By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN – Political control of the Manalapan Township Committee will be at stake when residents head to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Republicans currently hold a 4-1 majority on the committee, represented by Mary Ann Musich, Susan Cohen, Jordan Maskowitz and Jack McNaboe. David Kane is the lone Democrat on the governing body.
Two seats will be on the ballot on Nov. 8 as the terms of Musich and Maskowitz will end on Dec. 31. Maskowitz is not seeking re-election.
Musich is seeking re-election and is running with Kevin Uniglicht on the Republican ticket.
Bernie Frojmovich and Kim Rodman are the Democrats seeking seats on the committee. If Frojmovich and Rodman are both elected, the Democrats will have 3-2 control of the committee beginning in January.
The controlling party generally has the ability to appoint individuals or companies they favor to the positions of municipal attorney, municipal planner and municipal engineer.
Under Manalapan’s form of government, the mayor is not directly elected by voters. Each January, the five members of the committee select one member of the governing body to serve as mayor for the year.
Frojmovich has lived in Manalapan with his wife and son since 2007. He has worked as an equity and financial analyst for 20 years at a number of large and mid-sized investment management firms.
He is making his first bid for public office and said he is running for a seat on the Township Committee because he wants to protect the quality of life of Manalapan’s residents.
“About a year ago, I co-founded Manalapan Strong, a group of concerned citizens who came together to oppose the high-density Manalapan Crossing project. We worked hard to educate residents through community meetings, social media and door-to-door canvassing. After defeating that project, I led the group in adamantly opposing a crematorium at the Old Tennent Cemetery.
“I also urged our Township Committee to opt out of the controversial Monmouth County Assessment Demonstration Program, which is currently under a criminal investigation. Through my involvement in these issues, it became clear to me that our local government is no longer fighting to defend the interests of Manalapan’s residents.
“My plan for Manalapan is simple. I will stop overdevelopment that raises taxes and clogs our schools and roads. I will use my financial background to restore fiscal discipline to our budget, which was recently burdened with $1 million in higher costs from a mishandling of our garbage contract. This will help stabilize property taxes, which have risen to an unacceptable level.
“I will increase transparency by better publicizing meetings and agendas. I will end a patronage system in which political affiliation is the basis of appointments on key municipal committees. … I pledge to put the interests of Manalapan’s families first in every decision I make,” Frojmovich said.
Musich, who is serving as mayor in 2016, has lived in Manalapan for 32 years and is retired from her position as the administrator for the East Brunswick Sewerage Authority. She currently works part-time in a retail store.
In addition to her work on the Township Committee, Musich is a member of Manalapan’s Domestic Violence Response Team, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, she chairs the Affordable Housing Committee and is the liaison from the governing body to the Recreation Advisory Board.
Asked why she is running for another term on the Township Committee, Musich said, “Prior to being elected to the committee, I spent almost 30 years volunteering for the township in many capacities. I have a background in the public as well as private sectors and have experience developing budgets, participating in contract negotiations and purchasing, and will continue to bring my expertise to the township.
“There are still many challenges, namely our affordable housing obligation, and our need to maintain the services our residents enjoy while keeping the tax rate stable. Together with the other members of the committee, who work well together in resolving issues, I would like the opportunity to continue to work for the township where I raised my son and enjoyed all the benefits Manalapan affords our residents to continue to make Manalapan a great place to live,” Musich said.
Rodman has lived in Manalapan since 2005 with her husband and three sons. For the past 20 years she has worked in sales and marketing for several international corporations. Three years ago she formed her own sales and marketing consulting firm.
Rodman runs a charitable group called Manalapan Helps which assists local residents in need. She serves on Manalapan’s Recreation Advisory Board and the Council on Special Needs.
She said that if she is elected, she “will evaluate Manalapan’s operational budget and institute cost-saving initiatives. Areas of potential savings include insurance and debt service costs and greater use of shared services. Reviewing vendor agreements and properly enforcing contracts will allow us to save money while also protecting residents.
“Finally, by ‘opting in’ to the Monmouth County Assessment Demonstration Program, our current Township Committee has stood by while our most vulnerable residents were subjected to significant tax increases. I also pledge to continue being a watchdog for responsible development. Our current committee has created an open door for property owners to demand zoning changes in order to make substantial profits at the detriment of our taxpayers,” she said.
Uniglicht, who moved to Manalapan five years ago, lives with his wife and three daughters. His community service includes the Planning Board, the Affordable Housing Committee and the Community Emergency Response Team. He has coached and managed soccer and softball.
Uniglicht is an attorney whose main practice area is residential real estate. He said he does not represent any developers.
Asked why he is seeking public office, Uniglicht said, “I am running for Township Committee because I truly love Manalapan and believe that I am in the best position to help maintain Manalapan as a great place to live, notwithstanding the tough issues we may face in the years to come.
“I have stood up against builders as a former deputy attorney general and will continue to do so with proper planning, so as to avoid potentially disastrous and costly builders remedy lawsuits which developers love to use to get the developments they want,” he said.
“Additionally, we have a drug problem, like many other towns, and I will continue to fight, as I have for years, to increase awareness, education and enforcement. Like so many other residents, I have seen too many people fall victim to this devastating epidemic. Drugs impact men, women and teenagers of all ages and ethnicities.
“Over the next three years, I will use my leadership abilities to help navigate Manalapan through affordable housing obligations being mandated by the courts, as well as our drug epidemic. I will work closely with law enforcement and first responders, using my education in national security and emergency preparedness to ensure that residents, our schools and our infrastructure are kept safe.
“And, in an effort to keep taxes down and put more money in residents’ pockets, I will push to implement additional shared services. Manalapan is truly a great place to live and I will do my part to keep it that way,” Uniglicht said.