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EDITOR: As often happens during this time of year, we hear of the qualifications and resumes of candidates up for election, but sometimes miss the human element.

Folks willing to run for office, regardless of political affiliation, are typically hard-working volunteers looking to make a difference in their respective towns, and each has a story.

I have a somewhat unique perspective on Bedminster Township Committeeman Doug Stevinson, as I sit next to him on the dais.

From my vantage point, I have witnessed firsthand Doug’s emotional reaction to reports of neglect and unsafe conditions at the Pluckemin Park senior housing facility. He quickly became personally involved and used every ounce of his legal acumen to spearhead the township’s pursuit of the landlord and management company to compel the needed maintenance and repairs.

I have also seen Doug embrace the interests of the community when he organized and led discussions on ways to improve our dog park facilities. Have no doubt – people are really invested in their pets! Capably navigating the needs of the owners, the requirements of the town and budgetary constraints, Doug delivered an improved dog park at River Road Park that has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction.

Bedminster proudly stands at the front of the Somerset County line in creating “greenways” and open space. Doug shares that vision, and his passion for recreation has driven improvements in our parks, trails and open space areas, including the current upgrades at Pluckemin School House Park. Shovels are in the ground because Doug goes to bat time and again for all Bedminster constituents.

I have watched Doug speak with both knowledge and conviction as he has advocated for the town and its residents, be it on matters involving the police, public works or taxes, as well as issues faced by residents of The Hills, including pedestrian crosswalks and power problems. He is a true ally of all and an asset to the community at large.

Let me also share some insight into Doug’s running mate, Gina Fernandez. We all know her in town as the mom who, despite her crazy schedule, still manages to run school fund-raisers, volunteer tirelessly at PTO and HSA events and even lead a Girl Scout troop.

What you may not know about Gina is a bit of her back story. After reading a 2010 article in New Jersey Monthly magazine touting Bedminster, she moved here on a teacher’s salary, residing in affordable housing for six years before buying her current home.

In addition to working in the Union County school system, she has always had a passion for assisting underprivileged children, and has run outreach programs to provide these kids with a helping hand.

She has also served as a certified crisis intervention specialist, assisting folks in their most urgent time of need. At times, she has managed multiple jobs and worked in excess of 100 hours a week.

Her willingness to roll-up her sleeves for those in need is evident. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her energy is unbridled. She would be a welcome addition to the Bedminster Township Committee.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, I urge my fellow residents to vote for the team that will truly be champions for Bedminster – Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez.

R. COLIN HICKEY
Bedminster

EDITOR: Bedminster is synonymous with a great quality of life including historic resources, open space, athletic fields, outstanding municipal services and very enviable low taxes.

Having served on the Planning Board, the Township Committee and as mayor, I spent 16 years trying to make things better. Our Township Committee is Bedminster’s caretaker and I would like to ensure that we stay on track.

Over the past three years, Bedminster Township Committee member Doug Stevinson has focused his efforts on projects that address immediate needs, such as advocating for improvements for the seniors at Pluckemin Park, and those that help position Bedminster to achieve longer term goals, such as looking for opportunities to expand our trail systems.

His tenure to date proves that he is productive, consistently maintains sound fiscal practices and is laser-focused on supporting all Bedminster residents.

Doug’s running mate, Gina Fernandez, is an experienced elementary school teacher, Girl Scout troop leader and fund-raiser for projects that benefit our youth via the Bedminster Township School Parent Teacher Organization and Bernards High School’s project graduation. These leadership roles have prepared her to take this next step in community service.

Gina’s record shows that her commitment is genuine, she puts in the time required, and she gets the job done.

Whether at the polls or by mail, your votes for Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez will enable them to continue to serve the community of Bedminster.

Despite the claims by the financial community, past performance is an indicator of future success. You can count on Doug and Gina to be the caretakers that will help Bedminster stay on track.

ROBERT F. HOLTAWAY
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: Candidates for Bedminster Township Committee Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez are focused on maintaining the excellent quality of life and sense of community that we enjoy as residents.

To that end, these multi-taskers are well-prepared to devote their time and considerable energy to helping Bedminster remain an oasis of greenways and open space in densely populated New Jersey.

Also, they will concentrate on spending your tax dollars wisely, working to keep the township’s taxes comparatively low.

Doug’s volunteerism as committee/board member – Bedminster Recreation Committee and Land Use Board, Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House and the Somerset County Open Space Advisory Committee; coach – flag football, basketball and baseball, and past President of the Bedminster-Far Hills Little League – paved the way for his election to the Bedminster Township Committee in 2016.

