(PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE) OK, let’s admit it. We all like feeling as if we performed a deed of great significance. On June 3, I simply showed up at my local polling station and voted in this year’s primary election, which included the choice for two seats on the Lakewood Township Committee.

Upon entering the polling station, which was thronged by poll workers – and devoid of voters – I received a hero’s welcome. I got a full rundown about the cuteness of one worker’s grandchildren, and about the high cost of another one’s eyeglasses. Yet another worker commented on the professional appearance of my handwriting. (Like that of a doctor, no less.)

Indeed, the primary election results showed that only approximately one-sixth of the roughly 14,000 Lakewood voters who voted in the 2005 and 2006 general elections voted in both parties’ primaries this year. Certainly, the fact that the Township Committee primaries were uncontested, and that the other races on the ballot weren’t expected to be close, were the main causes of voter apathy. However, it may also indicate a lack of voter appreciation for the importance of the local races, particularly in the shadow of a high-profile presidential race.

In reality, though, our local county and municipal governments directly affect our daily lives more than our state or federal governments typically do. Property taxes, crime, quality of life, and many social services are most affected by our local political leadership.

On Election Day, November 4, Lakewood’s voters will decide who will occupy two out the five Township Committee seats for the upcoming three-year term. Lakewood’s Democratic Mayor Raymond Coles and fellow Democratic Township Committeeman Charles Cunliffe currently hold the two seats up for election. In May, Cunliffe announced that he would not be seeking re-election.

Instead, Mayor Coles is running on the Democratic ticket with Mike Sernotti. The Republican ticket features Steve Langert and Mike Berman. Voters can vote for any two of the four candidates on Election Day. The two candidates who garner the most votes will be our Township Committeemen, come January 2009.

On September 11, The Voice of Lakewood hosted and moderated a forum featuring all four candidates. Over sushi and bottled water, the candidates introduced themselves, their records, and their agendas, to Lakewood’s voters.

Meet the Candidates

Perhaps the hallmark of The Voice’s event was the civility and congeniality of the candidates and the ensuing discourse. In an absolute rarity in today’s contentious political world, the opposing tickets did not seem at war with each other, but rather were intelligently focused on their views for Lakewood’s future.

Mayor Ray Coles has been serving on the Township Committee since 2001. His amicability and keen understanding of the inner workings of this town’s various communities and the township government shine through when he speaks.

Coles sums up his career: “I’m proud to have finally seen the fruits of my career-long goal of bringing affordable housing to Lakewood. I’m very proud of the tenor we’ve set in our committee; we listen to any resident who comes to the mike, and no one is ever belittled. Our appointments to high positions and commissions are non-partisan. In other towns, officials are often busy tearing each other apart. Lakewood is extremely diverse, but diversity is not a weapon for groups to use against each other; rather, it’s a tool for mutual success.”

Mike Sernotti is running his second race for the Township Committee. Sernotti personifies a genuine, humble, and down-to-earth approach to public service.

Sernotti points to his roots as a Lakewood resident and public servant: “I moved to Lakewood in 1987. I immediately got involved in local social functions and the little leagues for my kids. I began my Democratic Party activism in 1999. I served seven years on the local Zoning Board. Additionally, I served on the Environmental Commission, the Civil Rights Commission, and with the Community Development Block Grant. I was also involved with NJ Hand Affordable Housing, and I look forward to working with the mayor for its continued success. I would love to stay involved and make positive decisions because this is where I live.”

Steve Langert is running his third Township Committee race, for a seat that he came very close to winning in 2005. Langert embodies striking energy and wit, along with broad knowledge of the Lakewood scene.

Langert points to his wealth of experience and activism in Lakewood: “I was a member, and subsequently chairman, of the Rent Control Board, and served on the Zoning Board. I served on the Rooming- and Boarding-House Licensing Board, and on the Civil Rights Commission. I’ve been a member of the Lakewood Republican Club for over fifteen years and served as its president; I also managed Bob Singer’s campaigns. I’m proud to be a member of the Ocean Health Initiative, which runs two federally qualified health centers, one of which is in Lakewood.”

Mike Berman, an engaging, distinguished attorney and army veteran, has been a Lakewood resident since 1970; he comes with decades of a range of experience under his belt.

