Red Bank Candidates Divided On The Issues

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By John Burton
RED BANK — The Nov. 8 election will have voters selecting from two incumbents and three political newcomers to fill two, three-year terms on the Borough Council.
This year’s slate of candidates features incumbent Democrat Kathy Horgan and running mate Erik Yngstrom, making his first run for elected office; opposition comes in the form of two first-time Republican candidates, Kellie O’Bosky Colwell and Brian Hanlon. Rounding out the ballot is independent candidate Cindy Burnham, who has been on the council since 2014.
Burnham, 61, is a retired substitute teacher who had worked at the Red Bank Middle School and Red Bank Regional High School. Burnham won her first election three years ago and served much of her term as a Republican. But she clashed with the local GOP leadership and with the three borough council members of her party, resulting in the committee failing to nominate her for this year’s ballot.
Burnham is a self-described “community activist” who said, “I’m running on my record and to stop wasteful spending and irresponsible borrowing that is ingrained in our government.”
Burnham is serving as the borough council president for this year and said she’s often been a lone voice against various financial allocations that she maintained were unnecessary and done for political expediency or patronage. Over the course of her council tenure Burnham has advocated for an operational review of the Water and Sewer Authority to study expenses and see if there are cost savings available. To voters, she advises, “The best way to predict what someone will do is to look at what they have done…I have kept my promise to the people.”
Horgan, 71, works as the liaison to the board of trustees for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS research. She has lived in the borough for 17 years and is the veteran among the candidates, having served for nine years on the borough council.
“I will stay here for the rest of my life and I’m really interested in my community,” Horgan said, explaining her interest in taking on another term.
On issues: “What do you hear when you go door to door? Taxes,” she said. Horgan’s response to voters is “there are reasons that drive them up,” explaining contributors to the situation are multiyear contractual obligations with union employees; a large number of tax appeals annually that, like most lawsuits, wind up being negotiated, and cost the borough money; and the borough’s large number of not-for-profit tax exempt properties, she explained.
Commercial development has come up in the discussion of campaign issues. It can be complex, she said, as “You try to find the balance,” encouraging projects that “make for an attractive community,” and bring ratables “but that doesn’t overtax our infrastructure.”
She has raised issue with the proposed 55 West Front St. proposal to rezone the property that could permit a previously zoning board-denied large residential development.
The same is true for her Democratic running mate, Yngstrom, who sees the plan as undermining the role of the zoning board in the land use process.
“I think development should proceed cautiously,” he advised.
Yngstrom is a 31-year-old attorney who is making his first run for elected office. He says he’s always had an interest in government and took this opportunity to make a contribution to public service.
He has served on the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment for about 1 ½ years and had voted against the 55 West Front St. residential development and has been critical of this plan to rezone the site, alleging it could circumvent the zoning board’s role and authority.
Yngstrom has a strong interest in recreation and believes the public parks need additional attention and the west side needs a park for area families.
Republican Hanlon, 47, has lived in the borough with his family since 2007, and works in the borough office of a financial services firm. This is his first run for elected office.
He and his GOP candidate Colwell have expressed support for this redevelopment and in general encourage what they say is thoughtful commercial development as a means to offset the residential tax base and maintain a vibrant community.
Hanlon also suggested the governing body investigate selling the water and sewer authority as a cost saving measure. “Let’s see what it’s worth.”
The borough council had privatized trash collection. However, Hanlon pointed out that there were no staff reductions for that department, thus blunting the beneficial impact that step had.
He also supports developing the White Street lot as a mixed use, public/private project to construct a parking garage. Hanlon opposes the borough bonding and shouldering the entire cost for such a downtown project.
Colwell, 48, is a working mixed media artist who has lived in the borough for most of her life. It is her first run for political office.
She, like Hanlon, said taxes and spending take center stage in discussions and their agenda and wants to keep the community affordable for aging residents and young families. “I just don’t want to see anyone leave the town because they can’t afford it,” she said.
On the issue of development Colwell said projects get bogged down with bureaucratic red tape and she would like to see if the process could be streamlined. She would also like to see both sides of the community benefit by greater promoting of the community as a cultural hub.