By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Local Democrats are using the one-word question “why?” to shake up a somnolent local campaign for Township Committee.
Democrats posted a nine-minute-long Youtube video of a conversation between candidate Michael Goldberg and business owner Bonnie Kole. The image of the two talking at a table is interspersed with background pictures of closed businesses, heavily trafficked roads and “for sale” signs. The Democrats say the video addresses “why” there are vacant storefronts and offices in Hillsborough and what could be done to attract retail and service businesses.
In a letter in today’s paper, the Democrats’ campaign organizers, Maureen Vella and Aldo Martinez, expanded the theme to other points. They pointed out that local government has been run by all Republicans for the last few years.
”The results have been disastrous for Hillsborough and our future,” the campaign organizers said. “ Today we have more businesses closing, terrible shopping inconveniences, increased traffic, no implementation of our Town Center plan with a walkable Main Street and a complete lack of a comprehensive economic plan and vision for the Hillsborough we give to our children.”
Republicans responded by saying the video showed their opponents “are dangerously inexperienced and grossly misinformed and uneducated with the current state of Hillsborough.”
A letter signed by GOP candidates Mayor Carl Suraci and Greg Burchette said the Republican-led Township Committee has committed itself to promoting and making Hillsborough a great place to work and live.”
The Republicans pointed to an “economic action plan” unveiled by the Township Committee in 2009. It “reconstituted the township’s grants and shared services committee, made the business advocate fulltime job and established a regulatory oversight working group that result in changing about 30 “onerous regulations that formerly hindered business growth.”
They said the plan was touted as a “best practices” model by Lt. Governor Guadagno, and has resulted in attracting new businesses to replace those “who have fallen victim to the economic downturn.” Those included Chase Bank replacing Charlie Brown’s, Joey G’s replacing Famous Dave’s and Weis Markets set to open this winter in the former Pathmark store.
”Out opponents economic plan wold involve acquiring and cutting prime commercial/retail property from the township’s ratable base,” said Suraci and Burchette. “This would do nothing more than increase taxes on Hillsborough’s taxpayers.”
Independent candidate Judd Mandel said he thought he, as part of the Township Committee, could facilitate discussions among stakeholders in a “collaborative” process to build consensus towards a clear, attainable vision “of what the town is looking for and is willing to spend money on.”
The discussion may lead to revisiting the township” master plan and consider the effects on existing businesses, he said. We continue to build, but what are we building towards? he asked rhetorically.
He said he had hosted a community gathering with about 10 business owners, local artists, and moms and dads in late September in a discussion to identify shared interests, define success for the community, examine current reality and help build shared priorities.
”I don’t have all the answers but I do recognize that businesses and residents must work across artificial boundaries,” he said.
He said people have visions of what a vibrant and healthy economy looks like in Hillsborough, and those visions are rooted in core values.
”Our values and beliefs influence the thinking that drives our actions,” he said. “We want our actions to result in a healthy and happy community, and a vibrant and prosperous local economy. Our Township Committee must work in service of those interrelated goals, provide a mechanism for authentic community participation which will reduce operational costs.”
He said he thought the Democrats’ video was unclear “I tried to get a picture of what they were saying. I had hard time and I’m a visionary.”
Mr. Goldberg, who said that running mate Jim Farley couldn’t attend the video taping, said the Democrats wanted to highlight issues in an informative and informal format.
”After years of Republicans making claims of ‘promises made, promises delivered’ it is time to ask why Hillsborough is what it is today a place to live but nowhere reaching its potential,” he said.
Similarly Mr. Goldberg called for forming a “Route 206 Stakeholders Results Task Force” with a goal to come up with “viable options that would immediately improve traffic and the image of Hillsborough and our overall business climate. We do not need a study; new need a plan of action.”
He said, “We must maximize out potential We can no longer afford to simply hope things improve and be disappointed that the construction of the bypass may not be finished until 2018.”
He called Route 206 “the clogged artery in the heart of Hillsborough and it needs an immediate angioplasty. Only then can we bring jobs and ratables that can bring tax relief to our residents.”

