By Joseph Sapia
HIGHLANDS – In the non-partisan race for mayor, Borough Councilman Doug Card faces former Mayor Rick O’Neil.
In an interview, Card said the major issues in town are finances and re-grouping after 2012’s Super Storm Sandy, which flooded the borough and heavily damaged many properties. Card said he would be a full-time mayor.
“I’m committed to being a full-time mayor,” said Card, 48, a construction consultant who has been a member of the Borough Council for 2-1/2 years. “I’m in the financial position to be full-time. I’ve got the time. It’s almost as if it’s a full-time job.”
Several attempts to reach O’Neil by phone and text were unsuccessful. The Rick O’Neil For Highlands Mayor Facebook page lists a history of community service to Highlands, including nine years as mayor and six years as a Council member.
Card also agreed the town should unite.
“We’ve got to quit blaming Sandy,” he said. “We’ve got a great renaissance going on. We have to stop living in the past.”
Card was part of a political movement on council to bring on a new borough attorney at the beginning of the year – replacing Bruce Padula with Brian J. Chabarek. The borough also added a new administrator, Brian Geoghegan, mid-year, replacing Tim Hill, who retired.
“I think if we put the right people in, we get a better return,” Card said. “My goal is to figure out how we’re to manage our budget. We have a real tax burden. We have to figure out our spending control.”
In Highlands, the mayor votes on matters with the four council members, but the mayor also chairs meetings and has some powers, such as direct appointments to the borough’s Land-Use Board.
The mayor’s seat carries a four-year term. Mayor Frank L. Nolan is not seeking re-election.
Polls are open Tuesday, Nov. 8, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
