MILLSTONE – Two Democrats and two Republicans are seeking a pair of three-year terms on the Township Committee in Millstone Township this year. Voters will held to the polls on Nov. 7.
Democrats Thomas Cantalice and Raymond Dothard are seeking the seats currently held by Republicans Michael Kuczinski and Fiore Masci, who are seeking re-election.
Cantalice, who has been a resident of Millstone for 14 years, is making his first bid for public office.
“I am seeking office because of my belief that good governing should contain more that one party in power,” Cantalice said. “I think it is healthy to have input from both sides of the political fence. I believe that a mix of parties, opinions and ideas benefit every citizen.”
Cantalice, who is a retired teacher, said, “My professional background includes 25 years as a public school teacher, experience in the home construction industry and sales experience … This would help because I have had deep experience communicating with students, parents, administrative personnel and professionals in the medical community.”
If elected, one issue Cantalice intends to address is a closer examination of the township’s tax structure.
“I’m sure many people would welcome increased clarity about how the system works,” he said. “I know that I want to know more about how we interact with Monmouth County and what that means to residents. The Township Committee has made efforts in the past to educate residents and perhaps more could be done to disseminate the information with an increased proactive effort.”
Issues that Cantalice also intends to address are Millstone’s zoning and development.
“The 10-acre zoning is something that has to be re-examined with respect to how that affects township growth and what the economic effects of this zoning are,” Cantalice said. “Development in the commercial zones is also something to be discussed and analyzed. I feel that we as residents don’t know about decisions made in these ares and what the projections for the future are.”
Dothard, a retired aviator, is making his fourth bid for Township Committee. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a member of the Millstone Township Veterans Memorial Council. He has lived in Millstone for more than 26 years.
“When I moved here it was a growing town,” Dothard said. “We had no middle school. The boom in the housing market was happening all over the country. We grew enough to get a middle school. This was all done while we had 5-acre zoning, then came the downturn in the housing market, which greatly reduced home building all over New Jersey. On top of this condition, the town went to 10-acre zoning which has caused stagnation with no normal and quality growth anymore.”
Of concern to Dothard is enrollment in the Millstone Township K-8 School District, which he said has been decreasing over the years.
“If this condition continues, one of our schools will be closed or combined at the same location,” he said. “Not enough young families can afford to move to Millstone Township to change this trend. If no effort is made to develop middle and upper income homes in Millstone, the school population will continue to decrease. The 10-acre zoning has caused developers to attempt to build houses that do not sell in the present and forecasted economic environment.”
Discussing what he called “a decreasing youth population,” Dothard made note of the ongoing Millstone Park project. He said he believes the park will be physically appealing if completed, but believes it will be underused and expensive to build and maintain.
If elected, additional issues that Dothard intends to address are making the township more appealing to businesses and keeping the municipal tax rate as low as possible.
Kuczinski, who is serving as mayor in 2017, joined the committee in 2008. He is the liaison to the Office of Emergency Management, the Millstone Township First Aid Squad and the Millstone Township Fire Company.
“I believe the town is moving in a good direction and we on the committee will continue moving it in a good direction,” Kuczinski said. “People come here because of the rural nature and the environmental friendliness of the town. They want peace and quiet, they don’t want it overdeveloped, and we want to maintain Millstone’s rural character.”
Kuczinski, who has been a resident of Millstone for 16 years, is a financial planner.
“My background helps give me a broader view of everything,” he said. “On the committee, we understand that we do not live in a vacuum and what we do has a ripple effect. So we look at the future. We make decisions that are good for today and good after we leave the dais.”
If re-elected, Kuczinski intends to continue to address maintaining the quality of life for residents and looking into more development on the township’s commercial corridors in a way that will bring tax revenue, but will not disturb Millstone.
Masci, who is serving as deputy mayor in 2017, joined the committee in 2009. He is the liaison to the Department of Public Works, municipal court and the Millstone Township K-8 School District Board of Education.
“I am seeking re-election to continue working on behalf of residents and to improve quality of life issues,” Masci said. “My family and I love everything this town has to offer.
“We want to keep improving important family quality of life issues. Having top rated schools, keeping Millstone from being overbuilt and protecting our environment is paramount to make sure this town remains beautiful.
“We do not want Millstone turned into towns that have house upon house and strip mall on top of strip mall. We are a jewel among all the other towns in Monmouth County and want to keep it that way,” he said.
Masci, who has been a resident for 19 years, is the president and an owner of FancyHeat Corporation in Somerset.
“The same business practices that have led to my success as a business is the foundation to my approach for governing,” he said.
If re-elected, issues that Masci intends to continue to address are responsibly managing the township’s open space program, responsibly managing the township’s growth, improving infrastructure, managing the township’s state-mandated affordable housing obligation and keeping Millstone’s municipal tax rate the lowest in Monmouth County.
Republicans hold all five seats on the Township Committee.