Mayoral hopefuls discuss views on Monroe issues
Pucci, Nothstein disagree on record of incumbents
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Pucci

MONROE - While the Democratic mayor who has been in charge for two decades is hoping to continue on his leadership path, a Republican newcomer is looking to make changes.

Incumbent Mayor Richard Pucci said he is proud of the record of achievements he has garnered over the years along with his incumbent running mates, Irwin Nalitt and Leslie Koppel-Egierd, and he plans to keep the interests of residents at heart.

"We've been able to equalize our tax rate over the years since 2002, while we meet the needs of the people in this town," Pucci said.

Thomas Nothstein, who is running alongside council candidates Carlos Lopez and Karen Scarpa, begged to differ, saying municipal spending is out of hand. He said increasing amounts are being spent, which will present a problem when development in the town starts to decrease.

"We're going to see a situation where revenue coming in is going to start to level off," Nothstein said.

He also said the total property tax rate, including school district taxes, is up 30 percent since 2000. According to Nothstein, although Pucci and his administration have no direct control over the school budget, there is an indirect connection since the mayor sits on the Planning Board.

Thomas Nothstein

"He's been allowing this runaway development, which definitely impacts on the schools," Nothstein said. "He tends to put the needs of developers before the needs of the residents of Monroe. It's really no surprise, when you look at where his contributions come from."

Pucci pointed out that the municipal portion of the tax rate is 17 percent of the total tax bill for residents. He said voters have a chance to vote down other budgets that comprise the tax rate, including those of the fire district and Board of Education.

"The opponents are trying to suggest that we're involved in areas where we're not," Pucci said.

Overall, Pucci said, Monroe has the second or third-lowest tax rate in the county.

In terms of allowing too much development, Pucci said that although the community has expanded, a smart-growth plan is in place to ensure that development is limited.

"The growth pattern is on a very positive course," Pucci said. "Fifty percent of our community, under our direction, will never be developed."

According to Pucci, the rate of development spiked over the past three or four years because of very low interest rates on mortgages. Now that the market is dying down, so will building in town, he said.

In regard to Nothstein's claim that Pucci puts developers who contribute to his campaign before residents, Pucci refuted it.

"First and foremost in the community come the residents," Pucci said. "If that was the case, we wouldn't be re-elected so many times, at substantial margins."

Pucci said probably less than 25 percent of developers

who build in town contribute to his campaign, but it is irrelevant because no one receives preference over anyone else.

"That record is as clear as the sky is blue," Pucci said. "It's America, and they have a right to contribute to the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or anyone else."

Still, Nothstein said he and his running mates would not accept contributions from any developers.

"We said we would rather lose the election than be indebted to the builders," Nothstein said. "I plan to be very developer unfriendly. I want the developers to jump through hoops for us, because they need us more than we need them."

Nothstein also said the Democrats play a shell game by accepting contributions to the Monroe Township Democratic organization, which are then distributed to the candidates for their campaigns.

"In reality, everyone knows what they're donating to," Nothstein said.

Pucci pointed out that the ethics committee he appointed came up with what they call some of the strictest pay-to-play laws in the state.

"Every developer to come before the Planning Board has to disclose all contributions, not only in Monroe Township, but anywhere across the board in the state of New Jersey," Pucci said.

Professionals, such as attorneys and other experts appearing on behalf of developers, must do the same.

On the school in the park

Regarding the controversial high school in the park project, Nothstein was a longtime vocal opponent of the Thompson Park site for the school. Now that the park land is being released to the Board of Education, Nothstein said the issue has become the additional $42 million that the board will ask voters to approve in a Dec. 11 referendum. According to Nothstein, residents he has spoken with are upset over the added costs of the project.

"It was supposed to be a quick fix, and it was supposed to be an economic fix," Nothstein said. "Unfortunately, it was neither. The mayor said it was a slam-dunk. Because of him, we don't have that high school."

Nothstein said he has a letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from several years back that warned Pucci that obtaining the park site through a land swap would be a difficult and time-consuming process.

Only a week after an $82.9 million referendum for the school was approved in 2003, Nothstein said, the proposed Applegarth Road site for the project was being cleared to make way for residential development.

Pucci said the Board of Education did not own the land at that time, and there were already approvals issued to develop the tract. It was only after the board approached the governing body to ask for support in obtaining the park site that they played any role in the project, Pucci said.

"It would be a long battle anyway, if they ever went after a prime piece of property," Pucci said. "It was a win-win for everybody. When we look back 20 years from now, that's going to be one of the best decisions ever made for this township."

On TV access and terms

One goal Nothstein has, if elected, would be to create greater transparency in governmental workings, he said. In order to do so, two key steps would be posting minutes of municipal meetings on the township Web site and televising meetings, he said.

"The idea here is to make it as easy as possible to have access to government," Nothstein said. "I want to open the file cabinets of Monroe. These are not novel ideas; they are just ideas that have not been important to the current administration."

According to Pucci, the governing body has been working for some time on these issues.

"We believe we've been totally transparent," Pucci said. "They never define what is being done. We've just signed a long-term agreement with Comcast."

Within 16 to 18 months, the township will be televising meetings and other township events, he said. The process of striking the agreement proved lengthy because there are a number of cable providers in town, Pucci said.

In noting the fact that only Democrats have held office in Monroe since 1988, Nothstein said he and his running mates support creating term limits for elected officials.

"No one should be in power this long," Nothstein said. "It just breeds upon itself, and it creates the culture of corruption that exists in New Jersey."

Nothstein cited Sayreville as an example of one party staying in power too long. He said their governing body was dominated by Republicans for some time, which is equally problematic. According to Nothstein, government should be less about partisan politics and more focused on the good of the general public. To illustrate his point, he said he voted for Pucci in 1987.

"He was the right choice then, and he did some good things," Nothstein said. "I feel he stayed a little too long, and he got a little too friendly with developers."

Pucci again spoke of the accomplishments of the current administration.

"They don't like to discuss the fact that we have one of the lowest tax rates, one of the lowest crime rates, and one of the largest programs of open space and farmland preservation in the county," Pucci said.

According to Pucci, Nothstein and his running mates suggested holding a referendum to establish term limits, but such a move would be illegal.

"Come Nov. 6, we're going to have a real referendum - it's called voting, and the residents will decide who they want as their elected officials. It's best left up to the voters. It doesn't speak too much of your knowledge if you recommend something that is illegal."