Since that time, Doug has continued to look out for the residents of Bedminster. His accomplishments to date are many. They include working with the community to create the dog park at River Road Park, paving the hike and bike path between River Road Park and Burnt Mills Park and allocating funding for additional park renovations throughout the township.

He is also teaming with community members in The Hills to help keep kids safe by adding crosswalks and working with JCP&L to reduce the frequency of power outages.

Gina’s outstanding work ethic is evident to all who worked alongside her in support of the Bedminster Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and Bernards High School (BHS).

With Gina as three-time chair of the annual Spring Fling fund-raiser, the PTO amassed more than $100,000 for the Bedminster Township Elementary School, put to good use providing technology for classrooms, buses for field trips, and much more.

As a member of the Project Graduation 2018 Steering Committee, her leadership and hands-on style helped the senior class raise funds to support special events throughout the school year culminating in an alcohol-free post-graduation party for the entire BHS Class of 2018.

Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez are the best candidates for Bedminster Township Committee.

As invested members of the community where they choose to live and raise their children, both have excellent track records of involvement and hard work that continually produces positive results.

On Nov. 5, vote for Doug and Gina for Bedminster Township Committee.

JOSEPH METELSKI
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: Take a moment and think how fortunate we are to live in such a wonderful town as Bedminster.

We have historic resources that serve the community and provide educational opportunities for all. A walk along the township’s hike and bike path or any of our other trails and parks displays the natural scenery and beauty we are lucky enough to enjoy in our town, often quite literally in our own back yards.

That doesn’t come by accident. Bedminster’s Township Committee has been hard at work for years, preserving open space, taking measures to protect our environment and maintaining the town’s historic resources.

Doug Stevinson has been part of that. He has worked with the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House for years, helping to preserve this historic property for future generations.

He is active as the Township Committee’s new liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission. He has spent years working on behalf of our community and deserves another term in office to continue his successes.

Electing Gina Fernandez will help continue this. She is deeply committed to Bedminster and wants to maintain the quality of life we all enjoy. She has been a long serving volunteer, raising money to benefit our town’s school. Gina will bring a new energy and dynamism to our township government.

Local government is about local issues and having a vision of where a town is heading. It is about electing experienced, pragmatic people who know how to maintain a town’s quality of life.

That’s Doug and Gina. They are committed to serving Bedminster – to serving us.

I plan to vote for them, and I encourage you to do the same.

SEAN BLINN
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: As a long-time Bedminster resident, it is a source of pride to me that our town is a successful blend of a large rural area and a very developed area called The Hills.

In many ways, The Hills is a town unto themselves. We hire our own contractors for snow removal, garbage collection, landscapers and painters. We have our own rules and regulations that guide our neighborhoods in areas such as parking, outside lighting and maintenance of any patios/decking.

We do, however, look to the town to provide schools, roads, recreation space and a healthy economic atmosphere, and it is important that we have representatives on the Township Committee that can maintain the high marks we currently earn in Bedminster.

Doug Stevinson, a resident since 2004, and Gina Fernandez, a resident since 2006 and past resident of the Parkside neighborhood, understand the balance of the responsibilities of the homeowner associations and the responsibilities of the town.

As a current member of the Township Committee, Doug has been instrumental in controlling township spending and adopting budgets that keep our town taxes low. He is involved in helping to resolve issues that directly aect The Hills residents such as adding crosswalks on Robertson Road and improving the condition of the dog parks located in River Road Park and Burnt Mills Park. 

Additionally, he is actively advocating for improvements to be made to the age/income restricted community Pluckemin Park. 

Prior to being elected to the Township Committee, Doug’s experience as a member of the Bedminster Recreation Committee and past president of the Bedminster-Far Hills Little League illustrate that he is completely invested in our town.

Gina has shown her dedication to Bedminster by contributing to our children’s future, many of whom live in The Hills, in her tenure as vice president of the Bedminster PTO, chair of the Bernards High School Project Graduation for the 2017-18 school year, and 12 years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Gina’s experience of working with many people to achieve success in these organizations will translate to success working on the numerous projects that the Township Committee is responsible for directing.

On Nov 5, please join me in supporting Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez for Bedminster Township Committee so we can continue to live in a well-balanced and well-loved town.

RENEE MARESKI
Bedminster Township
Committeewoman

EDITOR: Summer in Bedminster has been wonderful with so many great activities right in our own backyard.

Our Bedminster Farmer’s Market is tremendously successful and will continue through Saturday, Oct. 26, its last day for the year and also the date of our annual Bedminster Charities’ Fall Fest fund-raiser beneting seven Bedminster-based organizations, including the Bedminster Township School Parent-Teacher Organization, Center for Contemporary Art, Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad, Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company, Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House and Friends of the Clarence Dillon Library.

