Barnegat is in trouble. The incumbent administration perpetuated the fever to dig our town deeper and deeper into debt. Their promise of tax stability was broken in each of the past three years by the Melchiondo and Cirulli administrations. It pains us to see the number of homes up for sale, many at prices far below what they are worth. Quite a few homeowners lost their houses to the tax collector thanks to the ever-increasing property taxes raised by the incumbents. For some, the American Dream has become the American Nightmare.

When Fred Rubenstein served on the Board of Education taxes went down. The school budget passed by a comfortable margin. And, true to Fred's promise, the Horbelt School came in at more than $750,000.00 below budget - and the extra money was returned to the taxpayers.

Jeff Schenker worked to control costs in the Toms River school system. Jeff served as faculty advisor educating our young as to the realities of leadership. Jeff taught tomorrow's leaders fiscal responsibility. Controlling costs without sacrificing quality is a hallmark of competency.

Schenker and Rubenstein are a team who understand and practice the methods and procedures necessary to make certain Barnegat moves forward. We recognize and have the commitment and energy necessary to stand up to the county and ensure that Barnegat gets its fair share. We spoke out loudly when the county reneged on its promise to build the Fredrick Watts Recreation Complex. Our voices were heard when the incumbent administration tried to bamboozle taxpayers into digging Barnegat into an additional $6,500,000.00 of long-term, high-interest debt all because they failed to motivate members of their own political party to tell the truth and follow through on their promises.

The voices of our opponents in the June 2nd primary were silent.

We invite those who will be voting in the June 2nd primary to visit our website at www.barnegatnow.com. Look at our credentials. Examine our platform. We believe we are best qualified to rid Barnegat of an administration that has lowered the quality of life in our town while making the cost of living in Barnegat rise to an exorbitant level that many can no longer afford.

Jeff Schenker owns a home on Spruce Circle South where he resides with his wife and children. Dr. Schenker has devoted more than 30 years to teaching our children. He holds a Bachelors Degree from Rider University, a Masters Degree from Monmouth University and earned his Doctorate at Drew University. Jeff Schenker is an advocate of cost-effective public education. His leadership skills saw him lead numerous academic and extracurricular organizations. Dr. Schenker serves on the selection committee of the National Honor Society. He is the Director of Student Activities at Toms River High School South. In addition, Jeff is the founder of the school's History Committee and a member of the Student of the Month Committee. Dr. Schenker won the ultimate recognition of his contributions to educational excellence when he was elected Teacher of the Year.

Jeff was appointed to and proudly serves on the Toms River Historic Preservation Commission. Jeff Schenker understands the importance of preserving our past while pioneering our future. He also serves on the selection committee for the Toms River Schools Hall of Fame.

Fred Rubenstein owns a home on Hickory Circle where he lives with his wife and son since 1993. Fred attended Pace University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor - Management Relations attending night classes while working full-time as a New York City Bus Driver. Fred was later awarded a Masters of Public Administration certificate. Mr. Rubenstein also attended Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY. Fred has been a guest lecturer at Pace and at the George Meany University of Labor Studies. He has served as an Impartial Arbitrator in the transportation industry.

Mr. Rubenstein was employed by MTA - New York City Transit and rose through the ranks holding several positions over his 30 years at MTA until he retired in 2003. He has considerable experience in both labor and management capacities. Fred began a new career joining NJ Transit Bus Operations in 2004. Formerly the Supervisor of Terminal Operations in the Southern Division, he was promoted to Chief Regional Supervisor of Bus Operations in 2007. Mr. Rubenstein served on two transportation management task forces as part of the administration of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during his years at MTA and worked with the Oversight Committee of the New York City Council. He has been a seated member of the New York - New Jersey Regional Planning Association since 1977. Fred is a member of the environmental task force for alternative fuels for use in buses and locomotives. He also served as an elected officer of the Transport Workers Union of Greater New York, AFL-CIO.

Fred is a past President of the Barnegat Board of Education. He also served as Chairperson of the Barnegat Zoning Board, Barnegat Traffic Safety Committee and Barnegat Charter Study Committee. Mr. Rubenstein has been a delegate to several AFL-CIO conventions and numerous labor advocacy groups.

