What would you do to help stabilize taxes?
Bill Baker*(D) Baker, 57, has lived in Old Bridge for over 20 years with his wife, Audrey, and three children. He works for Verizon as a technical service manager. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration. In addition to serving on the Township Council since 2002, he is the former president of the Cheesequake Babe Ruth League and former hall chairman at the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh. Baker: Every great journey begins with a small step. This year the council and the mayor took a small step by adopting a no-tax-increase budget for 2009. This is a good first step towards long-term tax stability in our community. The tax burden in our town and in our state is bad enough; we need to do what we can to not make it any worse. We need to look at zero-based budgeting and consider, just like we do in the private sector, whether each dollar that we spend is justified.
Sohor: I plan to stabilize taxes by cutting unnecessary spending, exploring better shared services with other township agencies, and ending the use of one-time revenue to plug budget holes. Looking at long-term costs is the only way to keep our property taxes stable.
Mary Sohor (R) Sohor, 54, has lived in Old Bridge for 32 years. She is the widow of former Old Bridge Councilman Roman N. Sohor Sr. She is manager of the Peterpank Diner, Sayreville. She has been a member of the Old Bridge Township Housing Authority since 2001, and she is a former member of the Local Finance Board. She is also a former member of the McDivitt, Sandburg and Old Bridge High School PTA/PTSA groups, the OBHS Band Parent Association and a communicant of Most Holy Redeemer Church, Old Bridge. Has Old Bridge done enough to control development?
Baker: There is no more contentious issue than overdevelopment here in Old Bridge. For example, the prior Republican administration wanted to build a high-density town center where the Cottrell Farm now sits. I have strongly opposed the development of the Cottrell Farm and I am working hard to have it preserved. I want that property to join the other 400 acres of open space and 75 acres of farmland that have been preserved recently by the mayor and council. Building permits are down in Old Bridge by almost 90 percent, and we should keep it that way.
Sohor:Old Bridge has not done enough to control development. It is always a talking point during election season, but the fact remains that the only real solution is to improve upon the town’s current master plan. Changing that is the only sure way to curb the approval of such developments.
What new programs or projects would you endorse and work on as a council member over the next four years:
Baker: Opening the new YMCA, the dog park and Mannino Park are examples of how we should pursue projects in Old Bridge. The renovation of Lombardi Field is another example of many people with different interests working together to complete a worthwhile project. Using non-tax resources to help complete the Lombardi Field project was also a roadmap for future success. With all the things that we have learned in completing these other projects, I want to pursue the development of the golf course in Ward 2, without a taxpayer subsidy and using a public private partnership.
Sohor: I would like to start a residents’ committee on our budget, so there can be more understanding of where our money is going. I would also propose a Volunteer Bank of residents who do not do business with our government but have expertise in fields like engineering and finance. These people would give their opinion on the costs of certain town projects and provide the mayor and council independent analysis to make sure that Old Bridge is getting the best deal for its money.
Why should residents vote for you on Nov. 3?
Baker: I am working hard for the residents of Ward 2 and representing their best interests. When it comes to preserving open space, fighting overdevelopment, preserving the Cottrell Farm and freezing the local tax rate, my work on the council is in touch with what our residents want. In addition to that, I have worked to meet the many individual needs of our neighborhoods; working to clean up Lake Lefferts, keeping Higgins Road a dead end, improving Why should residents vote for you on Nov. 3?
Baker: (Cont.) the intersection of Route 516 and the high school, permit parking at Highpointe and completing our regular curbing and paving programs.
Sohor: I have been a resident of Ward 2 for 32 years. I have a record of volunteerism that shows my commitment to our community. I would bring a small-business background to the council, and help Old Bridge live within its means, and continue to do so over the long term, not just today. I will help the residents’ perspectives be heard, and treat their concerns with respect and an open mind. I will never look for the quick fix.