Berman points to his legal and communal involvement careers as strong qualifications for the position he seeks: “Over the years, I’ve had many titles. I’m the National Commander of the 50,000-member strong National Committee for Jewish War Veterans, and I’ve appeared before Congress on veterans issues. I’m the vice-president of the Federation for Children and Family Services, legal advisor to United Caregivers, and on the board of Catholic Charities. I’m also proud to be the president of my local synagogue. Ultimately, it’s not the titles that I believe qualify me for the Committee, but rather the involvement, care, and concern they show. It’s the fact that I’ve made important decisions I believe to be correct, and did so without the fear of alienating anyone.”

Voicing their Views

In response to The Voice’s inquiries, the candidates shared their views and agendas, regarding the most pressing issues facing our town:

Crime

The Voice: Certainly, the most crucial duty of any government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Unfortunately, Lakewood’s crime rate and gang activity tower above that of neighboring towns and is perceived to be increasing. What steps should we be taking to improve our safety?

Berman: I’m living in town for thirty-eight years, and crime has continually been on the rise. I believe that we need more effective community policing. There are too many cops in cars, as opposed to walking the streets. Police officers used to intimately know faces and vehicles, allowing them to more easily detect when something was suspicious; we’ve become overly mechanized. Perhaps we need to hire more cops.

Coles: Our town has grown tremendously, and we aren’t homogenous; broader policing is necessary. We have increased the amount of police officers, particularly those patrolling downtown by foot or bicycle. I also consistently seek to maximize police department efficiency, and move as many desk officers to patrols as possible.  We now have resource officers in our public schools, and the children get to know them on a personal basis; this positive influence works to counteract any negative gang influence.

People must do some crime prevention for themselves. Most burglaries and thefts are crimes of convenience, and residents must be vigilant in locking all windows and doors. The Lakewood Civilian Watch is extremely helpful; they provide an extra set of eyes and ears to assist our police. Thankfully, our crime rate is still lower than it was throughout most of our recent history.

Langert: Reducing our town’s crime rate is a great priority for me, and it was a central part of my 2005 campaign. According to the “calls for service” report given to me by the Lakewood Police Department, violent crime reports actually declined in 2007 and this year from their 2006 rates; that’s very encouraging. However, burglary, petty larceny, and theft were up this year. It’s crucial that residents ensure that their properties are always properly locked up. Unfortunately, criminals know the weak points in our schedules. Certainly, we still need more community policing and an increase in police-department resources.

Quality of Life

The Voice: Many of the Lakewood residents who adversely affect our crime situation and quality of life are brought into town by unscrupulous landlords. Is there anything we can do to rectify this problem?

Coles: People of all backgrounds who rent out properties without caring for the well-being of neighbors are highly irresponsible and negatively affect our town. However, the Jewish community is in a unique position to internally influence Jewish landlords to be more responsible, through its community leaders. Thankfully, we’ve recently seen much movement and cooperation in that regard. Income verification and criminal background checks on tenants are the most effective ways to ensure responsible renting. Our Township government must also effectively reach out and communicate with landlords, as to their responsibilities.

For those who continue to be irresponsible, our Township must increase enforcement of the symptoms of dangerous rentals; we must crack down on properties that seem overcrowded and neglected. Repeat offenders must see their fines escalate for each subsequent offense; even placing properties in receivership may be necessary as a last resort.

Langert: People must absolutely be held accountable for what they own. No one wants to live near a dilapidated, drug-infested residence; they shouldn’t cause anyone else to either. Irresponsible home ownership is a challenge to communities across the country. Businessmen can definitely make money in real estate, but it must be earned responsibly. Money doesn’t absolve your duty to be accountable to society.

Sernotti: I greatly sympathize with the Hearthstone resident who spoke at today’s Township Committee meeting, as he described the deplorable conditions in that neighborhood. While serving on the Zoning Board, I’ve helped set up assistance for residents in similar quagmires. People must know the resources available to enhance their quality of life. There are specific police officers and chiefs, as well as Zoning Officer Ed Mack, who are assigned to these duties; there is also a hotline for this purpose. It is the responsibility of neighbors to take care of their neighbors and neighborhood, and to report anything necessary to improve it.