Fred Rubenstein is the recipient of Meritorious Service Awards from the City of New York, the Transport Workers Union and NJ Transit. He has also been recognized by the New York City Transit Police Department for civilian heroism. Mr. Rubenstein was a 20-year member of the Yonkers, NY Police Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children holding the rank of Detective Sergeant. Fred is a Viet Nam-era Veteran and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1972 after six years of active service.

Mr. Rubenstein was honored at Ground Zero by the World Trade Center Tribute Organization for the role he played in the September 11, 2001 rescue effort. Fred is the subject of a museum exhibit now on display in Albany, NY.

Schenker and Rubenstein offer our neighbors patriotism, unity, and integrity. We know how to work within the system to get results and have the track record to prove it. This is not a time to gamble on individuals who choose to circumvent established processes. This is not a time to take a risk on individuals who, by the very nature of their candidacy, have served notice on voters that they have no intention of working as a team.

Our opponents in the June 2nd primary made the choice not to participate in the open and fair debate that would have been a test of their credibility. Clearly, the words of individuals who cannot work within established principles of fair play and instead choose to circumvent the democratic process must be suspect. "Transparency " means standing in front of those whose vote you seek. Mrs. Clemente and Mr. Effron failed to do that.

Schenker and Rubenstein have more respect for our neighbors. Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein have a proven record of accomplishment serving their neighbors in Barnegat. We see the damage that the failed initiatives of the Melchiondo and Cirulli administrations have inflicted on Barnegat taxpayers.

We ask for your support on June 2nd.

I am a businessman with a tremendous work ethic, I will work for the residents of Barnegat and I expect that all of the people that work for Barnegat have the same attitude. Let's face it, it's all about taking money in (taxes) and giving money back (services and quality of life), as in any business. I have a very simple philosophy, when the money comes in, I will make sure that it will be given back to the residents not the "professionals". When you run a town, you have to find money. Every dollar saved on a needless "professional study", (that was probably done before anyway), grant application, contract negotiation or a bid for services, can be returned in the form of a better quality of life to our residents.

Let me give a simple example; in the year 2007 and 2008 Barnegat spent a combined total of $1,385,697.55 on township engineering and legal services, and that's just for the two companies on the committee (figures supplied to me from Barnegat Township). If you could have cut just 15% from that total over the 2 years time, that amounts to $207,854.64. That is a lot of money saved. Maybe money to build a ball field, provide some added senior services, resurface a tennis court, start a new recreation program for the kids, you get my point, you've got to "find the money".

This is what I will bring to the Township for the future, the attitude that I work for the residents.

Allow us to begin by emphasizing what we will NEVER do. Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein will never lie to you. The litany of falsehoods by the incumbent administration is a clear picture of their contempt for the people who voted for them in 2006. The outrageous rise in tax rates over the past three years is unforgivable.

Mrs. Clemente is one of our opponents in the June 2nd primary. She promises to hold the line on taxes, too. But actions speak louder than words. In a letter published in a local newspaper, the same Mrs. Clemente supported a toll increase for the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike. Tolls are a tax.

Our plan to stabilize the cost of living in Barnegat is comprehensive and achievable. The Melchiondo and Cirulli administration never did anything to aggressively attract new business and entrepreneurs to Barnegat. In fact, they did quite the opposite by frustrating many attempts to open new business establishments or expand existing ones. We remember the tremendous monetary loss suffered by the owners of Sweet Jenny's because the antiquated municipal approval processes in Barnegat are out of touch with the times. A new and thriving Sonic restaurant was supposed to open in our town and decided to move their site to Waretown because they were fed up with the run around they got at the hands of the incumbents. Need we continue?

Schenker and Rubenstein have a realistic strategy to professionally market Barnegat both in and out of New Jersey. First, however, Township processes must be streamlined if Barnegat is to succeed in attracting commercial rateables that will provide tax relief to property owners. And we will begin doing that from day one. New industry means new jobs. Jobs for people who live in Barnegat. Non-offensive industry is our best hope. We believe our town has a land and labor pool that gives it an advantage. We need to get the word out that Barnegat is business friendly.