But as the weather gets a bit cooler, it is also crucial to remember another important date this fall, and that is Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

As we know, Bedminster is a very special place, unique in its rural and equestrian character, low taxes and safety. Residents, when asked how they like living in Bedminster as you visit door to door, say, “Please don’t change a thing, we love living in Bedminster!”

Bedminster has been fortunate to have leaders in our community that care deeply and put the time and eort into making sure that Bedminster does not lose these qualities that make us very proud and able to live here.

Township Committeeman Doug Stevinson and former PTO Vice President Gina Fernandez are two such individuals who have worked hard for Bedminster to protect the quality of our everyday life.

Doug is currently serving as Township Committeeman, elected in 2016. He is the township liaison to police and re departments and department of Public Works, as well as the Historic Preservation Commission.

Prior to his election as Township Committeeman, Doug had already been extremely involved as a member of the Bedminster Land Use Board, Recreation Committee, president of BedminsterFar Hills Little League and also with the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House.

In each of his assignments and on a day-to-day basis, Doug serves our residents well as he is able to utilize his legal acumen as an attorney and critically analyze issues in order to provide creative solutions.

He has worked, along with the Township Committee, to revitalize the River Road dog park, improve The Hills crosswalk and reduce Route 206 engine noise.

Doug is goal-oriented and takes each task presented as a challenge, making sure that he hits his mark in order to best represent Bedminster and its citizens.

Gina has been a resident of Bedminster since 2006 and has served very successfully as Bedminster PTO vice president, co-chairing the PTO Spring Fling fund-raiser, raising over $100,000 for Bedminster School over a three-year period.

She also chaired the Bernards High School Project Graduation for the 2017-18 school year.

In addition, as a volunteer Girl Scout Troop Leader for over 12 years, and also as an educator, Gina understands the work necessary for the success of a project and also knows the tremendous importance and value of building relationships within our community. She is an advocate for keeping our property taxes low, preserving open space and keeping our community safe.

Doug and Gina have repeatedly and consistently demonstrated their allegiance, commitment and dedication to Bedminster as leaders in our community.

As we look forward to a beautiful autumn in Bedminster, please remember to support Doug and Gina on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, so they may continue to be champions for Bedminster.

STACI SANTUCCI
Bedminster Township
Committeewoman

EDITOR: Tuesday, June 4, is Primary Day. While some consider 2019 an off-year election, particularly given the absence of a senate or gubernatorial race, it still represents an important opportunity to support your local candidates running for office.

Here in Bedminster, we are fortunate to have two very qualified individuals running for Township Committee, Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez.

Committeeman Stevinson is completing his first term in office, and has served our community exceedingly well. A strong advocate for recreation and open space, he championed the creation of the new dog park at River Road Park, and oversaw the expansion of the hike and bike path to Burnt Mills Park.

Most recently, he was instrumental in delivering a budget that reduced appropriations for 2019 vs. 2018, allowing Bedminster to once again be a leader in low municipal taxes.

His 15 years of voluntary service have given him the leadership and experience to deal with the most complex aspects of municipal government, and he is viewed by colleagues and constituents alike as the “go-to guy.”

Doug’s community activism, however, extends well beyond the confines of Town Hall. “Coach Doug” has been a fixture both in the dugout and court side, previously assisting our Little League baseball teams and now an integral part of our recreation basketball program. It must run in the family – his wife Suzie and their three sons are active in both Bedminster School and Bernards High. It’s rare to go to a school or township event without spotting at least one Stevinson.

Not to be outdone, if volunteerism had a face, her name would be Gina Fernandez.

A leader in our community, a teacher in Union Township and the mother of two, she does it all. Gina served as Bedminster PTO vice president and has co-chaired Spring Fling multiple years, helping to raise over $100,000 for Bedminster School.

In 2018, she also ran Project Graduation, which coordinates multiple fund-raisers and social events for the graduating class at Bernards High School.

In her “spare time” over the past 12 years, she has also served as a Girl Scout Leader for the local troop here in Bedminster.

Gina will strive to keep Bedminster a tight knit community, and her extensive volunteer work and involvement has provided her with the relationships necessary to hit the ground running on day one. She will be an asset to the Township Community, and is a worthy successor to outgoing Committeewoman Staci Santucci.

Doug and Gina’s enthusiasm for Bedminster is contagious – they truly love everything about our small town.

On June 4, I encourage my fellow residents to vote for the team that are champions for Bedminster – Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez.

JAMES H. CHRISTIE
Bedminster Township

BEDMINSTER TWP. – The township’s Republican Municipal Committee (RMC) has endorsed one incumbent and one first-time candidate for two, three-year seats on the Township Committee this year.

