Matthew J. Doherty

DOHERTY ANNOUNCES BID FOR RE-ELECTION

Belmar Councilman Fights to Keep Property Taxes Stable, Improve Quality of Life

 BELMAR - Councilman Matt Doherty announced today his intention to seek re-election this November, citing his accomplishments in improving the quality of life for borough residents and laying out his agenda for a second term.

 ”I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the families of Belmar, and I look forward to continuing my service,” Doherty said. “From keeping property taxes stable, searching for shared services with other communities, protecting private property against eminent domain, increasing the public’s right to know about financial campaign contributions and securing a generator for our seniors, I will never stop working for Belmar.”

Doherty has focused significant time in his first term to the accessibility and quality of life of Belmar - from promoting infrastructure projects in town to creating accessibility for seniors, the disabled and families with strollers with the blue MOBI mats on the beach.  He has also fought for Belmar’s business owners, such as advocating the successful “Buy in Belmar” campaign during this past holiday season and writing the ordinance to protect businesses from eminent domain two years after spearheading passage of a similar ordinance to protect private homes in Belmar.

Doherty’s work on the Council drew acclaim from an array of elected officials.

“Matt is an incredibly hard worker who always puts the people’s interest first,” said Mayor Ken Pringle. “He is a great asset to the Council, and I am impressed at how much he has accomplished in his first term.

Council President Merry Brennan said: “We need Matt Doherty on Council. He has the energy and passion required to make Belmar a great place to raise a family.”

“I love working with Matt,” said Councilwoman Claire Deike. “He gives his heart and soul to Belmar, and his commitment to the people he serves is second to none.”

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J. praised Doherty as having done “a tremendous job in a very short period of time. Matt is tireless advocate for the people of Belmar.  He was persistent about getting the generator for the Belmar Senior Building and without him it may never have happened.”

In his second term, Doherty promises to work to revitalize our Main Street area, promote shared services agreements to save tax dollars, increase access to the beach, improve our Library, enhance our Harbor, and continue to ensure Belmar is a model of open and transparent government.

Doherty said, “I look forward to going door to door this year and talking with my bosses - the people of Belmar - about how we can confront the unprecedented challenges we face and keep Belmar a great place to live, raise a family and retire.”

Councilman Doherty currently serves on the following Committees: Harbor Commission, Planning Board, ADA Committee (Coordinator), Council Finance Committee, Council Public Safety Committee. He lives on Inlet Terrace with his wife, Maggie, and their two children, Hannah (age 4) and Claire (age 1). Professionally, he is a Securities Licensed Financial Services Professional with MassMutual Financial Group and owner of Doherty Mortgage located on 10^th Avenue in Belmar.

ELECTION 2008

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

Belmar residents will select the candidate they believe is the best man for the job next Tuesday, Nov. 4, during the borough’s general election.

Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, and Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, will vie for the single, three-year term on the council currently held by Councilman William Merkler.

Councilman Merkler, whose term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, is currently the only Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Mr. Volker, 67, lives with his wife, Rosemary, on 4th Avenue. The couple own and run The Inn At The Shore, a bed and breakfast there.

The Volkers have three children, Donna, who lives in Belmar; Chuck, who lives in Fair Haven; and Brian, who lives in Rumson. They also have 11 grandchildren.

Mr. Volker is a member of the Belmar Harbor Commission and the Belmar Chamber of Commerce. He is also a trustee of the Belmar Historical Council, Belmar Arts Council, Belmar Beautification Committee and Belmar Adopt-A-Spot program.

Mr. Volker is a former president of the Preferred Inns of New Jersey, as well.

Having moved to Belmar in 1993 with his wife, Mr. Volker took early retirement in 1998 from JC Penney, where he was the manager of their Ridgefield warehouse distribution facility.

When asked what he hopes to accomplish, if elected, Mr. Volker stated he would like to see redevelopment “get off the ground” in Belmar.

Mr. Volker also stated that he plans on stressing the importance of “sensible fiscal management” being applied to all aspects of municipal government.

“If we don’t have the money, don’t spend it,” he said.

Mr. Volker explained that he would also like to see the borough’s recreation department continue to host programs for families, seniors, children and teens.

“I would like to see Belmar continue to be a safe, friendly place to live,” he added.

Mr. Wright, 57, a retiree, resides on Inlet Terrace with his wife, Linda. Together they have two grown children, Sean and Bridget.