Municipal services are always a factor in controlling costs and keeping tax rates stable. The incumbents tampered with a system that was working - a system people liked. They sold off the robocan-dumpsters at pennies on the dollar. They also disposed of the town-owned garbage trucks for less than they were worth. Barnegat depended on those trucks to accomplish snow removal. As a result, Barnegat hires outside companies to remove snow. At the top of the list is Shoreline Sand and Gravel. The same Shoreline Sand and Gravel that caused major environmental concerns to the residents who live near their place of business. That is outrageous. It is also expensive. Very expensive.

We hear a lot about "shared services. " Shared service was first introduced when Fred Rubenstein was on the Barnegat school board. It began with something as basic as sharing gasoline and diesel fuel purchasing cost between the school district and town hall. Jeff Schenker was an advocate of this taxpayer-friendly concept in Toms River. We believe it needs to be expanded and will fight to make that a reality.

The incumbent political administration came out with a scathing assault on our children's education. Lying through their teeth, they blamed the entire tax revaluation on the school system. Next, they turned around and tried to sneak through a 49% pay raise for select township employees. When they got caught, they denied all responsibility. In an act of cowardice that cannot be denied, Melchiondo and Cirulli tried to blame it on their hand-picked township administrator.

Currently, Barnegat taxpayers bear the cost for a benefit package paid to township committee members. Medical, hospitalization and prescription drug coverage plus a potential pension all of which is funded by Barnegat taxpayers. Schenker and Rubenstein think this is a slap in the face to everyone who lives in Barnegat. Hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars have paid for this absurd benefit. Fred Rubenstein and Jeffrey Schenker will not accept any of these benefits. Schenker and Rubenstein stand on our own two feet and pay our own way.

As stated in question 2. Taxes = money. Cuts start with the budget. What is one of the largest line items in the budget that does not include services? That is salaries, pensions, benefits and professional fees. We are in tough economic times now, as all of our residents are tightening their belts, so must our government. Private sector companies are struggling to survive and the employees that work for them are happy to even have a job to go to every day.

The recent tax re-evaluation raised a lot of our resident's taxes, unfortunately, the recent housing and stock market crash devalued all of our home values and 401K's. This could result in a severe loss of revenue for our town based on the over 1400 tax appeals pending. Our residents were correct in filing appeals, now it will be up to the county to correctly re-assess our home values and adjust our taxes accordingly. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and our town needs to start planning for this now.

I would try to negotiate a salary freeze on employees and a 10-15% give-back with our professionals until we get this economy straightened out. Could this happen, we'll have to see what the unions have to say about it, will the professionals do a give-back, we'll have to see about that too. They have made a lot of money from this town, and now the town is in trouble, we will see their loyalty.

Services to our residents cannot be cut and taxes cannot be raised. I'm sure that our employees and professionals will understand as they watch the world of the private sector crumble around them, they must understand, in order for them to have a job, we have to keep the business (Barnegat) alive.

I understand that this is not a popular stand to take, but it is one of the tough decisions that need to be taken to assure our residents that they will still be able to afford to live in this town.

Respect for our neighbors is the backbone of what Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein offer Barnegat. We will be accessible via several means of communication. Accountability goes beyond sitting at on the dais at a twice per month township meeting. Accountability, as we practice it, means answering phone calls, emails and getting around town to make certain that our neighbors are getting what they pay for via their taxes and civic pride.

We have been meeting people over the past month and plan to meet many more. The concerns we have heard make it clear that the incumbent administration no longer has the confidence of residents. Only by open and frank dialogues can we restore credibility. Lying to people that taxes will not go up is despicable. Telling the hard-working people of Barnegat that their tax bill is a "Christmas present " the way Mr. Melchiondo did shows an arrogance that has no place in government.

It was a sad day when it took hundreds of people marching on town hall to wake Mr. Melchiondo and Mr. Cirulli up to the fact that they had flubbed the affordable housing issue. The incumbent administration had more than enough time to establish a committee to investigate this issue and make recommendations to locate the project on a site that would not have devastated the property value of homeowners. Instead, they opted for another one of their infamous eleventh-hour scenarios and tried to affix blame on the state for their own failures and proven incompetency.

Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein hold ourselves open to public criticism. We welcome the input and suggestions of our neighbors. If we fail to live up to your expectations, do not reelect us.

