EAST BRUNSWICK – Three Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination for the East Brunswick Township Council ballot in the November general election.
The candidates are Camille Ferraro Clark, Curt Philipczak and Thomas Szaro. Clark is a current councilwoman. Philipczak is a former East Brunswick Board of Education member, and Szaro is a member of the East Brunswick Economic Development Advisory Committee.
The four-year terms of Clark, Councilman James Wendell and Councilman Michael Hughes are up for election.
Clark, 69, is retired. She has been a resident since 1984. Clark is in her ninth year as a council member.
“I decided to run for re-election because I am concerned that some segments of the township population would not be adequately represented if I did not run. I take a very conservative view on spending money and try to ensure that each tax dollar is stretched to the limits of its useful life,” she said.
Clark mentioned shared services relative to the East Brunswick School District. By allowing the school district to use the township’s credit rating to borrow money, the council is lessening the impact of the costs borne by taxpayers, and in effect, the council is helping to keep school taxes down, she said.
If re-elected, Clark said the issues she wants to continue to tackle include East Brunswick’s redevelopment plans, fiscal responsibility, continuing to improve the town’s infrastructure and continued support for the library.
“I have helped rein in spending. For example, using brine to pretreat roads for anticipated snowfall greatly reduces the amount of snow that has to be removed and in some instances, removes that necessity altogether,” she said. “I had proposed that treatment, offered research and facts on it and supported the purchase of the equipment needed to make the brine, which we sell to other municipalities and thus reduce our costs.
“Another modest accomplishment was to ensure the municipal administration staircase was finally replaced, making it possible to effect a safe screening process for entering and exiting the court. I also ensured the project did not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, as first proposed,” the councilwoman said.
According to Clark, she has served on the Commuter Parking Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Board, the Cable Television Advisory Board and the Planning Board. She currently serves on the Water and Sewer Advisory Board and on the Cable and Communications Board.
Philipczak, 55, has been a resident for 17 years. He served on the East Brunswick Board of Education from 2010-16.
“While on the board, I saw the interaction with the different departments of our township’s local government with the board,” Philipczak said. “I saw the importance of when all areas of our community support each other and work together for the safety and benefit of us all. This encouraged me to now contribute my time and talent to be a candidate for Township Council.”
Philipczak, a certified public accountant, said if he is elected to council the two main issues he wants to tackle are quality of life and the municipal budget.
“I believe we can all agree with those issues. The next step is what direction do the elected township council members take to improve those issues?” he said. “I believe I work well with people in budget and financial matters. The budget does govern what the council can provide to our community. I believe it’s important to always be respectful to the taxpayers. I have worked on and found budget and financial solutions for a number of organizations. I would now like to be able to do this as a member of the council.”
Philipczak is president of the Windsong Home Owners Association. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Boy Scouts of America and the Knights of Columbus.
Szaro, 52, has been a resident for 18 years.