ALLENTOWN – Four residents are running for two three-year terms on the Allentown Borough Council in the Nov. 5 general election.
In April, Democratic Councilman Rob Schmitt filed a nominating petition to seek re-election to a third term. Schmitt’s nomination was confirmed in the June 4 primary. He is the only candidate running with a political party designation.
On June 4, three residents filed nominating petitions with the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office to run for the council seats as independent candidates: Thomas Braunworth, Martha Johnson and Daniel Payson.
Braunworth and Johnson are running on the Allentown First Committee ticket with Greg Westfall, who is seeking his second four-year term as mayor.
Payson is running on the Allentown Together ticket with Thomas Fritts, who is running for mayor. Fritts is the current president of the Borough Council.
The council terms are for three years.
Schmitt, a lifelong resident of Allentown, is serving the final year of his second three-year council term. He said that during his first term, “I worked hard with all involved parties to draw attention to and fix the failing Allentown sewer treatment plant. Today, despite some setbacks, we are now on track to see a new facility completed by 2020.”
Schmitt said that during his second term, he has “tackled our multiple water issues – the water meter replacement program, repairs and improvements to the water plant, and the forthcoming renovation project on the borough water tower.”
He said he, along with the mayor and his fellow council members, have worked “to preserve the Allentown First Aid Squad and help them to forge a new long-term sustainability plan … I have been a strong advocate for the Hope Fire Company and have worked with this mayor and council to partner with Upper Freehold to purchase a new truck to replace an old, no longer serviceable (vehicle). I fought hard against truck traffic, border encroachment by our neighbors and runaway overdevelopment, and led the way on preserving what little open space the historic village has left.”
Braunworth said he is seeking a seat on council because he “would like to be part of working together with the other elected officials to make a difference in completing outstanding projects. Some of these would be the sewer plant project, the traffic bypasses around town, maintaining a buffer around town with preserved land, and better parking available for the businesses in town.”
Braunworth said he and his family have lived in Allentown for 33 years and he has served on the ad hoc sewer committee for three years.
Johnson said she is seeking a seat on council because she “wants to continue, as I did in my career, to administer programs for senior citizens of Allentown to enjoy in addition to receiving any help they need.”
She said she also wants to address traffic problems on Church Street and to hold the line on tax increases.
Johnson said she and her family have lived in Allentown for 48 years. She is a member of the Streetscape Committee which is providing input to the Borough Council and borough engineer on the 2017 funded streetscape project for Church Street and North Main Street.
Payson said he was born and raised in Allentown and is a current member of the Environmental Commission and a former member of Allentown-Upper Freehold Municipal Alliance. He said he attends council meetings regularly.
“I am running for council alongside Tom Fritts for mayor. I grew up in Upper Freehold-Allentown and graduated from Allentown High School. While I moved away for a few years, when my wife and I had our first child, we returned home to raise our family.
“I currently serve on the Environmental Commission and was a member of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Municipal Alliance and a volunteer EMT on the Allentown First Aid Squad.
“I am running to ensure residents have a voice. I want Allentown to maintain its historic charm, while continuing to reduce costs and prepare for the future.
“While Tom’s resume as council president speaks for itself, it is his leadership I truly value. There are many challenges ahead for our aging infrastructure and it will take a dynamic leader like Tom to bring Allentown Together,” Payson said.