Business and homeowners in Barnegat's downtown and history-rich neighborhood should be saluted. It is a charming and simply beautiful area. It is a travesty that the incumbent administration turned their backs on this part of Barnegat. What a waste of taxpayer money it was to dig up perfectly good sidewalks and replace them for a reason that has yet to be explained. The insensitivity to those who fall under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act is also something the incumbents must answer for. That violated law. More important, it disenfranchised many good people and was outright cruel.

The loss of the main portion of the post office is unfortunate. What was once a draw that brought many people downtown will soon be a mere memory. Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein refuse to write-off the downtown and historical areas. Be it the Cox House or the Meeting House, our downtown neighborhood has a charm that cannot be denied. From the storefronts to the front doors of the many beautiful homes, our downtown area is something all of Barnegat should take great pride in.

And here's a little known story worth mentioning. The Melchiondo administration reached out to Fred Rubenstein in his professional capacity. They wanted to tear down the age-old and unattractive bus shelters at the intersection of Bay Ave. and Rt. 9. All of a sudden the process just stopped. Approvals had been obtained. Builder's sketches sent. And then - nothing. More evidence that the Melchiondo administration has neglected this magnificent neighborhood.

Economic development of Barnegat's downtown area is high on the Schenker-Rubenstein agenda. We will seek out all possible grants to accomplish need infrastructure and other upgrades. We will work with our gracious neighbors who have rolled up their sleeves and worked hard to beautify the area. We plan to encourage and support existing business enterprises and attract new ones that will fit into the downtown Barnegat landscape. Vacant plots of land need to be cleaned up. And the voices of those who hold a financial and civic stake in their neighborhood must be heard. The establishment of a downtown task force is long overdue.

We see Barnegat's downtown aesthetic personality as vibrant, exciting and reflective. A mirror image of Barnegat's true spirit and residents who have civic pride and extend their hospitality for all to enjoy. A smiling celebration of what makes Barnegat a place we are proud to call our home.

The incumbent administration has long practiced divisiveness. Polarizing Barnegat is counterproductive. We are a township that needs to embrace the spirit of togetherness and common cause. A problem such as those affecting homeowners in Mirage is a concern for all. We are a township and should be united via our elected leaders. Where were the safeguards that should have prevented the ordeals many of our senior residents have been forced to endure?

The lack of open fields and abundant recreation because Melchiondo and Cirulli failed to bring in the Watts Park is everyone's concern. Ocean County must follow through on its promise to build the Watts Recreation Complex. Barnegat has little to offer in the way of outdoor recreational facilities. Barnegat residents of all ages deserve a facility that is safe, attractive and offers a serene escape from the rigors of the daily grind. It takes more than a skate park to make that ring true.

At the same time, nothing prevents us from establishing neighborhood-based "pocket Parks " on parcels of vacant land that can be had for a pittance. Walking trails and bike paths need to be improved. Barnegat can do all of that with in-house resources. Our many volunteer groups have always been willing to lend a hand to improve the overall ambiance of our community. Government must work in partnership with the people.

It disturbs us that Barnegat plummeted from the #1 place to live to a lowly #270 - and sinking. Schenker and Rubenstein recognize the negative impact this has had not only on quality of life but on property values, too. Our town has been overdeveloped to the point where density and gridlock are everyday words. Gone are many of the beautiful woodlands that caused many of us to choose Barnegat as our homes. In their places are higher tax bills and decreased public services. The buck stops at town hall.

Let no one forget that the Melchiondo and Cirulli administration supported the desecration and elimination of Barnegat's Heritage Day. Heritage Day was a celebration of who we, as Barnegat residents, are. It is who our children and grandchildren will be. It is a day filled with joy and good old-fashioned fellowship. We promise to act to restore this meritorious event. And we will be in attendance each year to share the smiles and join in the fun.

