John R. Schiels EATONTOWN – The all-Democratic six-member Borough Council will have a shift in party representation come January with three Republicans prevailing in last Tuesday’s election.
Republican newcomers John R. Schiels and Theresa A. Forbes won the two full-term seats in the Nov. 6 election over Democrat incumbents Theodore F. Lewis and Joyce A Englehart.
Schiels and Forbes received 1,168 and 1,209 votes, respectively, with Lewis receiving 1,051 and Englehart bringing in 995 votes.
Republican Vicky K. Rau was also challenging Democrat incumbent Kristine Fisher for an unexpired term. Rau won by a margin of 60 votes, receiving 1,140 votes to Fisher’s 1,080 votes.
“[It] was a ‘shoe leather’ campaign,” Schiels said after the election, adding that the Republicans hand delivered materials weekly to residents.
“Basically we explained who we were, why we were running, and defined our threepoint plan. We did not accept donations, since one of our points dealt with pay-to-play.
“It would have been inappropriate to accept donations that would create a situation beneficial to political donations,” he said.
Theresa A. Forbes Rau called the campaign a “grassroots” effort.
“Low budget, anti-pay-to-play, no signs and unique by-hand delivering of all of our fliers,” she explained.
Schiels said that he and his two running mates hope to accomplish their three-point plan while in office, which includes addressing three issues facing the borough.
“All the points of the plan,” Schiels explained are, “re-evaluation, pay-toplay issues within the municipal structure and municipal contract perks.”
When asked why he decided to run, Schiels said, “Primarily, I felt unrepresented by council. Secondly, I received my tax bill after the re-evaluation.”
Schiels said his hope in serving the borough is that residents have confidence in the municipal government.
He said he wants residents to know that “they are represented in council and all decisions are made with positive considerations to future impacts of the community.”
Vicky K. Rau Forbes added that she hopes to bring “passion, effort, and the ability to roll up my sleeves and get the job done.”
“My expertise in real estate, financial budgeting, and operational efficiencies will help me to serve the community,” she said.
Rau was challenging Fisher to continue serving the final two years of the late Councilman Joseph Questore’s term. Fisher had been appointed March 7 to hold the position until the November election.
“Many residents couldn’t tolerate the heavy tax burden imposed on them from the revaluation, and didn’t like the way the council was handling this burden,” Rau said.
“I felt I could be a voice that would be heard on their behalf,” she said.
Rau continued, “As office manager of a small business, I would bring a more businesslike climate into the decisionmaking process and remove whatever political influences there are now along with a lot of enthusiasm, energy and honesty.”
The Republican winners agreed that the biggest issue facing Eatontown is taxes.
“Taxes are obviously the numberone issue,” Rau said, adding, “and putting the residents in the front seat of the decision making process.”
At the Nov. 7 council meeting, Democratic Mayor Gerald Tarantolo referred to the election as a “tough night.”
Tarantolo said he expressed his congratulations to the three winners, and looked forward to cooperating with them when they are sworn in on Jan. 1.
Tarantolo added that the council has an obligation to the Eatontown residents to keep the government moving forward in a unified manner.