By John Burton
RED BANK– What Borough Councilmen-elect Michael Whelan and Mark Taylor lack in experience in their young political careers, they say they make up in energy and enthusiasm.
“We’re going to be like a sponge, absorbing everything,” said Taylor, about his and Whalen’s plans for learning the ropes as the two Republicans prepare to take their seats on the new borough council. The Republicans will have the majority for the first time in more than two decades.
“We’re still in kind of a limbo,” Whelan pointed out. As members-elect they haven’t formally taken their place on the six-member council but are already being approached by residents asking about things and what to expect. “People are looking at us to make changes,” Taylor said.
The two will be sworn in on Jan. 2 during the borough re-organization meeting which will be held at the municipal complex at noon.
As for what to expect, “I think we want to continue the progress that has been made,” in the last couple of years, Taylor offered, referring to the work of their GOP predecessors Cindy Burnham and Linda Schwabenbauer. Burnham was elected two years ago, and Schwabenbauer was elected last year.
“We’re not going to upset the applecart,” Taylor assured, “but we’d like to continue the progress.”
Taylor, 34, a lawyer, and Whelan, 25, who works in the insurance industry, are two political newcomers who won what turned out to be a protracted and close campaign that eventually was determined by a formal vote recount last month. Whelan’s victory was particularly narrow, winning by a mere three votes over nine-year-incumbent Democrat Michael DuPont. Their victory, with previous wins in the last two years by Burnham and Schwabenbauer, set the stage for the GOP to take the majority control of the council for the first time since 1989.
Whelan said this amounted to a mandate from the electorate. “People want change,” he said.
The changing of the political guard generally ensures there will be some changes in political appointments for the new year. And that could possibly mean a different attorney, engineering and auditing firms, among others, positions that traditionally serve at the pleasure of the mayor and council.
Mayor Pasquale Menna, a Democrat, said last week he hasn’t been informed about the future appointments as of yet. Taylor, in response, said it was premature to discuss that and no final decisions have been determined at this time.
“Yes, we’re the majority,” he noted, “but we’re not the only ones on the council.”
But the two, presumably with the support of their fellow Republicans have issues they would like to tackle in the coming year. Taylor sees it as time for the governing body to once again address the longstanding, and sometimes thorny, issue of parking. “We have an opportunity to dive deep into this,” said Taylor.
Certainly, one of the considerations could be further discussions about a parking garage. Taylor said that could be one remedy “if done smartly,” and something that should be raised. “If it doesn’t cost the taxpayers money.”
For Whelan, “The one thing I’m really concerned with is the businesses.”
Whelan maintained, “When I hear horror stories of mom and pops (businesses) waiting for months to get a variance,” so they can proceed in opening, he finds that troubling.
Making the borough more business-friendly and improving the parking situation, “These issues dovetail into each other,” Taylor believed.
And the goal is “to get people to Red Bank,” Whelan stressed.
Getting people here as visitors—competing with the recently redeveloped Asbury Park as an attraction, especially for younger people—and getting them to move here, to live and to raise their families, should be a priority, they believe.
Another area needing attention is the borough’s infrastructure. Taylor called it “ancient” and “actually dangerous,” given its age and condition. Up to this point Whelan describes remedies as, “It’s been a lot of Band-Aids.” Both men acknowledged this could mean spending considerable money but it has to be addressed.
“These are not new ideas but we need to move them forward,” Taylor said.
Whelan said he would love to serve as the borough council’s liaison to Red Bank RiverCenter, the commercial district’s business alliance.
Taylor, who has been active with the Parks and Recreation Committee for a number of years, and would like to continue working with the department if possible.
In closing, Whelan offered, “I think the people of Red Bank deserve a break,” and they hope to “dig deep” into the budget to help ease the tax burden.
“The vision we have is something we’re going to work on,” he said.
