BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — Come January, Ward 3 will have a newly elected council person fill the seat of long-time Democratic Councilman Reginald “Reggie” Butler, who passed away in June.
Two candidates are vying for the three-year Ward 3 council seat — Democrat June Dungee, who was appointed to fill Butler’s seat on June 27, and Republican candidate Frank Weber.
Butler, 75, passed away on June 7.
Butler, who was elected in 1989, was the longest-serving councilman in Old Bridge, having served six consecutive terms.
June Dungee, who is seeking her first elected term, is a five-year resident of the township. She is a widow and has two adult children.
Dungee earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics with a concentration in consumer affairs and has earned certificates as a medical office assistant from Essex County College and as a Microsoft Office software technology specialist from Middlesex County College.
She said that her involvement in the community is interacting with young people and assisting seniors with their concerns.
“I am running as a councilwoman representing my constituents in the third ward,” Dungee said. “As difficult as it may be to fill Reggie’s shoes, I intend to carry on his legacy and to implement some ideas of my own by working nonstop to address their issues and concerns.”
Some of those concerns, she said, include congestion of traffic on Route 9 that create daily havoc on the commuters, repairs on some streets and concerns of possible contamination that some residents say may still exist in certain areas of the Ward.
“I know that as the only Democrat on the council, it should not matter because as an elected official, the council should work together, compromising and reaching common grounds to find the best solution and always vote in the best interest of their people,” she said. “Each party should be represented so all constituents in the Ward will have a say with their vote.”
Dungee said, if elected, recreation will be one of her main focuses for the young people in her Ward.
She also said that in some areas, there is no direct transportation available for youth to get to activities that are available at the main library, unless a parent and/or someone gives them a ride.
“I will address all issues and concerns of the third Ward,” she said. “I plan to continuously stay on top of what is happening within the third Ward through get-together meetings.”
Frank Weber, a long-time Board of Education (BOE) member, is seeking his first term on the council.
He said his intentions were to run for the Ward 3 seat in next year’s election, having sought a seat in 2013. He said he believes his proven history on the BOE is an asset to the third Ward.
He studied at the College of Staten Island, New York, and has served as a soccer coach for the boys and girls leagues in town; he has served on the Planning Board; and has been a member of the Library Board of Trustees for six years.
“One of the most pressing issues not just in the Old Bridge community, but in New Jersey, has been the economy,” he said, adding that some people work part-time/full-time jobs, which still may not amount to suitable employment.
Weber said he would work hard on containing taxes, which he called a daunting task due to finding the balance of not increasing the tax rate for residents while not decreasing quality of life in services.
He said that during his tenure on the BOE, a referendum was successfully passed, while noting that no additions have been made to the schools in 15 years.
Weber said he would also work on concerns that have been recently expressed about the animal shelter.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8p.m. Nov. 8.
Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@gmnews.com.