The GOP is supporting Committeeman Doug Stevinson of Ski Hill Drive and first-time candidate Gina Fernandez of Deer Haven Road.

The second incumbent, Staci Santucci, advised the RMC that she would not be seeking reelection to a third term due to increased work commitments, according to a press release from the party.

The 2019 primary election is Tuesday, June 4. The Democratic Party has not yet announced its candidates. Currently, the five-member Township Committee is all Republican.

Stevinson is running for a second term. He has made the municipal budget and quality of life issues the hallmarks of his tenure, the press release states.

“He led the effort to create a very popular dog park in River Road Park; he is monitoring improvements to Pluckemin Park senior neighborhood and will soon announce the 2019 municipal budget, which will again come in under the rate of inflation,” the GOP release states.

Stevinson’s wife, Suzie, serves on the Bedminster Board of Education. They have three children.

A teacher in Union County, Fernandez “is a leader in the community,” according to the GOP press release.

She and her husband, Gus, have been township residents since 2006, first living in the Parkside section of The Hills development before moving to Deer Haven Road. She is the mother of three children.

She has served as vice president of the township Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and co-chair for three years of PTO’s annual “Spring Fling” benefit, raising more than $100,000 for the elementary school.

She was a Girl Scout Leader for 12 years and served on the steering committee that ran Project Graduation for Bernards High School in 2018.

The founder of the Hispanic Heritage Club of Union, Fernandez “vows to keep property taxes low, preserve open space and uphold our tight-knit community,” the press release states.

Santucci was first appointed to the governing body in March 2013 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Katy Rupert. She was elected to her first full term in November 2013 and was re-elected three years later.

“It is a privilege to serve Bedminster and I am very grateful for your continued support and camaraderie,” she said. We all know Bedminster Township is an extremely special place to live and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve our residents and I thank you all for that.”

Santucci said she “fully supports” the RMC’s nominations.

“We are fortunate to have two highly qualified candidates,” added Bedminster RMC Chairman Steve Parker, the former mayor who stepped down at the end of last year.

“Doug is a proven leader and Gina brings some great new energy to the ticket. She has big shoes to fill replacing Staci Santucci, but I believe we have a good team to lead Bedminster into the future.”

https://www.newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/bedminster-gop-endorses-stevinson-fernandez-for-township-committee/article_72b266cc-2dfa-5cb5-bb16-cdf3b840e24f.html

Here’s a list where you want to come in at the bottom! Bedminster’s average tax bill is among the lowest in the state (438 of 566) and we rank as one of the best municipalities for the size of our tax increase last year (544 of 566).

https://patch.com/new-jersey/bernardsville-bedminster/s/gmven/every-nj-towns-average-property-tax-bill-in-newly-released-list?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=weather&utm_campaign=alert

BEDMINSTER TWP. – In the first mayoral change in six years, Township Committeeman Larry Jacobs has been informally chosen by the all-Republican Township Committee to serve as mayor for 2019.

Jacobs was a 4-0 choice in a straw poll to succeed Mayor Steven Parker, who will leave the governing body at the end of this year after declining to run for a fourth, three-year committee term.

Jacobs is expected to be formally selected and sworn in at the committee’s annual reorganization meeting in January.

Participating in the straw poll were Jacobs, Committeemen Doug Stevinson and Colin Hickey, and Committeewoman-elect Renee Mareski, a Republican who was invited to briefly join the dais.

In voicing their choice, Stevinson said “gladly aye,” Hickey said “enthusiastically aye,” and Mareski said “absolutely aye.”

Committeewoman Staci Santucci was absent. Mayor Parker presided over the straw poll but as an outgoing committee member, did not participate in the decision.

Afterward, Parker congratulated Jacobs.

The decision was not a surprise. Jacobs, who is the committee’s senior member after Parker, has run meetings in the mayor’s absence.

As for how he felt about the honor, “A little trepidation, especially following this guy because he’s done a great job the last six years,” Jacobs said just after the meeting while seated next to Parker. “There’s large shoes to fill.”

“Hopefully I’ve learned a little on how to manage a meeting and deal with the issues that confront us here,” he said.

Jacobs, of Hillside Avenue, is completing his sixth year on the committee. He was elected to a third, three-year term in the Nov. 6 general election when he and Mareski defeated Democrats Denise King and Jacob Caplan.

He is an environmental attorney with the Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer law firm in Woodbridge. A township resident for 22 years, he and his wife, Mimi, a former Bedminster Elementary School PTO president, have four children who have attended the elementary school and Bernards High School.

The township has had a mayor since 1952 when a state law changed the old title of committee chairman.

