Dennis J. Connelly (R): I am a lifelong resident of Eatontown and retired as a Eatontown police officer after serving more than 25 years. I am currently employed as a private security coo rdinator and restaurant mana g eme n t consultant. As a councilman for the past three years, I have served as police commissioner, chairman of the Police, Public Lights & Board of Health Committee; member of the Finance and Ordinance Committee & Public Works and Welfare Committee; liaison to the: Economic Development Committee, Emergency Management/Auxiliary Committee and Eatontown Alcohol & Drug Alliance and have served as the past liaison of the Tenants Rights Committee and as council president. Q.
What do you believe is the main issue facing Eatontown? What specific steps can and will you take to tackle this issue??
Mark Regan (R): I have been a resident of Eatontown since 2001. I am a self-employed graphic designer and consultant. This is my first term on the Borough Council, and I serve as chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Parking Committee; member of the Public Building, Insurance and Tenants Rights Committee, and Fire and Water Committee; liaison to the Athletic Advisory Committee, Community Center Advisory Committee, Local Board of Assistance, Recreation Advisory Committee and Youth Committee adult adviser. I have been a member and officer of the Board of Education, 2007-08. Connelly: The economy is the main issue that all residents of Eatontown are and should be concerned with. The Fort Monmouth closing has compounded the major economic downturn suffered by most of the country since 2008. People are hurting financially and just can’t afford increases in property taxes. When campaigning for my first term, I pledged to have all properties re-evaluated because tax assessments were inflated. We accomplished that mission and most homeowners saw a decrease in their property taxes. I have continued to vote against large expenditures (Husky Brook Park, mega development at Old Orchard and the proposal to move Eatontown’s municipal building to Fort Monmouth). I am for smaller government so that the taxpayers can make their own decisions with their hardearned money.
Albert “Al” Baginsky (D): I have been an Eatontown resident for 37 years. I have worked as the inform ation technology manager team lead at For t Monmouth for eight years. I am a current member of the Zoning Board of Adjust- ment, and the For t Monmouth reuse ad hoc committee. I am a former member of the Shade Tree Commission. I graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and received my Master of Business Administration with a major in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University Regan: I believe the main issues facing Eatontown now and in the future are getting businesses into the Fort Monmouth property, keeping spending under control, which will keep Eatontown affordable, creating a business-friendly environment to attract new businesses to Eatontown. During a down economy we should be focused on bringing ratables into Eatontown and not moving borough hall. Instead of acquiring Mallette Hall, we should be attracting businesses to take it over to increase ratables for the town. We continuously talk to residents to get input on issues. Our voters don’t want to spend their money to obtain a building that will need millions of dollars to renovate. They also agree that a smaller-scale passive park would work fine as a neighborhood park.
Janice Kroposky (D): I have been an Eatontown resident for 10 years. I was a dedicated teacher and was voted Teacher of the Year at Monmouth Regional High School. I am an adjunct professor at Kean University and serve as Diversity Council president of 75 school districts. I have a Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Kean University and I was a Fulbright Scholar at Rutgers University. Baginsky: The main issue is the successful development of Fort Monmouth. This is a large development that needs to be done right with Eatontown’s interests in mind. The redevelopment of Fort Monmouth will increase Eatontown’s land area by 11 percent. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) was created to provide investment, continuity and economic growth to the communities impacted by the federal government’s decision to close Fort Monmouth. We will work closely with the mayor to ensure that Eatontown’s interests are protected. In addition, my experience on the Fort Monmouth reuse ad hoc committee has provided invaluable insight to the challenges that are coming.
Kroposky: The addition of part of Fort Monmouth to Eatontown’s expanse is a prime issue. I will serve Eatontown residents with a watchful eye to ensure that Fort Monmouth is developed according to the plan created by local officials, including the mayor. The plan was designed to include the creation of jobs, which, in today’s economic climate, is very important. I understand that the future will present a variety of challenges. I will strive to ensure that Fort Monmouth is developed in a way that will help maintain local economic stability and preserve the local fabric of Eatontown. To do so, I will make certain that the borough of Eatontown will continue to offer the high quality municipal services our existing residents have come to expect and our new residents will learn to enjoy. Q.
