STAFFORD – When the new year rolls around, Robert “Bob” Henken will transition from a year as Stafford’s acting mayor to its officially elected one. Following his victory, Henken agreed to an interview to outline plans to address community concerns and set the tone for his term.
Under Stafford’s form of government, the mayor holds executive authority over the municipality. However, Henken emphasized that he will continue collaborating closely with the council – whom he refers to as his “team” – in making critical decisions. Stafford’s entire governing body are Republicans.
Next year’s council will include four returning members: Steven Esposito, Owen LaRocca, Lisa Mower, and Amy Otte. Christopher DarConte and Sergio Fossa will be serving their first terms in office. Henken expressed his eagerness to work with all of them. He described Fossa, a newcomer to the community, as charismatic and noted that DarConte’s background in finance would be an asset.
As a six-year member of the local governing body, Henken said he has always prioritized transparency and views community outreach as essential for connecting with residents. To accomplish this, he’s developed a plan aimed at boosting accessibility and community engagement.
“I realize that social media, although an echo chamber, is something more and more people are going to,” said Henken. “I definitely want to have more of an online presence.”
Henken shared plans to foster community outreach by introducing monthly spotlights on different town departments. He explained that each feature would give residents insight into the services offered and the staff members behind them. This initiative, he said, was inspired by residents’ positive responses to his campaign’s focus on various departments, starting with Public Works.
The focus on the Department of Public Works began as a playful response to national political banter about “garbage.” Henken candidly admitted that what started as a bit of fun has evolved into a serious commitment to highlighting the often-overlooked work of essential town departments.
“People don’t really know you know what goes on at town hall,” Henken said. “We have almost 250 employees out there who do a good job, and I want to focus on their departments.”
Henken plans to expand community outreach beyond social media. “We’ve got so many different neighborhoods – each with its own character,” he said. “I’d love to see volunteer representatives from each area bring ideas to the table. We’re all one big community, and I want everyone to feel that.”
As Stafford’s mayor, Henken said he learned the value of “playing small ball” to achieve incremental wins. “Sure, everyone wants a big project,” he said. “But sometimes it’s those smaller, steady gains that make the most difference. Little things add up and create real progress.”
Looking ahead, Henken announced plans to establish a committee focused on veterans’ affairs, aiming to improve resources for local veterans. “Veterans are part of the fabric of Stafford,” Henken stated. “They’ve served us, and it’s our duty to serve them.”
Another priority is supporting Stafford’s small businesses, something Henken considers crucial for the town’s economic growth. Recently, he hosted a workshop offering local business owners guidance on accessing grants and low-interest loans.
“Small businesses are the backbone of this community,” Henken said. “We had a great turnout, and people were excited to learn about the resources available to them.”
Beach Haven West Dredging
Henken was asked about the council’s commitment to dredging on Beach Haven West. He clarified that no dredging is in the current budget, despite campaign rumors.
“People kept bringing up dredging, but it’s not something we’re planning unless there’s grant funding for storm mitigation and resilience,” he said. “We’re one of the largest waterfront communities in the country, and we need a balanced approach.”
Henken added that residents can apply for permits to dredge their own properties if desired.
Property Reassessment
Just days after the election, Henken’s commitment to transparency was called into question. Residents voiced their concerns when representatives from a company tasked with conducting a tax reassessment began knocking on doors without prior notice.
Henken explained that the township had successfully delayed the state-mandated reassessments for an extended period. He reminded taxpayers that the reassessment should not have come as a surprise, as officials had been discussing the matter for about ten months. Henken said that only five companies handle reassessments, which made it difficult to secure one for the job. In the end, it was a matter of coordinating with Professional Property Appraisers, Inc. (PPA) and working within their timeline to complete the project.
“It’s just a matter of poor timing on their part,” said Henken. “They weren’t supposed to go out for the reassessments until after the letter was sent.”
Once Henken realized the situation, he posted the November 6 letter to the town’s Facebook page and a link to a forum he recorded with Tax Assessor Joseph Mancini. The video was recorded a couple of weeks prior to the start of PPA’s visits to residents’ homes.
The communication with residents explains the process as state-mandated and as part of a hybrid reassessment program. Any changes regarding reevaluations won’t be taken into consideration for implementation until the 2026 tax year.
At the township’s most recent council meeting, Henken’s Democrat opponent in the mayoral race offered her congratulations. Barbara Crystal then addressed concerns about how the reassessment message was communicated to the community.
Crystal, who lives in Ocean Acres, said she did not receive the letter from the township until November 9. She emphasized her belief that the timing of the notification had been problematic.
“In paragraph three, it clearly states that a representative from PPA will be visiting properties for exterior and interior inspections over the next few months,” she said. “ I believe that our township tax assessor, Mr. Mancini, expected that that letter would have been sent to us months before the beginning of the actual home inspections.”
“To have followed Mr. Mancini’s timeline of notification of Stafford’s residents would have been the ethical and responsible way for this governing body to have been transparent and keep people informed as much as possible,” continued Crystal.
Resident Joe Mozella echoed Crystal’s sentiments, saying he received calls from a number of people who were frightened when PPA representatives appeared at their doors.
“When they asked them for identification, they said we don’t have it, we don’t need it,” said Mazella. “And that was wrong. That was definitely wrong.”