The mayors since then have been: Abram Ten Eyck, 1952-61; John Kean, 1962-68; Albert E. Winkler, 1969-77; Paul Gavin, 1978-85; Robert Lloyd, 1986-88; Joseph Cirona, 1989-91; James Sullivan, 1992-93; Cheryl Seiferheld, 1994; Joseph Metelski, 1995; Leo Johnson,1996; Don Cross, 1997-2001; Metelski, 2002-03; Robert Holtaway, 2004; Amey Mesko, 2005; Holtaway, 2006-12; and Parker, 2013-18.

https://www.newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/jacobs-to-be-next-bedminster-mayor/article_a9a36ae2-2f3a-5408-8b01-b47cf1b70c52.html

EDITOR: Fall is in the air, and the Bedminster Democrats are getting ready for Halloween. They have already resurrected their favorite ghost story – the Township Committee doesn’t care about The Hills.

Having lived both in the Crestmont Highlands and Edgewood sections of The Hills for the past 20 years, I completely disagree. The Township Committee already has at least two members who previously lived in The Hills, one for over 15 years. With the addition of Renee Mareski, currently a 20 years Hills resident, we will be well represented.

But let’s look beyond the confines of the Township Committee and see how else The Hills is represented, especially on our volunteer boards.

I personally am on the Bedminster Land Use Board, which manages and approves all planning and zoning changes, and is an integral part of our municipal government. Its chair and vice chair are also longtime Hills residents.

In fact, four of the seven voting members reside in The Hills. And the same is true on our other boards, from the Environmental Commission – which is chaired by Renee – to the Historic Preservation Commission, both of which count a majority of their members from The Hills.

I find the divisive tactics being employed by the Bedminster Democrat candidates to be nothing but an attempt at distraction and division. There is only one Bedminster, not the “us vs. them” portrayal being touted by the Democrats as they try to divide us by geography. Bedminster is comprised of many hard-working individuals who volunteer their time and energy to keep Bedminster the special place that it is.

I’ve served personally with Larry Jacobs on the Land Use Board over the past 2.5 years, and have always found him to be a fair-minded individual intent on doing what’s best for all of Bedminster. He also happens to be the Township Committee representative on the Bedminster Hills Housing Corporation, where he has fought to ensure the town is meeting its affordable housing obligation.

Not care about the Hills? Nonsense.

Renee Mareski has been active in The Hills for many years, first as president of the Crestmont Homeowners Association and more recently as the Crestmont representative to the Hills Village Master Association.

Not care about the Hills? Really?

As they say in Ghostbusters, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost.” Instead, I’ll be voting for the team who knows The Hills and Bedminster best – Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski.

SCOTT ZUPNICK
Bedminster Township

In Bedminster, two Democrats, Denise King and Jacob Caplan, are seeking to break up the all-Republican Township Committee this year. They are running against incumbent Larry Jacobs and his Republican running mate, Renee Mareski.

The Democrats are voicing a familiar theme, claiming that the majority of township residents who live in The Hills development are being under served.

The argument has been a cornerstone of the local Democratic Party for years, but doesn’t seem to have gained much traction.

That’s probably because it lacks validity. There have been several committee members who’ve either lived in The Hills while in office or resided there before serving.

Trying to motivate Hills residents makes sense politically for the Democrats. But it would also be political suicide to ignore this large population, and we don’t think the Republicans have made that mistake.

In fact, one of the two Republican candidates, Mareski, is a resident of The Hills, while the other, Jacobs, had previously lived in the development.

Caplan in particular has advocated a plan to form a “working group’’ of representatives from the of various Hills homeowners associations to study the pooling of resources for shared service contracts for possible savings.

The concept sounds good on paper. We’re not convinced, however, that the idea is of interest to the various Hills leaders who’ve been working to serve their respective communities, or whether it may not have already been tried to some extent over the years.

The Democrats are seeking a ‘’voice’’ on the committee. But in recent years we have found the committee to be open and considerate to all residents, regardless of their address.

Jacobs has been an integral part of the governing body, and we suspect may take on a larger role in the future with the retirement of Mayor Steve Parker at the end of the year. An environmental attorney and 22-year township resident, Jacobs is a proven, smart leader. We see no reason why he should be replaced.

Mareski is making her first bid for office but has been an active volunteer who currently serves as chair of the Environmental Commission. She is a longtime township resident as well who also serves on her homeowner association in The Hills.

The Republicans are part of a solid team that runs an efficient and responsive government. We support their election on Nov. 6.

EDITOR: My wife and I have the distinct privilege of having lived in Bedminster for over 25 years. We raised three children to adulthood here.