Berman: Our government must aggressively go after landlords who see their only responsibility as picking up a rent check. We must do what’s right, regardless of the ire it may raise. This would include going into the offensive properties, if that’s what it takes.

The Voice: Another pressing quality- of-life issue is the presence of an increasing amount of day laborers’ in the downtown area, whose loitering and harassment of passersby greatly spoils our downtown’s quality of life and business environment. The laborer muster zone idea failed. What else can be done?

Langert: This is a very difficult problem to solve completely, as it is unconstitutional to move someone along for simply standing on the street; only if they lean on a building or commit other concrete infractions can they be removed. We need more community policing resources focusing on this problem. I sometimes see police officers aggressively fining motorists for very minor traffic infractions downtown. Any traffic infraction is certainly inexcusable, but these police resources would be more useful in combating any loitering or harassment.

Sernotti: The day-laborer dilemma is one that cannot be easily solved. It’s particularly difficult to properly enforce any laws prohibiting the pick-up and drop-off of laborers, as these laws would have apply to shoppers as well, which could negatively affect downtown commerce even more. No one can honestly say that the problem will ever be completely solved.

Berman: We can solve many of the day-laborer issues by tracing down their residences and ensuring their safety; this would hit at the root of the problem. There are enough laws on the books that constitutionally prosecute harassment and other quality-of-life offenses. No one should be afraid to aggressively arrest offenders. Downtown should be full of shoppers once again.

Coles: We’ve made much progress on this front. We’ve recently installed street cameras downtown, and they have led to many arrests. I’m after immigrant activists to educate immigrants about how to help themselves by respecting our residents and conforming to our neighborhoods. It’s also our community’s responsibility to help immigrants achieve a higher standard of living.

Diversity

All four candidates were unanimous in their praise for the “Let’s Talk” program and the “Emergency Response Team.” These programs and groups help the leaders of Lakewood’s various and diverse communities effectively communicate with each other and with the Township government. The increased understanding these groups have engendered has greatly alleviated much of the racial animosity Lakewood has witnessed in the past.

Property Taxes

The Voice: Lakewood’s steep, constantly rising property-tax rate exceeds that of most Ocean County municipalities. The Jewish community in particular, for the most part, does not benefit from the education budget, which goes primarily to public schools; most parents must pay additional private school tuition out of pocket. Is there any way to alleviate the tax burden?

Coles: Fifty percent of property tax revenues go to the school district, which is under the School Board’s control; another 25% of revenues go to the County government. The Township Committee only controls the municipal budget, roughly 25% of tax revenues. Most of the municipal budget covers the Police Department, which we must keep fully updated. We also fund local organizations such as Hatzolah and the LCSC. Our Public Works Department is extremely cost efficient.

Much of the hike in our budget is due to the state shifting many costs they’ve formerly covered onto our shoulders. Township manager Frank Edwards works tirelessly to trim millions of dollars in excessive costs. It’s unfortunate when we must raise taxes, but we’re honest about it, without any gimmicks. Since an increase was necessary, I personally do not have a full-time secretary or aide, as a personal sacrifice for our taxpayers.

Sernotti: As I’m not currently on the Township Committee and not privy to all the budget details, it would be unfair for me to comment.

Berman: I believe that we should explore any potential cost-saving concepts that would streamline our budget. One possible area to explore would be the Democrats’ policy of outsourcing many services, such as legal services and engineering, to outside corporations.

Langert: When the Republicans were in power over a decade ago, the Democrats ran on a platform that the Township’s increased tax rate and spending were out of control, and that a new guard was in order. The municipal portion of our budget has increased by 21% over the past two years. I respect Mayor Coles as a “mentsch,” but that’s a tremendous increase.
Through my limited research, I discovered that the Township spends $300,000 a year on advertising and marketing; that certainly seems excessive. I believe this to be enough reason to necessitate a new team in our government to properly scrutinize the budget and cut spending.

Our Voice

Once again, The Voice would like to thank all of our candidates for affording us the opportunity to introduce them, and their agendas, to the Lakewood community. We wish them the best of luck in their endeavors.

To borrow a slogan from a major news network: “We report. You decide.” Lakewood voters: Get ready. Get set. Decision day is here!

PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos taken at the debate.

(Yeshiva World News thanks the Lakewood Voice for this article)