BERKELEY – Township voters will have a chance to voice their opinions on half of the governing body, as the mayor and three council members are up for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Mayor Carmen Amato is running against Democrat Laura Shaw for a four-year term.
The candidates were asked about their most recent employment and what experience they have in civic or community groups. They were also asked what their plans are for the town. Their answers were lightly edited for clarity and to explain some terms that lay people might not understand. They are provided here in alphabetical order.
Carmen Amato
“For nearly 30 years, I have dedicated my adult life to volunteer and public service in my hometown,” Carmen Amato said. “As a sports enthusiast and former high school football player, I became a volunteer in Berkeley Little League, Berkeley Pop Warner Football and Berkeley Basketball. I volunteered not only as a coach but eventually an officer in each league.”
He has worked for the County of Ocean for over 27 years.
He was on the Berkeley Township Board of Education for seven years, serving as president for two. He was also on the Central Regional Board of Education for five years, serving as president for two.
He was elected as a councilman in 2005, representing Ward 2.
“In 2010, I crafted two budget amendments that eliminated the proposed $4 million tax increase proposed by the Democratic mayor,” he said. “During my tenure on the Council, I never voted for a tax increase and pushed for alternate revenue streams to help generate revenue and ultimately save tax dollars.”
He was elected mayor in 2011 and is completing his second term.
“After only 10 months in office, Berkeley Township was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. I stood alongside first responders, firefighters, police officers, other public employees as we all worked together,” he said. “I personally joined rescue missions to evacuate residents and get them safely out of badly flooded areas. I was involved in organizing shelters, as well as clothing and food drops for those forced from their homes, and helped to obtain generators for people who simply could not go without power like our seniors and disabled.
“In the weeks and months that followed the storm, we launched a massive clean-up effort that removed more than 7,000 tons of debris scatted throughout the town and its waterways, and I set up informational seminars to help residents navigate the repair and rebuilding process.
“On the financial side, despite being faced with the devastating loss of nearly $100 million in ratables, a deep decline in tax collection and nearly $9 million in costs associated with Sandy, working with the Township Council we were still able to keep municipal taxes stable,” he said. “Seven long years later, we have fully recovered from those losses from Sandy.
“Since then, with our efforts and fiscally conservative policies, Berkeley Township has the 27th lowest overall property taxes out of 565 municipalities in the State of New Jersey and the 2nd lowest overall property taxes in Ocean County,” he said. “In fact, the average property tax bill in Berkeley Township is less than half of the amount of the statewide average. Despite flat municipal aid from Trenton, we have managed to not increase municipal taxes in 3 of the last 5 years, while still providing vital funding for programs and services that improve the quality of life for Berkeley’s families, schoolchildren and seniors.
“We are also proud to have brought in record amount of grant money as well. We have aggressively pursued every available grant. Since 2012, we have brought in over twelve million dollars which has funded vital programs, funding for infrastructure improvements and property tax relief,” he said.
“Berkeley Township’s bond rating has not only improved once, but twice. In 2015, it improved two notches up to an A+. Last year, it improved to AA-,” he said.
Bond ratings are done be independent companies and are graded based on a borrower’s fiscal stability. A good score means that the town will spend less money on interest.
“In the area of public safety, we have hired more than 40 new police officers to our force and invested nearly $4 million in new equipment and 21st century technology in the Police Department,” he said. “We were also one of the first towns in New Jersey to have uniformed police officers in all of our schools.
“In addition to the fiscal turnaround in Berkeley Township, we have spearheaded major steps forward in the redevelopment of old Beachwood Plaza site and the overall economic revitalization of the Route 9 Corridor,” he said.
“After years of stops and starts, our administration finally had the dilapidated eyesore torn down and received plan endorsement from the State of New Jersey.
“We have also worked with the Trump administration and the State on having a portion of the Route 9 corridor in Bayville designated as an “Opportunity Zone” under the new federal tax law adopted in 2017. This will no doubt help spearhead redevelopment. The Opportunity Zone designation will give federal tax incentives to commercial developers to invest in these designated areas. We have already begun discussions with commercial developers who want to take advantage of the federal incentives.
“We have made progress on bringing in new businesses along the Route 9 corridor. New businesses that recently opened in old dilapidated or vacant buildings are: The Max Challenge, Staffa Stone, C&G Café, Bayville Pharmacy, CG Landscaping Supply and the new Heritage Square which opened the M&M Seafood Market along with other small businesses. New construction along route 9 includes: Advance Auto Parts, Dollar General, QuickChek and the expansion of Jersey Rents. The BP station will also undergo major renovations as well.
