MILLTOWN — Four candidates are vying for two three-year terms on the Borough Council.
The candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot are Republican incumbent Neil Raciti, former Councilman and Democrat Randy Farkas, and newcomers Democrat Nick Ligotti and Republican Richard Revolinsky.
Randy Farkas, 55, is seeking a third term on the council. He has lived in Milltown for 24 years and has two adult daughters.
He attended Eastern New Mexico University and The College of New Jersey and is a Senior Technician II at Clean Energy Fuels Inc.
Farkas currently serves on the Milltown Planning Board and is co-founder and participant in the annual Haunted River Walk that has raised more than $150,000 for students of Joyce Kilmer Middle School. He also served as chairman of the Fourth of July Committee from 2004 through 2009.
Farkas said he is running again for a council seat because he believes the residents of Milltown deserve qualified candidates who are passionate about making the borough a great place to live.
Randy Farkas “Proactive thinking and a long list of accomplishments are what sets me apart from the other candidates,” he said. “Determination and perseverance are qualities that I have demonstrated throughout my political career, and they remain the driving force that motivates me to once again work for the residents of Milltown.”
Farkas said there is more work to be done on the borough’s infrastructure.
“In addition to the accomplishments of my last term, we are very close to completion of our new substation, yet our Public Works garage remains in the flood plain,” he said. “Our aged water distribution system has once again been neglected by the current council. It is in need of additional repair and upgrading, which I have spearheaded during my previous terms on council.”
Nick Ligotti Nick Ligotti, 49, is seeking his first term on council. He has lived in Milltown for 15 years and is married to Joy; they have two adult daughters.
Ligotti received a two-year degree from DeVry University and is an information technology manager.
He serves on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Recreation Advisory Committee and is the mayor’s designee to the Middlesex County Housing and Development committee. He has also served on the Milltown Shade Tree Committee, the Fourth of July Committee and is a Milltown recreation softball and basketball coach.
Ligotti said he is seeking a seat on the council because he believes he can bring the best skill set needed to take Milltown into the future.
“The current administration led by my opponents have done a poor job over the last two years, and it is time for a change and to get some balance on the council so that tough questions can be asked and not swept under the rug,” he said.
Neil Raciti Ligotti said being active in local government the last 10 years, there are many areas of improvement.
“If I had to pick the top two for me, the first would be the borough utilities and rates to our residents,” he said. “The second would be to take back control of the unnecessary spending the Borough Council has burdened all Milltown residents the last two years.”
Neil Raciti, 47, is seeking his second term on council. He has lived in Milltown for seven years and has two adult daughters.
He has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Middlesex County College. He has been a Middlesex County Sheriff’s Officer for the past 15 years.
Rich Revolinsky Raciti is an active member of American Legion Post 25, Master Mason Lodge 294 and the Milltown Revitalization Committee, and said he is a supporter of every fundraiser and event to support Milltown organizations.
Raciti said he is seeking re-election for many reasons.
“I think the most important is the fact that as an elected official my task is to do right for the people,” he said. “As most are aware, I am not afraid to voice my opinion when it needs to be heard. I will always make the best decision for the borough, regardless of party affiliation.”
Raciti said he is not a political puppet, and is for the “people, not the party.”
“I will not be told how to vote or to disregard a resident’s comments/concerns because they are not part of a specific party,” he said. “I believe when you are elected you represent everyone. Whether they voted for you or not, you need to do right by them.”
Raciti said Milltown has many challenges ahead, and the borough needs someone who will always put Milltown first.
“If re-elected, I will continue to move Milltown forward, along with the help and confidence of the other council members and mayor,” he said.
Raciti said if re-elected, the areas that he would like to continue to focus and work on are Ford Avenue and the Main Street revitalization, which he said are both vital to Milltown.
“These areas not only bring in ratables, but establish a true downtown area,” he said. “It has always been an aspiration of mine to see Ford Avenue developed to ‘our’ liking and not what some government agency wants. While there is a court order to do certain things, we can still do what works best for Milltown.”
In regards to Main Street, Raciti said officials have had several meetings with representatives of the New Jersey Institute of Technology and are excited to enter into a partnership with them to revitalize Main Street at no cost to the residents.
Rich Revolinsky, 34, is seeking his first term on council. He is a lifelong resident of Milltown and has two young children, ages 3 and 1.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental policy from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in the field of construction management. His profession is in construction management.
Revolinsky is a volunteer on the Milltown Fourth of July Committee and serves as a committee member of the New Jersey Chapter of Water for People. He also attends Our Lady of Lourdes church with his family.
Revolinsky said he is absolutely dedicated to Milltown.
“As the town in which I raise my family and have grown up in, it is a personal desire to maintain and improve Milltown for years to come,” he said. “In addition to being a lifelong resident, I feel my education, professional experience and passion will bring great value to the borough as we make tough financial decisions regarding the future of our infrastructure and quality of life to our residents.”
If elected, Revolinsky said he would like to focus on utilities.
“I would develop a long-term plan for capital improvements to address not only the deficiencies of our current infrastructure, but to address the potential future needs as well,” he said. “I would like to improve efficiency of the Public Works Department and the services we provide to the residents.”
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.