KEYPORT – Republican Harry M. Aumack and Democrat Collette J. Kennedy are seeking the mayor’s seat in Keyport. The winner of the Nov. 6 election will serve a four-year term from January 2019 through December 2022.
Asked what accomplishments he could cite from his current term as mayor, Aumack said, “During my current term, there have been several positive accomplishments for our borough. We have acquired a new 107-foot aerial ladder fire truck for our volunteer fire department. This has enhanced the fire safety protection not only of the residents of our three senior citizen high-rise buildings, but for all Keyport residents and commercial properties.
“We are in the process of bringing our police department up to its authorized number of members and adjusting the proper chain of command. We also have an active ongoing program through our construction department to eliminate vacant properties in the borough and replace them with active, occupied dwellings and businesses.
“We have initiated several vehicular and pedestrian safety programs, such as the Safe Streets program, and have been successful in obtaining county, state and federal grants to help finance them,” he said.
Asked what his goals would be if he is re-elected, Aumack said, “During the next four years, I intend to continue encouraging investors to either restore any run-down structures in Keyport or to tear them down and build new, nicer, more practical buildings in their place.
“We need to add to our tax base in order to stabilize, or perhaps reduce, the tax burden on our citizens. Our property taxes, including mine, have been rising because many fixed costs, such as insurance premiums, are rising and the only way to offset that is with new ratables.
“Also, as has already been discussed by the Borough Council, we need to review the make-up and functions of our various committees, boards and commissions. This will enable us to determine if they are too large, too small, or even need to exist to better the functions of modern-day government,” he said.
Aumack, a retired New Jersey state certified Class 1 (HHS) construction official, building inspector, housing code official and fire code official, had a second career as a municipal inspector. He spent time as a mechanical engineer/machine designer who designed and tested marine lifesaving equipment and safety systems for chemical plants and power stations.
Aumack has served Keyport as a fire code official, building inspector and zoning officer. He is a 62-year member of the Keyport volunteer fire department and served as chief of department in 1976 and general chairman of the department’s 125th anniversary celebration and parade in 2002.
Kennedy is a member of the Keyport Borough Council who is now running for the borough’s top elected office. Asked what accomplishments she could cite from her current term on the governing body, she said, “Providing a more cohesive government as a whole in addition to having equal representation have been two of my goals while serving on council. An example of how this has been achieved was by realigning the council member assignments.
“There had not been a liaison for the Keyport Senior Center, which is an important asset to our senior citizens. Also, the Keyport Environmental Commission did not have council representation. Both areas now have representation and efforts are better understood, heard and relayed back to the public. In addition, the assigned council members now attend these meetings and events.
“Improving accessibility and walkability is another important goal to me. Several pedestrian crosswalks needed improvements and required continuous follow-up with the county and state until they were completed. These key steps are a jump-start into making the borough more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. Additionally, the borough implemented the Lime Bike share program,” she said.
If she is elected mayor, Kennedy said, “There are many projects still in progress to help Keyport continue on a positive path. I am running for mayor in order to continue to serve our community and assist with current and new projects to provide an even more wonderful community to live, work and visit.
“Introducing the concept of the complete streets program to the borough has been well received and steps are underway to possibly begin implementing the concept by the spring. We are also seeking grant funding to provide better access to mass transit in nearby towns,” she said.
The complete streets program is an initiative to provide safe access to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the area by enhancing existing roads.
“These efforts, if successful, will provide many of our households with the option to reduce the number of vehicles they own. Reducing vehicle volume helps the environment and provides better parking for out-of-town visitors in our business districts. It also provides more expendable income by eliminating the expenses incurred by having more than one vehicle,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy is the managing administrative assistant for the Communications Disorders and Deafness Department at Kean University. She has volunteered with the United Service Organization and several Bayshore recovery efforts after superstorm Sandy.
Kennedy has been serving as a team leader for the Community Emergency Response Team since 2013. She served on the Keyport Environmental Commission for four years prior to being elected to council in 2016.
She served on two subcommittees in 2016 while the borough’s master plan was being updated. Kennedy served on the Green Building and Sustainability subcommittee and on the Open Space and Conservation subcommittee.
Kennedy’s current term on the council runs through December 2019. If she is not elected mayor, she will remain on the council and serve the final year of her present term.