“We are working with the new owners of the Baywick Plaza where two new businesses are going to open very shortly. The Island Beach Distillery is moving from Lacey to Berkeley and Traffic Builders, a new online website and internet company with 60 employees, will be opening soon,” he said.
“We have also made record investments in improving our athletic fields and township parks. We have made improvements to Leiter Baseball Park, home of Berkeley Little League; Dudley Park; Butler Beach; Mastapeter Park; Sgt. John Lyons Memorial Recreation Area and Clifford B. Wright Memorial Beach.
“We have also made several improvements at Veterans Park with the installation of a state of the art turf field home of Berkeley Golden Eagles Football and Berkeley Soccer. We improved Donald Tomaio, Jr. Field, home of Berkeley Girls Softball, added inclusive playground equipment for all children of all ages and abilities and lastly, the new skate and scooter park for all ages.
“We have also led the fight to stop overdevelopment in Bayville by successfully working with Ocean County to preserve thousands of acres of open space that could have been developed into thousands of homes,” he said. “Recently, two significant achievements were the purchase of Fishers Pit, a 775+ acre tract in the middle of the Bayville section. A few short years ago a big housing developer wanted to build 1,800 homes. The other was the joint purchase, of a 13-acre tract next to the Florence T. Allen Conservation area.”
His volunteer experience, past and present, includes: former commissioner on the Ocean County Board of Health, Board of Directors of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, Board Member of O.C.E.A.N. Inc. from 2014 to 2017, Ocean County Commission on Exploited and Missing Children, former Chairman of the Berkeley Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, two terms on the Berkeley Township Recreation Advisory Council, Bayville School PTA, Berkeley Township Elementary School PTA, Central Regional Booster Club, third degree Knight of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Holiday City – Silver Ridge Park Italian American Club, the Berkeley Township Historical Society, United Way of Ocean County’s Allocation Committee, American Cancer Society – Berkeley/Lacey Relay of Life, St. Vincent DePaul of St. Barnabas Parish, and the People’s Pantry.
“I strongly believe Berkeley Township is a GREAT place to live, work, raise a family and retire,” he said.
Laura Shaw
Laura Shaw is a certified tax collector, working in Atlantic County.
“I am a first time candidate running for public office, however I have worked for municipal government for over 17 years in several positions,” she said. “I hold certifications as a Certified Tax Collector, a Technical Assistant to the Construction Official, and as a Rutgers Certified Government trainer. I am very familiar with the duties of an elected official, and the state statutes that regulate our municipal government.
“I am the President of the Berkeley Township Democratic Club. I founded a White Collar Workers Association in our township, and was elected President for five consecutive years. I am also a member of the NJ Treasurer’s & Tax Collector’s Association and the Berkeley Township Historical Society,” she said.
“In my opinion, the biggest issue is the lack of commercial development and the over development of residential property,” she said. “Residential development increases property taxes as the need for additional services and schools increase. As a Tax Collector, I see firsthand the effect a property tax increase has on citizens. In a town with such a large retired population, we need to be mindful of the effect that even a small increase has on someone living on a fixed income.
“We need commercial ratables to provide tax relief to our residents. Commercial development, when done right, can also improve the quality of life for our residents,” she said.
“We also need to reign in some of the patronage hiring and unnecessary spending. As mayor, I will enact a “no friends and family” hiring policy for myself and every member of the governing body,” she said. “Any job openings will be publicly posted and Berkeley Township residents will get first preference for interviews and hiring. I will personally review each expenditure and look for cost saving measures in all operations.
“If I can’t afford something, I don’t buy it. I don’t ask my neighbors to pay for it. This is the fiscally conservative ideology that I will bring to municipal government,” she said.
“In addition to my “no nepotism” pledge, I would bring the business community and investors and developers together to discuss a strategy to bring the right kind of businesses to our town,” she said. “We have plenty of self storage and dollar stores; we need more strategic planning. We have several open lots on Route 9 that can be developed.
“In addition the Beachwood Plaza site, which was demolished four years ago, and sat in a dilapidated state for four years prior, is an eyesore and a terrible first impression as people enter our township,” she said. “Route 9 development is my top priority. We must make Route 9 look more attractive to developers and investors, as well.
“One more thing I would do is make sure all of our public spaces are accessible to the public. There is one public property that is closed to the public. ‘The Berkeley Veterans Flying Field’ is restricted to be used only by one private club. I think this is a misuse of public property and this type of special interest patronage at the taxpayer’s expense will end under my leadership,” she said.
