MOUNT OLIVE (10/18/07) - Experience and inexperience were both evident in last night’s candidates debate in the township’s Middle School. The event was sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce

Only about 40 people cared enough to come out to hear the three candidates for mayor and the six Council candidates express their views to questions posed by three news reporters, Joyce Estey of Radio Station WRNJ, Phil Garber of the Mount Olive Chronicle and Richard Johnston of hnsnj and a representative of the Morris County League of Women Voters acted as moderator.

The three mayoral candidates were questioned first for about an hour, then the six Council candidates took the stage for another hour and a half.

Mayoral Candidates

Republican Mayor David Scapicchio had the advantage of being in office so his responses to the questions were more informative. Democrat Rich Escobar showed humor in many of his responses to questions and agreed several times that Scapicchio was doing a good job as mayor so much so that in his closing remarks Scapicchio said there was one thing he was sure of last night and that is if re-elected he would find a place in his administration for Rich Escobar. 

Responding to a question of why he thought he would “make a better mayor than Scapicchio,” Escobar made a cogent response. “I don’t think ‘better’ is an appropriate word,” he said. “I would be different. The mayor and I come from different backgrounds, different life experiences, different type of education and we have different priorities. I don’t know if I would be better. I would be different. I have no criticism of the way the mayor is conducting his office.” He then suggested that he would improve the marketing activity the town is using to attract new businesses. What I think is important that every office holder, regardless of party, has the best interest of Mount Olive as their guide.

Escobar in his summation talked about the advantages he has had including his family, education, naval and work experience. “I see public service as a way of giving back,” he said.

Walter Lata, the Independent candidate was not so munificent. He came back again and again about the need to cut taxes, pointing out that he knew many long time residents who were moving out of town because they couldn’t afford to live here any more. “That’s sad,” he said. He said he would establish a system of justifying every purchase the township made. A particular concern of his was Budd Lake. There’s no where near as many boats on the lake or people going to the beach as there used to be and this was hurting businesses in town, he said. Lata said he is very aware of the problem of global warming and if he were mayor he would be doing things like buying smart cars for town employees (not police),

In response to a question, he said he wasn’t prepared to agree to a two term limit if he was elected, however Scapicchio pointed out that “we already have term limits. It’s called elections,” he said. Escabo agreed.

Scapicchio appeared irritated with Lata’s criticisms about what he would do to cut taxes, bring in new business, get greater returns on investment, cutting the school budget, and on and on without offering any proposal about how to do it. “We’re doing all the things you’re talking about and much more, Scapicchio said, and rattled off the sale of the Comb Land Fill for $10 million that will be bringing in as much as $70 million in a few years when its developed. He also told how his Administration is working with the new owners of the BASF property to bring in new tenants and with several housing developers to build age restricted housing. We’re doing all the things you’re talking about and much more, he said and you’re not proposing that we do anything different.  
He also pointed out that his Administration and the Council are responsible for only about 10 per cent of the town’s taxes ….and our taxes have remained pretty stable in view of the large number of successful tax appeals in the past several years that has cost the township many millions of dollars, which is mostly reflected in the school budget.  
He also pointed out that the township would be buying “smart cars,” insulating buildings and such energy efficient activities, even to changing to more efficient light bulbs and that Jim Lynch, the public works manager, was even exploring the use of solar panels on buildings to save on heat and air conditioning. He also pointed out that the police communications system had been significantly modernized.

Council Candidates

Experienced voices were also in evidence among the Council candidates. Democrat Councilman Jim Buell who is seeking re-election, when asked about Scapicchio appointing Bill Sohl business administrator without conducting a search, said he would have favored a “search” but said Sohl was doing a good job. “I believe strongly in the advice and consent role of the Council,” he said.

He also pointed out that no individual council member accomplishes anything alone. It is a joint effort without regard to party and while I believe just as strongly in the two party system the most important thing is that we respect each other’s opinions and work together as a team. He said the major impact of having one party or the other in power is the appointments of people to positions and committees.

He also said that state legislators have a responsibility of getting towns like Mount Olive a fairer share of state funds.

In his summation Buell said he canvassed the town when he first ran for office and he is still doing it. “I believe that’s the best way to know what’s on people’s minds and I have learned a lot from doing that.” He admitted that it took him almost two years to “learn what he to learn to do his job”. Finally, as one of the most active EMT’s he warned that the township has to address the lack of volunteers among young people. Both he and Alex Roman agreed that it may come to paying ambulance drivers or assigning town employees as part of their employment for the town.

Republican Councilwoman Colleen Labow voiced the same opinion about having had a “search” when she was asked but agreed Sohl was doing a good job..

Democrat John Mania who has been on a variety of township boards and committees and has been a member of the Planning Board for 25 years had no criticism of Scapicchio and even disagreed with Buell and Labow saying Sohl was doing a good job.

Mania concluded the discussion on that question by saying it was the mayor’s choice and Sohl was doing a good job “so leave him there,” he said.

He also said he would work to have a proper irrigation system installed in Turkey Brook Park and beautify Budd Lake if elected. He said he envisions a board walk, beach facilities and he said he believes the money is there to do that from Open Space funds.

Republican Councilman Phil Tobey is the most recent member of the Republican majority on the Council. 

Both he and Labow voiced concern about towns like Mount Olive being shortchanged when it came to state funding and specificly the wasted funds in the so called “Abbott Districts,” most city school systems.

Tobey repeated again what has become his mantra, “I will not promise anything I can’t deliver.” He recognizes that the town has a tax problem but is working its way through it. “No one can promise but I believe we can be optimistic that we can turn this around in the next few years, he said. 

Democrat Rosemary Tonczos said she believes she would bring “much to the table” in the way of the many years of experience she had in the school system as a member of the salary negotiating team and with the Morris, State and National Teachers Associations developing budgets and in many administrative capacities.

She would work to fill every store in every mall in the township, for more recreation for teenagers as well as seniors and address what she said are serious traffic problems. She also stressed the importance of a town having a two party system and when elections are over everyone work together as a team in the best interest of the residents of the township. She agreed that all of the members of the governing body should commit themselves to lobby state representatives for fairer state funding for the township.

Mania said he has demonstrated “again and again” that he is a team player and can work with people in both political parties.

He pointed out that 82 per cent of the town falls within the borders of the Highlands Act. There are a number of areas that aren’t so sensitive. I believe we can lobby in Trenton and we can get our state legislators to lobby for the township to change the development plan so we can change some of those areas.

Republican Alex Roman, a member of the Board of Adjustment and the third member of the ticket is a small businessman in the township. He also could easily be the chief cheerleader for the township. He unabashedly and sincerely professes his “love” for Mount Olive. He knows of many people who are moving out of town because they can’t afford to live here. “Everyone I talk to its taxes, taxes, taxes,” he said. I try to talk them into staying but many leave. “I’m losing customers, I lost at least 10 in the last six months,” he said, “I would work very hard to change our tax situation,” he said. He added that he believes the answer is in smart development and the mayor and council are doing that. It’s going to take time but we will see this situation turn around. The mayor and council are all doing the right things. 

Another point he made was improving the town’s web site. “I’d like to see a town web site where when people come home from work they can go to the town web site to see what happened during the day.

In her summation Labow said if she is elected to another term she will continue everything she has been doing but in addition she will work to connect the wooded trails in the township and to work more on shared services with the Board of Education.