Over the years, I have served the township as chair of the Planning Board, and then the Land Use Board; a member of the Environmental Committee; and a member of the Recreation Committee. I also enjoyed coaching Little League and the recreational basketball team.

Bedminster is a well-run and friendly place. Thanksgiving is not far off, and we in Bedminster have many blessings for which to give thanks.

It was not always this harmonious. There was a period of intense – and internecine – political strife here that lasted a few short years. The acrimony strained the town, and it was as sad as it was unnecessary. All of that has been reversed and made right, starting with the last years of former Mayor Bob Holtaway’s time as mayor, and continuing seamlessly into the current administration of Mayor Steve Parker and the
Township Committee.

At a time of year when some call for change, we must ask ourselves, change what? What is it that needs to be changed? Bedminster offers its residents many excellent amenities, and at very reasonable tax rates.

This year’s Republican candidates for Township Committee, Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski, have been an integral part of keeping Bedminster a secure and beautiful place.

Larry, a committeeman for the last six years, is a skilled attorney with a stellar reputation for his expertise in land use issues. He also has a great temperament to handle this responsibility.

Renee, currently the chair of the Bedminster Environmental Commission, is a resident of many years, who has served with distinction in her current position, and as a leader in The Hills community.

I heartily endorse Larry and Renee for Township Committee, and call upon my fellow Bedminster neighbors to do the same this election day.

BILL MOSCA JR.
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: I recently attended an event hosted by the Bedminster Republican Social Club. It featured speakers including Congressman Leonard Lance, Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, and local Bedminster Republican candidates Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski.

What I heard were the values I hold dear – a commitment to integrity and honesty, efficient government, property tax relief, safety and quality of life improvements like the farmers market and farm preservation.

Before I moved to town 18 years ago, I was in search of an area that provided a variety of housing options, scenic views and low taxes – a rare combination in New Jersey. Having found Bedminster, I realized I had uncovered the crown jewel of Somerset County.

But none of this happens by accident. As a professional woman, I help small and mid-size companies become high performance organizations. There are no silver bullets to help my clients achieve success. It requires a clear sense of direction, good values, outstanding service and operational excellence. Good government is no different. With the right mindset, a good strategy and outstanding talent, great results are possible.

When it comes to voting, I base my decisions on candidates that reflect my value system, as opposed to relying on the pundits and the press. This year’s crop of Republican candidates, including Senate candidate Bob Hugin, Rep. Leonard Lance, Freeholders Patrick Scaglione and Mark Caliguire, Committeeman Larry Jacobs and candidate Renee Mareski, all share a common focus on the things that matter most to me, our town and our country.

Individually and collectively, they are committed to supporting a national agenda which focuses on prosperity and safety and locally on reducing property taxes, reducing the size of government, preserving open space and ensuring that New Jersey residents receive their fair share from the federal government.

I encourage my fellow neighbors to vote for this slate of very qualified candidates who have our best interests at heart on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

DR. JOYCE AVEDISIAN-RIEDINGER
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: Property taxes in New Jersey are too high.

The average taxpayer in Bedminster Township pays significantly less in property taxes than our neighboring municipalities. Our 2018 tax rate is the same as it was five years ago, in Larry Jacobs’ first year on the Township Committee. This is not by accident; it comes from budget discipline, innovation and an appreciation for the taxpayer.

Jacobs is uniquely qualified as a leader on our Township Committee. Larry is the architect of the Bedminster-Bernardsville-Peapack and Gladstone shared court which has saved taxpayers over $900K in three years. Larry negotiated the five-year rate freeze when New Jersey American Water purchased EDC. This year, along with Renee Mareski, Larry created a Farmers Market in River Road Park to promote our local agriculture.

Larry and Renee value our open space and understand that the best way to preserve large farms is to make them vital and prosperous. The Farmers Market is a tremendous success because of Larry and Renee.

It has been a few years since a resident of The Hills sat on the Township Committee. This year we are fortunate to have Renee Mareski, running for the Township Committee. Renee is our Environmental Commission chair, past president of the Crestmont Home Owner’s Association and representative to the Hills Village Master Association.

Renee grew up riding horses in the Somerset Hills and worked with the Bedminster School on environmental educational programs. Renee knows The Hills and municipal government. She will be an exceptional Township Committee member.

I leave elected service to Bedminster in December after nine years on your committee and six as your mayor. I have served with some truly outstanding public servants. This current committee is the finest group during my tenure.

Bedminster’s future is in very good hands with Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski on our township committee. Good government is the result of your vote.

Please join me in voting for Larry and Renee on Nov. 6.

STEVEN E. PARKER
Bedminster Mayor

EDITOR: I see the Democrat candidates for Bedminster Township Committee, Jacob Caplan and Denise King, are touting town-wide garbage pickup as part of their campaign platform.

