GOP candidates knock on doors
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
As the summer begins to wind down, candidates for several local, state and national races are beginning to heat up their efforts to win voters’ support this November.
Local GOP council candidates Paul Saltin, Mike Kushwara and incumbent Councilman John O’Sullivan spent Saturday walking through five of the town’s 30 voting districts, meeting residents and spreading their message.
”We are walking today to let the people know that the Republican Party is alive and well,” Mr. O’Sullivan said as he gathered a group of six people in a parking lot off New Road to start walking in a district inside Kendall Park. “It is a fact finding mission to see what is on their minds.”
Four volunteers and GOP congressional candidate Eric Beck, of Dayton, joined Mr. O’Sullivan’s group, which planned on speaking to voters in that voting district.
The GOP slate is challenging incumbent Democratic Councilmen Charles Carley and Joe Camarota as well as challenger Jo Hochman.
Although not out Saturday, Ms. Hochman said the Democrats would be conducting similar walks through the community before the November election.
Those three candidates had been out previously campaigning in the June primary, easily defeating challengers Debra Johnson and Shlpin Patel.
Mr. O’Sullivan said he realizes the race before the Republicans will be challenging and that the team is prepared to work hard to get its message out to voters before the election.
”I told voters I would offer an alternate point of view on spending items (in the budget),” Mr. O’Sullivan, who is seeking his second term on the governing body said. “It is important to have another point of view on the council.”
In addition to the local candidates, Mr. Beck is trying to unseat incumbent Democrat Rush Holt in the 12th congressional district.
”We feel the gap (of Holt’s prior victories) is closing,” Mr. Beck said. “It is down to about five (percentage) points.”
Mr. Beck, a businessman, said that he feels he is in the best position to take the seat for the Republicans because he has the experience to create jobs.
”I’m going around the district trying to meet as many people as I can,” Mr. Beck said. “In a normal year (the issue) would be property taxes, this year 99 out of 100 people say it is jobs. Grow the economy and create jobs.”
Mr. Beck said that as a small businessman and entrepreneur, he has a record of creating jobs and would like to do the same thing in Washington, D.C.
”We need a credible plan to create jobs and grow this economy,” Mr. Beck said. “My opponent is solely focused on borrowing and spending.”
During the next several hours the group went to several homes on the various Kendall Park streets including one belonging to Ann Ellsworth, who greeted the team at the door.
Ms. Ellsworth said she was happy to see the candidates going around the neighborhood.
”A couple of years ago a candidate came to my door,” Ms. Ellsworth said. “I had an issue and I spoke to him about it and he did something.”
She said she was concerned locally about how the town spends money and traffic problems along Route 1.
In another area of Kendall Park, resident GOP volunteer Tonya Kulberta and James Keyes, a Young Republican from Ridgefield Park in Bergen County, were also spreading literature for the candidates and meeting with residents.
”People are receptive, they are looking at the literature,” Ms. Kulberta said. “They are happy to know that the candidates want to hear what the issues and concerns are.”
Many of the homes visited by this group after knocking on about 20 doors early during the walk, did not have anyone home.
And some residents were not receptive.
One Kingsley Street man returned the literature to the volunteers after learning the candidates supported Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
The man, however, refused to speak with a reporter for the Post.
For Mr. Keyes, who carpooled from Bergen County to volunteer in the campaign, the issue is jobs for graduates coming out of college.
Mr. Keyes, 21, who is studying criminal justice and political science at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New York, the issue is the lack of jobs for recent graduates.
”I’m really young,” Mr. Keyes said. “It is upsetting to go into a job field with 8 percent unemployment.”
Mr. Keyes said he is volunteering to “do his part” to bring about a change.
”I want to let everyone know we are in the same boat and we need a change,” Mr. Keyes said.