Mr. Wright has a bachelor of science degree in physics from Bates College, a master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Wright started his career at Coopers and Lybrand, in New York City. After leaving Coopers and Lybrand, Mr. Wright worked as the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

Upon leaving Drexel Burnham Lambert, he held the position of chief executive officer of DP Investment. His next career move landed him in the position of chief executive officer of Great Gorge/Vernon Valley.

After leaving Great Gorge/Vernon Valley, Mr. Wright worked as the chief financial officer of MaxLink.

He retired from MaxLink in 2001.

Mr. Wright, President of the Belmar Republican Party, has served as treasurer of the Inlet Terrace Association and was a trustee of The Friends of The Belmar Harbor.

Mr. Wright is a member of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, where he served as trustee and treasurer for six years, and a member of the Belmar Homeowner’s Association [BHA].

“I enjoy being part of the Belmar community and participating in its activities and organizations,” Mr. Wright recently explained. “I see my candidacy as an opportunity to use my financial and management background to improve the community and make it a better and more affordable place to live.”

If elected, Mr. Wright seeks to bring an “objective voice” to the council.

“It is important that there be checks and balances on the borough council and I am committed to bring an objective voice on the council,” Mr. Wright said.

“There is a sense of divisiveness in the community, according to a recent community survey, which I believe is straining segments of the borough,” Mr. Wright added. “I will work to strengthen our sense of community by insisting that our leaders respect each other and respect all of our residents.”

Voters can cast their votes for their candidate of choice on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are four polling locations in Belmar.

District One and District Five voters can vote at the Goodwill Firehouse, located at 610 7th Avenue, in Belmar. District Two voters can vote at the Union Firehouse, located at 9th Avenue and E Street, in Belmar.

District Three voters can vote at the Volunteer Hook and Ladder House, located on 11th Avenue, in Belmar. District Four voters can vote at the Borough Public Works building, located at 800 13th Avenue, in Belmar.

http://starnewsgroup.com/weekly/2008/10.30.08/wright,_volk_10.30.08_53603.html

October 22, 2008

Belmar candidates squabble over tax increases, services

By FRAIDY REISS
ASBURY PARK PRESS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

Borough employees work hard to adhere to the budgets the mayor and Borough Council lay out for them, the Democratic candidate for council said Tuesday night.

“Sometimes, if all you hear is campaign rhetoric, you might think we have people working in our town who do nothing but spend money randomly,” said Thomas Volker, 67. “That’s simply not true.”

The proof of that lies in the municipal tax rate, which has risen at a slower rate than the county and school portions of the tax bill, he said.

But comparing municipal tax increases to those of the county and school district is not the right way to assess whether taxes are too high, countered Richard J. Wright, the Republican candidate for council.

“All families in town are having to do more with less,” said Wright, 57. “I think Belmar is going to have to do more with less.”

He pointed to regionalization of municipal services as the only way to save taxpayers real money.

The candidates’ disagreement came during the fifth annual Meet the Candidates Night, a debate hosted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Belmar Homeowners Association and attended by some 100 people. The borough tax rate was one of several issues on which the two political newcomers disagreed.

“The first thing we need for the downtown is a plan,” Wright said when asked about the stalled redevelopment process. Belmar’s lack of a definite plan poses a problem for downtown property owners who do not know whether to invest in improving their buildings, he said.

Volker, though, said the master plan for redevelopment “has to wait until the economy improves.”

“That’s pretty obvious,” he said.

When borough resident Richard Hunt, 55, asked each man to explain why he would be the best person to fill the three-year term available on the five-member governing body, Wright spoke of his background in management and finance.

“I have a lot of experience, I think, in issues the town is going to be facing,” he said.

Additionally, Wright said, he would be the lone Republican voice on the council and would provide a “check and balance” for a governing body that for most of the last 18 years consisted solely of Democrats.

Volker responded to the same question by calling himself a “team player.”

“I love Belmar and working to help Belmar,” he said.

Both candidates did well in the debate, borough resident Joe Keosseian said later, but Wright was the winner, he said.

“It’s getting to be one-sided,” Keosseian, 44, said of the council. “We need some Republican representation on there to balance out all the ideas.”

ASBURY PARK PRESS

BELMAR - The two men vying for the one available Borough Council seat next month are set to debate each other at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Democrat Thomas Volker and GOP hopeful Richard J. Wright will face off during the Belmar Homeowners Association’s fifth annual Meet the Candidates Night at the Taylor Pavilion on Ocean and Fifth avenues.

Last year’s debate drew some 250 residents, said Douglas Sweeny, co-president of the association.