I suspect they believe that by instituting trash collection as a township service, residents should be able to realize economy of scale savings. Sounds reasonable, right? Unfortunately, the devil is in the details.

The problem with this proposal is that many of us have already independently contracted for trash pick-up, either individually or as a member of a neighborhood association. This arrangement allows residents to tailor the level of service, and thereby cost, to their needs. An individual or couple in a small condo probably doesn’t generate the same volume of trash as a large family.

I have been a resident in Bedminster since 2007. I have had the liberty to change my garbage disposal service when I wanted to, no different than changing my car insurance company. When I wanted better service and/or price, I shopped around and found what suited my family’s needs.

My wife and I grew up in Middlesex County, we also lived in Ocean County before moving to Bedminster. In those cases, we had municipal trash collection. No choice, one size, service at best effort, and rising costs that reflected higher taxes which grew periodically.

By way of another example, my friends live in a town that recently added trash pick-up as a township service – and raised their taxes accordingly. Prior to the conversion, they were paying an independent contractor a modest monthly fee for a small container. Once the township began providing the service, they were assigned a huge container that two elderly people couldn’t fill in a month of Sundays. Their cost went up accordingly, nearly doubling what they had been paying previously.

Therein lies the problem with these one size fits all approaches. You lose the ability to control your own destiny, and often wind up subsidizing your neighbors. Unless you can meter usage, as is the case with utilities, you ultimately pay for someone else’s trash.

I’d much rather support competition among multiple providers, who are incented to meet my individual needs and allow me to directly control my costs. Competition promotes better pricing and better service and puts the freedom of choice back in the consumer instead of the ever-increasing costs that will be reflected in our tax bills.

My neighborhood is filled with different trash cans from different garbage disposal companies. All making their choices on their own, for their needs, without being told how it will work with no choices of change.

I urge residents of Bedminster to consider the implications of supporting any proposal that takes the decision-making authority away from the homeowner or condo association.

I’m voting for Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski on Nov. 6, and I urge the residents of Bedminster to do the same.

ROBERTO FRAGASSI
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: Recently, upon announcing the retirement of Clarence Dillon Library Director Sandy Putnam, Bedminster Mayor Steve Parker commented, “When we first hired Sandy, we were looking for a new library director. What we got was an executive.”

The same could easily be said of Committeeman Larry Jacobs. Like any business, managing the day-to-day affairs of the township requires experienced leadership, financial prowess and the trust and respect of one’s peers. Not only does Larry excel in each of these dimensions, he does so with tremendous presence and unbridled enthusiasm. He is an executive in every sense of the word.

Larry has led the committee through six years of budget work, scrutinizing every line item to protect the interests of taxpayers. The results he has delivered are unequivocal: Bedminster leads in low taxes in all of Somerset County.

His work on expanding shared services, most recently through the shared municipal court arrangement, has provided a model for how towns throughout Somerset Hills can save taxpayers money while improving service.

In addition, as the Township Committee representative on the Land Use Board, he has maintained a laser sharp focus on ensuring the health of our business corridor, so as not to place an undue tax burden on our residents.

Like every successful leader, Larry is never content with the status quo. His vision for a meaningful quality of life improvement became a reality this spring with the launch of the Bedminster Farmers Market. Not only has the market proven to be an overwhelming success, it has become an opportunity for the community to gather together every Saturday morning.

Enter Renee Mareski. As chair of the Environmental Commission, Renee and her team mobilized to launch and provide ongoing support to the Farmers Market. She has also championed many forward reaching initiatives, including educational programs – e.g., Moth Night, Bat Night – school outreach and, most recently, a grant to install electric vehicle charging stations at the municipal building.

As a 20-year resident of The Hills, Renee has been actively involved in her Homeowner’s Association, both as former president of the Crestmont Association and, most recently, as the Crestmont representative to The Hills Village Master Association. She also volunteers in the local community, serving as a horse riding instructor for children with special needs. Renee is “all in.”

Bedminster is a better place because of the tireless contributions Larry and Renee make to our town. They have dedicated their time and energy to municipal service, and can leverage their deep experience to address the challenges and issues that will confront us in the years to come.

Come Nov. 6, I strongly encourage you to vote for the team that leads by example – Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski.

R. COLIN HICKEY
Committeeman
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: With campaign season upon us, I’m hearing a lot of chatter about the role of homeowners associations (HOAs).

Here in Bedminster, we have at least 21 separate and independent HOAs, each of which represent an individual neighborhood. These HOAs manage, among other things, the budget, capital planning, landscaping, construction and snow removal for each neighborhood.

