HAZLET – Two Republicans and two Democrats are campaigning for a chance to claim a pair of seats on the Hazlet Township Committee.
The winners of the Nov. 6 general election will serve three-year terms on the governing body from January 2019 through December 2021.
The candidates are Democrats John Bird and Ryan O’Steen and Republicans James McKay and Tara Corcoran-Clark. No one running for office is currently a member of the Township Committee.
Asked why he is running for office, Bird said, “I grew up in Hazlet and feel that most opportunities I have had in life were afforded to me by the community and education I received in the town. As a recent homeowner in town, I felt there are things that can be done better to ensure that future generations in the town experience the same benefits I did.
“It is also imperative that those residents who made the town such a great place can retire securely. I feel as if the momentum of the town has stagnated and with new ideas and new candidates in the political realm, we have the opportunity to drive positive change in Hazlet,” he said.
Asked what he would like to accomplish as a member of the governing body, Bird said, “The No. 1 issue we would like to address is transparency by the Township Committee. As we have talked to residents, they have mentioned they feel in the dark about a number of issues, and committee meetings are not conducive to all families.
“We would like to find a way to make committee meetings available to a wider audience, as well as using modern technology to keep residents apprised of what is happening in town,” he said.
Bird, who is a special education teacher, said he would like to oversee the implementation of a road program in Hazlet that is cost effective and “engineered for sustainability.” He said he would strive to consolidate garbage removal and seek new ways to satisfy Hazlet’s affordable housing obligation.
O’Steen did not respond to requests for comment.
Corcoran-Clark, when asked why she is running for office, said, “My husband and I have lived in Hazlet for over 29 years. It has been a wonderful town to raise our three children … I would like the opportunity to actively serve on the Township Committee to give back to a town that has been so supportive of my family.
“Through my work with Residents Against Giant Electric, I have met so many extraordinary people in our town and nearby communities; people who work together to accomplish what many people thought was impossible. I believe I can use my past business experience, strong work ethic, and the knowledge gained from my recent community-focused endeavors to create a sense of safety, prosperity, pride and connectedness for our town. This is my first time running for public office,” she said.
Asked what she would like to accomplish as a member of the governing body, Corcoran-Clark said, “The No. 1 issue facing Hazlet’s residents is property taxes. My goal is to continue to grow our tax base by promoting strategic business growth and supporting more economic redevelopment zones like the redevelopment underway in the Kmart shopping plaza.
“I will use my past business experience, taking a bottom-up approach, to evaluate current spending and contain costs. I will work to expand shared service agreements with neighboring municipalities to increase cost savings and economies of scale. For example, evaluating the potential for a shared service agreement with neighboring towns for garbage and bulk pick-up collection.
“Another issue of paramount importance is Hazlet’s roads. We need a ‘super majority’ on the Township Committee to implement a comprehensive infrastructure plan to repair and reconstruct our roads. I will approve the financing of capital improvement bonds. I will also advance using digital technology to increase public participation in local government decision making,” she said.
Corcoran-Clark, who is an elementary school teacher, serves on the Core Leadership Team of Consumers Helping Affect Regulation of Gas and Electricity (CHARGE) and is a member of the Hazlet Township Library Committee. She has served as a March of Dimes and United Way community volunteer.
Asked why he is seeking a seat on the Township Committee, McKay said, “Community service is ingrained in my DNA. My father served in the Navy during World War II. He was elected to the Township Committee in 1965 and passed away less than a year later while playing in a charity softball game as a volunteer fireman in town.
“After graduating from Raritan High School (1970), I joined the Navy and became a Navy SEAL. When people thank me for my service, I believe it was a great honor to be allowed to serve our country. Not a day goes by where I do not appreciate the wonderful life I have enjoyed as a result of the sacrifices made by people who gave their all for my family and I.
“I have served our community on the first aid squad. This experience has only heightened my awareness that I should and can do more,” he said.
Asked what goals he would like to accomplish, McKay said, “First, drive taxpayer-centricity into every decision. Our seniors and many single parents are struggling to pay their taxes. We need to seize every opportunity to contain and reduce spending without placing our citizens at risk, and prioritize spending decisions.
“For example, with 30 percent of our population over 55 years old, Hazlet needs to acquire CPR pumps ($30,000 each) and place them in our police cars. Hazlet has CPR events several times a month. We need technology that optimizes survival in a CPR situation.
“We can achieve savings by executing shared services with other communities where there are cost reduction opportunities. We are not wed to past practices or obsolete technology.
“Next, repair the town’s roads; from the worst moving forward. We need to bond the cost and that requires a super majority of committee votes (four votes) to do so. With our (Corcoran-Clark and McKay) election, the committee will have the votes to move forward. We will approve the bonds if elected,” he said.
Mckay, an entrepreneur, served on Hazlet’s Land Use Board and is a trustee of the Hazlet First Aid Squad. He has served as the board chairman of the Work First Foundation headquartered in New York City.