EATONTOWN – Independent candidates Ralph J. Anderson, Christine Caruso and Virginia M. East are three of seven candidates who seek to win two open seats on the Eatontown Borough Council.
The two winners in the Nov. 6 election will serve three-year terms beginning in January.
In addition to Anderson, Caruso and East, the candidates are Democrats Jasmine Story and Lisa Murphy, and Republicans James Corcoran and Vito Paolantonio Jr.
This article features the independent candidates. See a separate article for the Republican candidates. The Democrats have not responded to a request for information.
Asked why he is running for office, Anderson said, “Over the years, I have been appointed as a volunteer to multiple boards and committees by both political parties, which I believe is an indication there is a certain level of confidence that I would be an asset to the boards and committees.
“In making a decision to seek a seat on the council, I considered the confidence which was demonstrated by these appointments and that I would be capable of serving on the council in a nonpartisan role. In addition, the council seat for which I am campaigning is not being sought by the incumbent, which made my decision easier because I am running for a ‘vacated’ seat on the council. I have not served on the council in the past,” he said.
Asked what he would like to accomplish as a member of the governing body, Anderson said, “If elected, I will commit to working with the mayor and council members focusing on areas that will continue to improve the borough. I believe the mayor and council determine where the council members are assigned as liaisons, which to some extent determines areas of focus of the council members.
“I would certainly be happy to continue in the areas where I have served as a volunteer for several years. Having been involved with boards and committees which address senior housing and affordable housing, recreation and zoning, this is where I would continue to add value,” he said.
Anderson, who is an information technology solutions architect, is a current member of the Eatontown Zoning Board of Adjustment. He has served as the board president of the Eatontown Senior Housing Corporation Board of Trustees and as vice chairman of the Eatontown Recreation Advisory Committee.
Asked why she entered the race, Caruso said, “This is the first time I am running for public office. I don’t want to be a career politician. I want to demonstrate that we don’t need partisan politics in local government. Partisan politics have driven elected officials in Eatontown to make bad decisions, particularly with land use planning and zoning issues.
“That is why I am running as an independent candidate to represent ‘One Eatontown.’ I want to demonstrate we can all have a voice in our governing body and work together with a sense of collaboration to achieve common ground. I want people to feel like they can come to me and rely on me to represent them, to be a voice for their issues, concerns and ideas. I pledge to stop the partisan bickering on council and to work with my fellow council members to get good things done in Eatontown,” she said.
Asked what her goals would be as a member of the governing body, Caruso said, “I will be a voice of the people. I have spoken with so many residents in all areas of town who don’t feel like they have a voice. I would like to prioritize meaningful economic revitalization in Eatontown to replace so many of the technology-related jobs we have lost over the past decade and to provide residents with more local employment opportunities.
“I will advocate for fulfilling the borough’s state mandated affordable housing requirements in a transparent way, with community input. We can provide affordable housing alternatives to our residents without extreme overdevelopment and costly litigation like we are seeing at the Monmouth Mall and Old Orchard.
“I will use my strong financial management and municipal finance background to be a hawk with the borough’s budget and finances to maintain acceptable service levels while keeping property taxes low,” she said.
Caruso, who has worked as a certified public accountant and in private equity, venture capital and technology startups, volunteers for Brand New J. She said Brand New J is a statewide organization that advocates for building and cultivating the technology ecosystem in New Jersey.
Caruso is a former planning and zoning board member in another community.
East, who is a current member of the Borough Council, said, “Accomplishments I have achieved during my current term include how I successfully wrote and won two grants to tackle issues of walk-ability and bike-ability in our borough to ensure our roads are friendly to walkers, cyclists and the handicapped.
“I created the Complete Streets Advisory Committee which was adopted by council on April 25, 2018. I met with senior leadership of the state Department of Transportation to put our traffic issues at the forefront and work with them for real solutions. While serving on the Master Plan Re-evaluation Committee, I precipitated the involvement of representatives from every one of our boards and committees to include their goals and mission into the borough’s plan.
“This was the first time there was ever this level of community involvement. As the council’s representative to the Senior Housing Board, I brought in a program of free eye screening to residents and I also serve on the committee that is developing additional opportunities for senior living,” she said.
Asked what goals she would like to accomplish if re-elected, East said, “If I am re-elected, I feel traffic and taxes are two of our most pressing issues. As police commissioner, liaison to the Traffic Advisory Committee and liaison to the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, I am in constant contact with state and local agencies and I will continue to focus on solutions to our traffic issues.
“I will continue to maintain a vigorous pursuit of grants to offset local expenditures and to be continuously on the lookout for opportunities to share services with neighboring towns. I will continue to support individuals and organizations that volunteer in programs that enhance the attractiveness of our borough.
“To address our business ratable tax base and as a member of the (Fort Monmouth) Ad Hoc Committee, I will continue to work with the mayor, council and state on the Fort Monmouth redevelopment,” she said.
East, who is a former educator, has volunteer for more than 20 years with the Eatontown Lions Club Children’s Committee. She has served on the Planning Board and the Traffic Advisory Committee.