On a regular basis, an open election is held for positions on each HOA board, and any resident may run for office in their particular neighborhood. HOAs represent the most local and direct form of government – they are managed by, and comprised of, your immediate neighbors.

Your monthly homeowner’s dues are based on the ability of your individual HOA to manage its budget, plan carefully and hire effectively. Good decisions keep monthly dues and any special assessments low.

Conversely, poor management decisions can needlessly drive up costs and deliver poor services. The good news is, residents have a say. If you don’t like the way things are being run, vote for change.

Here in Parkside, that’s exactly what we did. After watching our neighborhood languish for years, I decided to run for – and was elected to – the Parkside HOA. We changed our management company and most of our vendors, including those handling porter service/maintenance, trash and snow removal. We focused on collecting back dues and made affordable payment plans to help people catch up – and significantly improved our budget as a result.

We prioritized capital improvements, which included repaving our parking lots, fixing drainage and repairing sidewalks. We have begun to phase in landscaping updates, one area at a time, as our budget allows, and cut down on the little expenses that can add up: postage, printing and service calls. And we have done all of this without increasing maintenance fees or assessing the unit owners.

The results are there for all to see – our neighborhood is once again a highly desirable place to live.

The Township Committee, for its part, has done an excellent job over the years of supporting our needs as Hills residents and HOA members. They’ve helped us reduce expenses for critical items, particularly, hydrant maintenance and electric power for streetlights.

But in doing so, the municipality has also been steadfast in its desire to never interfere with the operations of the individual neighborhood associations.

By comparison, it is my understanding that the Democrat candidates, Jacob Caplan and Denise King, have publicly indicated that they would like to somehow insert themselves into our day-to-day management decisions.

The folks best capable of managing the unique needs of each neighborhood are the residents themselves, not bureaucrats.

As Ronald Reagan once said, “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Larry Jacobs and Renee Mareski have made it a cornerstone of their platform to support the needs of the HOAs without compromising their autonomy or independence. I hope you’ll join me on Nov. 6 in voting for them for Bedminster Township Committee.

MICHELE HOFFMAN
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: I returned home the other day to find campaign literature left by the two Democrat candidates for Bedminster Township Committee, Jacob Caplan and Denise King.

Their first bullet point proposes building a park on the state Department of Transportation (DOT) site opposite the entrance to Hills Drive.

Are they serious?

Years ago, a developer had considered acquiring that land for redevelopment and providing the DOT with an alternate location for its maintenance yard. Rightly so, that proposal was met with a chilly reception from residents of The Hills, and was swiftly rejected.

This issue has been dead for years. Now it seems the Bedminster Democrats want to reopen that proverbial can of worms.

To my knowledge, the DOT site is currently in productive use and is not for sale. Regardless, the Bedminster Democrats propose acquiring it and building a new park at this location for use by Hills residents, of which I am one.

This plan is ill-conceived and severely flawed, as follows:

The location has been used for many years for road maintenance and material storage. It is now considered contaminated, so any alternate use would require costly site remediation. Why would the taxpayers – we, the residents of Bedminster – ever want to take on the burden of this toxic clean-up?

The site has no pedestrian access, as it is located at the busiest intersection in town. The thought of parents or children attempting to cross Routes 202 and 206 at the jug handle on foot is a frightening proposition. As this is a state-owned highway, the township has no control over right-of-way or the ability to construct alternate access, e.g., a flyover bridge.

If constructed, this park would be an inaccessible island unto itself, surrounded by a moat of highways and byways.

There are already two pedestrian-accessible parks located adjacent to The Hills, Burnt Mills Park and Pluckemin School House Park. These are both less than three-tenths of a mile from the DOT site, and provide 15 acres of recreational space, including athletic fields, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds, a dog park and pavilions.

Caplan and King propose using the Open Space Trust Fund to finance the transaction, as if it were free money. The Open Space Fund is taxpayer money, and the use of those funds for land acquisition is subject to open public meetings, where residents have the opportunity to participate in the evaluation process alongside professional planners and preservation experts – the type of meeting at which this exact proposal was considered and rejected several years ago.

Investments of this magnitude should not be mandated by empty campaign promises.

Towns cannot condemn and seize state-owned land, and any purchase or condemnation of the DOT site would likely cost tenfold or more than what currently exists in the Open Space Trust Fund, let alone the costs for demolition of the existing structures, decontamination and then construction of a park.

In short, this proposal is no walk in the park. Instead, it is a half-baked plan by two candidates sorely out of touch with reality and fiscal responsibility. If this is the Bedminster Democrats’ leading proposal, I hesitate to think what else Caplan and King have in store for Bedminster taxpayers should they ever be elected.

SEAN BLINN
Bedminster Township