MANVILLE: Voters will choose two council members

   Manville voters will elect two members of Borough Council for three-year terms on Nov. 6.
   Republicans have nominated incumbent Richard Onderko and Susan Horensky-Star, who ran last year.
   Democrats have put forward two political newcomers, Ron Skirkanish and Mark Gregor, who was placed on the Democratic ticket after incumbent Lou Fischer, who won the primary election, stepped aside.
   Here are statements sent by the candidates:
   RON SKIRKANISCH
Democrat
   I was born and raised in Manville and live in the Lost Valley section of Manville with my wife, Gale. Our son, RJ, is a corporal in the Marines. I have been in the Carpenters Union for 30 years and I’m currently serving on the Board of Adjustment, the Board of Health and a member of the CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team).
   With CERT last year, we had to park cars at the former Rustic Mall site, close off roads and direct traffic during Hurricane Irene. While our house was getting flooded last year, I helped keep the residents of Manville from going over the bridge for 11 hours. While holding these current positions, I have already made decisions that benefit Manville and will continue long after I am elected.
   As a carpenter, I have held positions as foreman and had to get the projects done on time and on budget and that is what I will do for the town of Manville when I am elected this November. I have also been a volunteer at the VFW for several events and assisted with the Scouts when my son was in Pack 193. I have assisted at Manville Community Day events.
   As a resident of Lost Valley we have been affected by several floods in the past years. I know firsthand what everybody has to do after a flood happens and how to play the waiting game to receive your insurance money. I will see to it that the Flood Commission stays on top of any and all grants that will help Manville and our surrounding towns. I will work with our mayor and the rest of council to see that the task force stays on track. I would also like to set up a Neighborhood Watch group.
   Driving home each day, I am forced to see the fenced-in tax ratable that was once called the Rustic Mall. I see no reason why there is no development plan in sight after five years of our failed Republican Council. What is going on? Somebody has to step up and grab the bull by the horns and take charge. That is why I support the mayor’s choice to condemn the property and find the right developer to come in and build what we need to get back the ratables this town needs to stay afloat and to help stabilize our taxes.
   I want to see the Main Street area cleaned up of litter on the sidewalks and store owners take charge of their buildings and keep them clean. Also, the lower south side of town needs more police presence. We need to have the people who travel though town each day to stop and spend some time and money here in Manville.
   My plan will make this all happen and that is why the residents of Manville should vote for me on November 6th.
   SUSAN
HORENSKY-STAR
Republican
“”I am a life-long resident and come from a proud family of military and civic service.
   My Dad served our nation in World War II and proudly flew the American flag everyday. My Dad also was a life member of the Manville Rescue Squad. My oldest brother has served as mayor of Washington Township and is very active with local politics. My youngest brother was a Marine who proudly served during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. My husband, Ray Star proudly served our country during the Vietnam War. I believe in my strong family values to perform civic duty so that others can benefit by it.
   I care about the future of Manville and proudly serve on the Board of Health as president. I also served previously on council for one year as an appointed member. I believe I have the experience to work for your best interests. There will be no learning curve and we will tackle the issues, starting on day one. I have attended numerous council meetings, seeing the need now more than ever for a strong council.
   I have concerns over flooding and escalating property taxes. Continued and repeated flooding has affected the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I want to help and work towards a lasting solution that will bring much-needed relief to our residents. Both Rich and I have lived the flooding issue and want to see a solution soon. At her age, my Mom cannot take another flood. She was flooded during Floyd and Irene, which hit her first-floor living quarters. She and the rest of Manville’s citizens shouldn’t have to worry about flooding; the only things our citizens need to worry about is enjoying their golden years.
   In addition, our economy is still struggling. It is just common sense to make policy changes that save taxpayers thousands of dollars when it is tougher and tougher for families to make ends meet or find employment.
   Rich and I are seeking council positions because we care about you, your family and your future here in Manville. We will “restore the pride” in Manville by hard work and starting to fixing the problems.
   I look forward to working with a strong council that will be looking out for your best interests. With your support we will fix the bad policies of the past and improve our future. After all, we aren’t running for office — we are running for you. Together we will make a difference.
   MARK GREGOR
Democrat
   I was born in Somerville and raised in Manville. I have been married to my supportive wife Debbie for 30 years and we have three sons.
   I studied electrical engineering at Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Through the years, I have held a steady career in my industry and continually developed as a professional. During my career, I have worked at a management level for leading technology companies and held positions such as project manager, regional operations manager and vice president of operations.
   I have always succeeded in business and am very experienced in managing colleagues and company assets. I am experienced in the budget process, have managed departments, minimized expenses and increased profits, making me a successful business leader.
   I feel I have the proper background to be an asset to this community and look forward to using my years of business experience to work hard for Manville residents.
   In August 2011 when Hurricane Irene devastated Manville, I was among the first volunteers at the VFW hall to assist the evacuees. As people came into the shelter, I saw most our Manville residents arriving with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing and only a handful of personal belongings. This was nothing new to me, having been there for them during prior floods. The time I took away from my family and workplace to spend overnights and assist with preparing meals for our residents during the weeks they spent at the VFW was something I wanted to do. I expected nothing in return other than the satisfaction that I helped make some of our residents’ lives a little easier during their time of need.