“I am a believer in term limits. This administration has had eight years to develop strategies and policies that are fiscally prudent and business friendly, and in my opinion, they have not achieved in either of those areas. It is time for new leadership. It is time to end the Gilmore era of waste and patronage,” she said, referencing the former head of county Republicans, George Gilmore, who is on trial for tax evasion. “I want to be an effective legislator for my hometown, not a politician. I have no interest in photo ops; I have great running mates and we are all ready to get to work for the town that we love.”
Township Council Candidates
There are three, four-year terms on the ballot for the Township Council.
Republican Councilmen John Bacchione, Thomas Grosse, and Keith Buscio are being challenged by Democrats Heather Walsh, Mario Ciasulli, and Joshua Eckersley.
The candidates were asked about their most recent employment and what experience they have in civic or community groups. Their answers are provided here in alphabetical order.
John Bacchione
John Bacchione works for US Bank as a residential mortgage originator. He has been in this industry for just over 25 years.
Bacchione was on the Berkeley Township Board of Education from 2009 to 2011, and has been a Councilman since 2012.
“I have been a member of the St. Barnabas Knights of Columbus council 8603 since 2009, I am a member of the Holiday City Silver Ridge Park Italian American Club since 2009 and I was a member of the H&M Potter School PTA,” he said.
Keith Buscio
Keith Buscio is “a bank executive with
more than 20 years experience in marketing, communications and public
relations.”
He has been a councilman for four years, and has also spent 15 years as a member of the Central Regional Board of Education.
He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Community Medical Center Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of the Ocean County College Foundation. He was formerly a member of the Ocean County Library Foundation and was the former President of the American Heart Association, Ocean County Chapter; former Campaign Chairman, United Way of Ocean County; former state board member, March of Dimes.
Mario Ciasulli
Mario Ciasulli retired after several decades working as an electrical engineer for companies such as AT&T Bell Labs, Jersey Central Power & Light, Ciba Geigy, Lever Brothers.
“I have not served in public offer before, however, my experience as an engineer gives me unique qualification to review bids and contracts for public works projects, as I have some experience in this area,” he said.
“I do not belong to any civic group, but as a retired citizen living in a senior community, I feel that I can be an effective advocate for my neighbors, as I understand firsthand their concerns,” he said.
Joshua Eckersley
Joshua Eckersley teaches math at Central Regional Middle School.
He is currently serving as an “executive officer within the Central Regional Education Association as the Association secretary, and in elected positions with the New Jersey Education Association as a Delegate Assembly member, and in the National Education Association as a Resolutions Committee member serving over 3 million educators nationwide.
“As an avid and dedicated member of the National Education Association (NEA) as well as all affiliate groups on the state, county, and local levels, I have extensive experience in advocacy, public relations, and organizational development,” he said. “I have run offices dedicated to political action to support public schools, participated in rallies in Trenton, spoke at countless state and local Board of Education meetings, and organized action to help educate and inform the public to advance the rights of students and educators alike.”
Thomas Grosse
Thomas Grosse is a detective in his 25th year with the Toms River Police Department, currently assigned to the Special Victims Unit.
He had served one unexpired term on the Berkeley Township Board of Education and is in his eighth year as a Councilman at Large – Berkeley Township.
“Most of my experience therein involves matters of law and public safety,” he said, noting his involvement with the following groups: Eatontown Police Auxiliary, Eatontown First Aid Squad, Eatontown Fire Department, Berkeley Township Historical Society, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County, Toms River Municipal Alliance, Berkeley Township Municipal Alliance, and the Ocean County Commission on Missing and Exploited Children.
Heather Walsh
“As a registered nurse, I have worked in many settings focusing on the health and wellness of children and their families,” Heather Walsh said. “I have worked in hospital-based settings of pediatrics, pediatric intensive care, and the pediatric emergency room. I have advocated for children and families with HIV/AIDS and other medically fragile determinations by performing case management, direct care, and as the director of a group foster care setting, helping to train staff and foster caregivers to tackle the extensive medical needs of the sickest children to transition them to a home setting. Most recently, I was employed by Berkeley Township School District as a substitute school nurse.
“I am serving as President of the PTA of the Berkeley Township Elementary School and I am a member of the Ocean County PTA Board of Directors as both the Special Education and the Legislative Committee Chairperson, and I am also active in the Central Regional Alumni Association,” she said.
