HOLMDEL Four candidates are running for the two available seats on the Township Committee.
Incumbent and Republican Mayor Gregory Buontempo along with Republican Dr. Rocco Pascucci will face Democrats Larry Luttrell and Barbara Singer for the three year term. Election day is on Nov. 7.
Buontempo, 52, has been a resident for more than 20 years and has worked as an area sales director for Sprint for 18 years.
“My wife Ann Marie and I have three children all of whom have gone through or are currently in the Holmdel school system,” Buontempo said.
Buontempo has been on the township Planning Board for nine years and previously was chairman of the Major Gifts Committee at the Bayshore Medical Center. He is also a commissioner on the Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA), a member of the Holmdel Library advisory Board and a trustee at Bayshore Medical center.
“I decided to run for re-election to finish the work I started six years ago. The new Holmdel Library and learning center is one of the greatest projects and achievements that has ever occurred in our beautiful town. I am passionate about this project, because it positively impacts every resident in our town,” Buontempo said. “The design that was created by our architect allows for a very unique architecture that no other library will offer. The learning center part of our library will allow the Holmdel Library Foundation to display the incredible history and heritage of our town while showcasing some of the significant technology discoveries that were born inside the Bell Works building. We are voluntarily raising funds to pay for the items that will be placed inside our new facility.”
Buontempo said that he will, “Continue to hold expenses flat and maintain a zero tax increase for the next three years and if possible, lower taxes for our residents. Continue our very aggressive repair and repave road program, for 2017 we were able to repave all the roads designated as well as some slated for next year and come in over $1.1 million under budget. Work with and formulate future plans with the results of our township’s recreational needs survey. Residents should expect us to improve our facilities that will positively impact all residents.
Pascucci, 67, has been a resident for about 35 years and has been a pediatrician for about 35 years as well. He raised two children in the township who went through the school system.
He previously was on the township’s Board of Education and the township’s juvenile conference committee. Passcucci was also former township committeeman who served on the committee for two terms. He was also served on the township planning board for one term.
“I think they need a person of age there, so I want to come back. I enjoyed it and I like doing stuff for the town so I think that they need someone with experience, a little elder on there, so that is why I am running again,” Pascucci said.
Pascucci is currently one of the deputy coordinators for emergency management for the township.
“I want to keep the taxes flat, especially now that I am getting older it is hard for people to pay taxes. People are not making as much as they use to, so I want to keep a flat tax rate. I can’t do anything for the Board of Education, but for the town I want to keep the taxes the same. Even in Holmdel it is a wealthy town, but they are hurting and they are not making as much money. There are a lot of seniors, I just want to keep the tax rate flat,” Pascucci said.
Passcucci said he also wants to continue the fight to stop the JCP&L’s power lines from being built through the township.
“Recreation for everybody, seniors, kids, we all need to get outside and do stuff so we have got to improve our recreation, but for everyone. I want to work on recreation for everyone, phasing it in for all the different groups,” Pascucci said.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].