As far as the children go, I feel that if you can improve the situation of the parents, the quality of life for the children will also improve. The family life in this country has changed over the years. It's very rare that families will sit down to dinner together, because either one parent or the other is working two jobs just to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. Our children need direction growing up; a town can only provide so much when it comes to that. What we need to do as a town is to make sure that we provide safe places for our children to go. Playgrounds need to be clean, recreation programs need to be affordable and diverse. Bottom line is the committee needs to put all politics aside and work together to find affordable solutions for recreation in our town. I will bring that attitude to the committee. The Rose Hill ball field debacle was very bad for this town, it showed us that the committee not working together accomplished only one thing. It divided this town, caused animosity, made some township professionals a lot of money and the residents got nothing. Some on the committee wanted it, some didn't, wouldn't it have been wiser to put it to the public vote first before wasting the money and time on studies, permit applications, engineering and lawyer fees?

Listening to our older residents is key. They have a lot to offer in the way of experience and ideas. Some are on fixed incomes and live day to day, others have come to this town to retire and live the "good life". This group of our population grew up in an age where you got ahead and financed your golden years through hard work, frugality and high moral standards. They never asked for a handout, nor would they expect one. All that they ever wanted when they left the workforce was security that they could live in this town without the fear of being taxed out of their homes. We need to make sure that does not happen, it comes back to where the money coming in goes out. This is one group in our town that should deserve the help.

Jeff Schenker and Fred Rubenstein speak with one voice. We are a team and that is the way a team should speak. Honesty, unity and commitment. Over the years we have spoke out on issues that impact the lives of all of our neighbors in Barnegat. We have presented strategies and formulas that will ease the burdens of our neighbors. We are cognizant of the diversified township that all of us chose to call home. And we are appalled that the Melchiondo administration has chosen to turn its back on portions of Barnegat's population who do not live their lives as Melchiondo and Cirulli deem proper.

It is time to end the wasteful practices. It is time to restore integrity and public confidence in town hall. It is time to stop talking and start doing. Most of all, it is time to remember that government serves people and not the other way around.

Schenker and Rubenstein will not, under any circumstances, accept the benefit package Mr. Melchiondo and Mr. Cirulli do. Schenker and Rubenstein will stand militantly opposed to the Parkway toll increases that Mrs. Clemente supports. Schenker and Rubenstein respect our neighbors. When we ask for your vote on June 2nd, we do so with sincerity and humility. We are all neighbors. We all sail in the same ship.

In closing, we would like to thank Downtown Barnegat for providing this forum. We have and will continue to maintain accountability, transparency and the conduct good neighbors should by making ourselves available to answer your questions now and in the future. Please visit our website at www.barnegatnow,com .

We are proud to carry the endorsement of Committee Member Len Morano. We are equally proud that we are the Official Democratic Candidates endorsed by the Barnegat Democratic Organization and by the Ocean County and Statewide Organizations.

We respectfully ask for your vote on June 2nd.

Thank you for taking the time to read our responses. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you!

For me,this campaign is a journey that will hopefully continue on through November. For years, I sat in the audience at committee meetings and watched our government in action, (or in-action.) I always said to myself, I could do a better job. I come into this campaign completely neutral and ready to work with all of the committee, professionals, administrator, employees and all of our volunteer advisory groups in this town to get things done. I will not get caught up in politics, I am indebted to no one and will only be loyal to my true boss, the residents of Barnegat.

Some of these questions in this forum ask for specifics, one thing I don't want to do to get elected is promise things that I can't deliver. Giving people false hope just to get into political office is the worst thing that you could do. My running mate Marianne Clemente and I both believe that the people of Barnegat deserve better. We will not make promises we can't keep and we will work hard to achieve the ones that we have made. Running a town is like running a business, it's not rocket science. Politicians from the bottom up have just made it harder to get things done with mandates, regulations, professionals, lobbyists and pork barrel spending. It seems that everyone in government needs to get a piece of the pie. By the time it trickles down to the residents and taxpayers, there is not much left. Government on a whole is the most in-efficiently run business in the country, just ask our older residents; it's hard to pull the wool over their eyes.

This is who I am. If you ask me a question I will tell you the truth, a truth based on facts that I have investigated myself. It might not be the answer that you were looking for, but it will be the right answer. I enjoy knowing all facets of government and how it works, or doesn't work. I will try hard to make it more efficient and to clear the bottlenecks in the system.

I would like to thank DowntownBarnegat.com for this forum.

Howard Effron