The safety of the residents has fallen by the wayside, and [that] has not been addressed.”
Stallone said he will continue to support volunteerism, which he said is a strong and integral part of Jackson’s first aid and fire departments.
“As a councilman, I helped write the Green Usage Law for municipal building projects and helped save the eastern Jackson park-and-ride lot,” the candidate said. “We must continue these kinds of initiatives that benefit our environment and reduce the wear and tear on our infrastructure, so that our children and our children’s children will enjoy the same beauty that we do today.”