Candidate Profile: Susan Cohen

To keep things fair and balanced, Patch has asked each of the four candidates running for the two, three year terms on the Manalapan Township Committee to answer the same questions.

Name: Susan Cohen

Party: Republican 

Why are you running for Township Committee?

At the start of my previous term on the Township Committee, I pledged to residents that I would serve one term. In sticking true to my word, I did not seek re-election in 2010. Since that time, I have stayed active with my volunteer service to Manalapan, and I currently serve on the Planning Board as Vice-Chair, Heritage, Community Alliance, Transportation and Cable committees, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as well as the Manalapan Domestic Violence Team.  Although I was no longer on the Township Committee residents still looked to me for help and one of the main reasons that I decided to return is that residents asked me to. Whenever I met a resident that was always their first question, when are you coming back?   After the second year in a row of Mrs. Roth not supporting a flat budget without participating in the process or offering any solutions, wanting to cut services to the residents and in general making everything political, I discussed the idea with my family and received their encouragement to return. I would like to return to the Township Committee, so that I can continue to do what is right for the residents of Manalapan.

What is your previous experience?  

I have a good working relationship with the residents as well as the employees in town. We have a wonderful Police Department and I have worked with them for the past 15 years especially through my involvement with the Manalapan Domestic Violence Team. I have made it my business to interact with as many of our employees in town and we are fortunate to have people that are dedicated to serving the people.   I promised in my last term to answer to the residents and I am proud of my record of doing so. From listening to commuters and having the signals changed on Route 9 and the timing changed on Millhurst Road to currently working with the DOT to help with the queue by Taylors Mill Road and the timing issues on Woodward Road. I was instrumental in getting the dog park completed and helping the residents on Woodward Road with their problems with trucks speeding down their roads.   As a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) I was out there with the other amazing volunteers during Hurricane Irene helping residents. I have served on the committees listed above as a volunteer and have been the liaison to the Board of Health, Cable and Heritage Committees, Community Alliance and Economic Development Council as well as to the Freehold Regional High School District. I attended as many meetings as possible, often attending two on the same day. I served 3 years and 7 months on the Township Committee, first being appointed to fill a vacancy and then elected. I have served twice as Deputy Mayor and once as Police Commissioner. I love living in Manalapan and I am dedicated to keeping Manalapan a great place.

 

Name the three most important issues in Manalapan Township right now, and why? Name a possible solution for each.    

1.  Lower spending and keep taxes stable: In 2010, I developed a municipal budget with no tax increase.  I plan to do the same in 2012 by working with the Township Committee, Township Administrator, and our municipal workers' unions to find ways to make our municipal government more efficient and cost effective. We need to continue to cross-train all of our employees since we have a more highly skilled work force than most municipalities, we want to take advantage of those skills to great more efficiency. We also need to do more shared services such as street sweeping with the County. Currently we are providing Animal Control for other towns and that helps bring in revenue. We need to continue to find other services that we can provide to neighboring towns. 

2. New garbage collection contract: I am in favor of maintaining our present level of service, which includes 2x per week garbage pick up and 2x per month recycling. We must do a better job of getting our residents to recycle so that our tipping fees are lowered. I believe we will have to do more workshops and educational programs on our television network.  

3. Continue to preserve open space: We have a strong record of preserving open space in Manalapan, and I will continue to support this effort while fighting over development. Although our residents may not  realize we are at a point where we have precious little open space left and we have to avail ourselves of every possible opportunity to preserve that space. We also have to continue to support the current businesses that we have in Manalapan and work with the Economic Development Council to bring new rateable in areas that make sense while keeping the quality of life for our residents.    

Why should Manalapan Township residents vote for you?  

My opponent voted against the municipal budget in 2010 and 2011.  These budgets kept our municipal taxes flat, and I disagree with her plans to raise taxes every year. I worked very hard in 2010 to make sure that there was no tax increase and at the last minute was able to cut an additional $92,000 from the budget without a decrease in services fro the residents.

My opponent supports reducing the amount of garbage pick up you receive, to once a week garbage collection and once a week recycling collection.  I disagree with taking away any vital service to residents. There are bids in place that will allow the services to continue without an increase to the taxpayers. My opponent supports development, received campaign contributions from developers, and fought to make sure that a massive apartment complex was built in Manalapan on Wood Avenue.  I will fight development and preserve open space.  

My opponent's excessive legal bills and taking  health care from the Township is unfair to the residents. I have refused health care and fought every year I served previously to have it eliminated from the Township Committee members.  

As for my other opponent, he has lived in Manalapan for over 10 years, yet he has not volunteered for any committees or attended any Township Committee meetings including this year, the year that he is a candidate.  

My running mate, Don Holland, and I would like to have more Town Hall type meetings. We would like to bring the meetings to various areas in town with the hope that more people will participate. We are elected to serve the residents and that is our number one priority. I love living in Manalapan and I am dedicated to keeping Manalapan a great place to live. I hope that the residents agree that I have done a good job in the past and will vote me back in. It is very important that the residents let their voices be heard and come out on November 8th to vote.