By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Two incumbent members of the Borough Council in Freehold Borough are running unopposed for a pair of three-year terms on the governing body in the Nov. 8 election.
Democrats Kevin Kane and Jaye Sims are seeking re-election. Sims is serving as the council president in 2016.
Kane has served on the council since 2001. He currently serves as chairman of the Finance Committee. He did not immediately provide a comment when asked to do so by the News Transcript.
Sims has served on the council since 2006. He currently serves on the Public Safety and Personnel committees. He has served on the Recreation Commission, the Freehold Municipal Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse and the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee.
He served on the Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the CentraState Medical Center Legislative Affairs Committee.
“I have decided to run for re-election again because I believe there is still much work to do in Freehold Borough,” Sims said. “I believe in our residents and the development of our town. Our rich diversity and history is what makes Freehold Borough great.”
Sims is a lifelong resident of the borough and is employed by the Monmouth County Health Department. He is a member of the Freehold Fire Department Goodwill Hook and Ladder Company. He previously worked as a dispatcher for the Freehold Fire Department and the Freehold Borough Police Department.
“I feel my professional background helps me deal with very complex issues on the council,” Sims said. “Some of these issues include personnel matters. I have experience of being a shop steward with my union at work and in my position, I am a supervisor. I also have constant dealings with local, county, state and federal officials. Those experiences help me to suggest ideas to the rest of the council when dealing with difficult matters.”
Sims said issues the borough will face in the next three years will include continuing to assist the school district in addressing underfunding in state aid, continuing to address the issue of parking in the downtown area and dealing with the aging infrastructure of the borough’s water plant.
“Those are not the only issues we will have to deal with, but I do believe they are the most important,” Sims said.
Democrats currently hold all six Borough Council seats and the mayor’s office.