   I have also been intimately involved with volunteer work with the Manville Cub and Boy Scout Troop 193 for many years, well after my own children were members of the troop. I am a trustee of the Veterans of Manville and, being a good listener, I hold the position of secretary of the corporation.
   Like many other municipalities, Manville is faced with a variety of issues. I have witnessed certain sections of our town succumb to poor dwelling upkeep, which subsequently has lowered the standard of living for our residents. Safety to our residents is paramount, specifically to the youth and senior citizen populations.
   My goal is to press for more police surveillance and inspections by fire, health and zoning officials, which Mayor Angelo Corradino has already began to achieve through his task force. I believe that working to raise living conditions in our town will lead to solving these issues.
   Secondly, the Rustic Mall area has been cleaned and is ready to build. We must strongly encourage the property owner to move forward to pursue its development. If the council has the opportunity to contribute to the development plans, I would advocate a mixed-use model of commercial and residential properties, including a grocery store. This would provide greater convenience to many of our residents, including senior citizens, who commute to neighboring towns for essential needs. Development will also increase our tax revenue and help stabilize residential taxes in town.
   In conjunction, we need to work closely with the Flood Commission and elected officials at all levels of government to facilitate the completion of the flood study and the mitigation project in order to keep homes and businesses safe from flooding.
   I believe that with my lifelong experience in business management at my workplace and my proven willingness to help the people of Manville for decades, you will find that it makes me the best choice as your next Borough Council member.
   RICHARD ONDERKO
Republican
   I have always believed our town spent too much but it didn’t do enough to help mitigate the flooding problem that has plagued it for decades. I decided to get involved and help do something about it. Here are some of my recent accomplishments:
   From day one, I refused free health care insurance and the 50 percent benefit credit for serving on council to save all taxpayers thousands of dollars and more importantly to set an example that others can follow. We had council members compensated as much as $16,000 a year, a very nice salary for a parttime position which requires attendance at two meetings a month and an occasional committee meeting.
   I really had no plans on taking a council salary either, but later changed my mind. Giving my council salary back to the community in the form of high school scholarships or other charitable contributions is an honor and privilege I cherish. I didn’t get involved for the taxpayer money one is paid for serving on this governing body. I got involved to help change things for a better future and give back to the community.
   Within months of taking the council oath in 2010, I made a trip to Washington, D.C., on everyone’s behalf with a message of urgency concerning our flooding issue. Well before Hurricane Irene devastated our borough, our senators and congressman got the hand-delivered message that our flooding problems were getting much worse.
   I held local flood committee meetings in town, which resulted in having a full-fledged multi-town flood commission in place today. The flood commission is better late than never and so much more important than our new “Shade Tree Commission” that our mayor instituted this year.
   However, our elected officials in Washington have let us down by providing limited funding to help fix our problem. I will continue to fight to have Manville’s flood levees be constructed on our side of the rivers that border our town with a sense of urgency. I will also continue to fight for more money for future buyouts or elevations. Manville residents deserve better.
   With our country’s continued economic crisis, I believe our property taxes must be stabilized or lowered as Manville’s home values continue to fall and homes are abandoned and knocked down. Where is all this future money going to come from? In addition our town is over $10 million in bonding debt even after receiving $5 million from the sale of our water company assets.
   It is no longer the economic boom of the early 1990s. Yet some continue to feel its OK to continue “business as usual” in Manville. Providing borough vehicles so employees can commute to and from work on the taxpayer dime (no matter how high the cost of gasoline) or some feeling entitled to free health insurance for life (no matter how high premiums increase each year) are two examples of where savings can be achieved in our town’s budget.
   It is way too easy to just raise property taxes when no tough decisions are ever made. That is exactly why I will never vote for a tax increase when waste is present and more “belt tightening” is required.
   Our current mayor broke the tie vote on this year’s municipal budget to raise property taxes once again even as so many homeowners were hit with Irene flood expenses.
   If you are truly unhappy with the outcome of the last mayoral race and don’t want business as usual in Manville, your choice is very clear this election. Our opponents will continue down the wrong road, “rubber stamping” the mayor’s every wish. This town simply can no longer afford it.
   Susan Horensky-Star and I will work with this council to curtail spending and fix bad policy decisions of the past that no longer make sense in our current economy. With our election we will have the necessary four votes to work for your best interests. You can count on us to do what’s right for the taxpayers of Manville at large, not the select few employees who benefit by bad policies and higher tax bills.
   Change will come to Manville this November only with your support. A strong council is what this town needs today. Sue Star and I love our community. We both want to retire here and help work towards a better future.
   I also look forward to re-election and the challenges Manville faces in the years ahead with flood prevention and stabilizing taxes at the very top of our list. We have the council experience to get things done and more importantly the common sense to vote in your best interests! Only then can Manville’s comeback begin.
   Help us stop business as usual in Manville.