What are your qualifications to serve on the Borough Council/ what have you done during your term that qualifies you to serve again?
Connelly: I kept my original campaign promises in reference to conducting a borough-wide reval, passing one of the toughest pay-toplay ordinances in New Jersey and reducing spending. I suggested and supported the hiring of professional people and firms without accepting campaign contributions. I remain vocal and fight for the good of the majority of residents, not just a select few. With the assistance of local business people serving on the Eatontown Economic Development Committee, we updated our zoning laws to encourage a more businessfriendly environment to attract new ratables and jobs to our town. I take my council responsibilities seriously and have a stellar attendance record for meetings and town events. I truly care about our town and the citizens of Eatontown.
Regan: During my first term, [Councilman Connelly] and I did work to pass a borough wide tax reassessment. We passed one of the strongest pay-to-play ordinances in New Jersey. We don’t accept donations from professionals who want a contract with the town. We also successfully sued T&M engineering and won back our money for Husky Brook wetlands work that was begun without the proper permits. We also worked to make Husky Brook park a passive park vs. an over-developed park with a field and kiddie lot built next to a major highway (Route 36).
Baginsky: I want Eatontown to continue to be a great place to live. Eatontown is facing a number of issues, including the Fort Monmouth redevelopment. My experience on the Shade Tree Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Fort Monmouth reuse ad hoc committee provides me the background to tackle these issues successfully. My work on these committees has provided me with knowledge of the Fort Monmouth Redevelopment Plan, insight into the town’s zoning and an appreciation of the need to control invasive plant species and to choose our plantings wisely. All of this will come into play as we deal with developers looking to develop land areas in Eatontown. In addition, my accounting background will help me to keep an eye on Eatontown’s budget and to keep our taxes low.
Kroposky: As a local educator, I’ve spent 16 years working with families in Eatontown to develop our most valuable resource, our children. I understand that local families are grappling with difficult issues. Additionally, my personal and professional experiences have qualified me well to be an efficient, pragmatic and independent decision maker. I do not make decisions without examining good analysis, sound data and careful consideration. Q.
Are there other issues facing Eatontown that you want to address?
Connelly: With the exception of the mayor, the Borough Council does not have one member serving past their first term. I would like to continue service to this town by being re-elected to a second term. The Borough Council needs continuity. I’m very familiar with the issues and I work well with the borough staff. I hope I can continue to use my extensive knowledge of the town to help lead us through the current economic problems facing all of our residents and businesses.
Regan: I’ve been a resident of Eatontown for 10 years, I am still a member of the CERT Team, I have coached many town sport teams, my children have been through our Eatontown schools, I have served on the Board of Education and now the Borough Council. I’ve been involved and committed to Eatontown and our residents for the past 10 years, and I would like to help Eatontown get through the upcoming changes we face due to the closing of Fort Monmouth.
Baginsky: Eatontown needs to always be vigilant to protect the quality of life of our neighborhoods. The denial of the development of Old Orchard Golf Course is a prime example of the type of development that Eatontown does not need. In this case, the developer wanted to have the area rezoned so they could cram a lot more development into the area. Issues like this will continue to arise, and I am ready to put Eatontown’s interests first in resolving them.
Kroposky: I chose to live in Eatontown for many reasons. One of those is the quality of life my family is afforded. In tough economic times, it is important to maintain the quality of life in town by focusing the borough’s fiscal priorities on core essential municipal services. The borough must prepare for the future. I am prepared to make wise, long-term decisions rather than settling for shortsighted fiscal gimmicks. These days, it’s easy to say no. I am not willing to sacrifice the high standard of living our residents have come to expect.