“It’s our version of the presidential debates,” he said.

Fraidy Reiss

October 17, 2008

Council seat at stake in Belmar race
By FRAIDY REISS
ASBURY PARK PRESS

COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

When voters head to the polls in November to choose a new Borough Council member, they should not focus on the national media attention Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle brought to the borough this summer with his local newsletter, at least one Belmar resident said.

“It shouldn’t, in my view, have any bearing on” the election, said Dennis McGill, 73, of Third Avenue. “It was blown out of proportion.”

But whether they should or not, voters probably will be thinking about that newsletter when they pull the lever, said Thomas Volker, the Democratic candidate and a political newcomer. He predicted, though, that voters will accept that the Democratic mayor was trying to help Belmar with his description of the “guidos” and “Staten Island girls” who visit the borough during the summer and flout its rules.

“He admits he went overboard and he apologized,” said Volker, 67. “I think it won’t hurt me at all.”

His Republican opponent, political newcomer Richard J. Wright, said he could not guess how memories of the newsletter will affect the election.

“I think the mayor was probably well-intended, but it has caused a great deal of embarrassment for the town and for the people in the town,” said Wright, 57. Still, he added, voters might not punish Volker for that embarrassment just because he hails from the same political party as the mayor.

Pringle said he doubted voters would make that connection.

“I don’t think people will hold my newsletter against Tom Volker,” the mayor said. “He had nothing to do with (it).”

From 1990 until 2005, all four borough council seats and the mayor’s seat were filled with Democrats. Then, in 2005, William Merkler snagged a spot as the lone Republican council member.

Merkler, 41, won the primary election in June but later announced he would not seek a second three-year term because he needed to focus on his landscaping business. He withdrew from the race, and Wright took his place as the Republican candidate.

So when voters head to the polls in November to choose a new council member, they will be looking for “another voice” to help govern the borough, local resident Pat Melango said.

“It’s always the same people voting the same way,” she said. “It’s good to have another voice and another point of view.”

Wright agreed. For too long, the council simply followed the mayor’s lead and never dissented on any issue, he said.

“An important part of my candidacy is to have an independent voice on the council that can make sure issues are addressed,” Wright said.

Volker countered that a mixed-party council is not necessarily in the best interest of the town.

“It depends if they can work together harmoniously,” he said. “If there’s going to be fighting all the time and that one opposing voice is going to be against everything that’s proposed, good or bad, then it’s not a good thing.”

Another issue on voter’s minds this election season is the borough’s stalled plan to redevelop the downtown, Wright said. The process has been dragging on for too long, leaving property owners unsure of whether to invest in upgrading their storefronts or to wait for their buildings to be torn down, he said.

“The first thing (we need) is a clear statement of where the redevelopment stands, so that people can begin to plan for the future,” Wright said.

But Volker said voters are not thinking about the downtown right now.

“Redevelopment is on hold until the economy improves, so I don’t see it being an issue,” Volker said. “We’re just going to have to wait until things get better.”

Candidates offer solutions to increased taxes, shoaling

ELECTION 2008

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

The candidate elected to fill the available council seat on Belmar’s governing body in this November’s general election will be expected to work alongside the mayor and council over the next few years to develop short- and long-term solutions to several problems currently facing the governing body, including higher tax rates and increased shoaling at the Shark River Inlet.

Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, and Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, will battle for the single, three-year term on the council this November.

The available council seat is currently being held by Councilman William Merkler, the lone Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

His term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and he ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Both Mr. Volker and Mr. Wright were recently presented with a set of four questions pertaining to the election and asked to answer the questions in 175 words or less.

The last two questions, relating to tax rate hikes and shoaling at the Shark River Inlet, appear below, along with the candidates’ answers. Candidate answers appear verbatim.

~

Q:With the cost of pensions and salaries on the rise, do you feel you are qualified to make the cuts necessary to keep the municipal tax rate low? What steps would you take to save taxpayers money?

A: VOLKER: In addition to my management background, my wife and I operate a B&B, so I work every day keeping costs low, while maintaining high quality. The borough’s portion of our tax bill is 37 percent and that levy is only 16 percent higher than it was in 1990. The mayor and past councils have been able to achieve that by reducing our full-time employee count from 94 to 67 over that time. I wish the state was managed as effectively as Belmar. While we need to continue to cut costs wherever we can, the biggest opportunity keeping taxes down is by sharing services with other towns, and I would work to pursue every opportunity in this area. The state also must be more realistic when considering aid cuts to towns like Belmar that are actively seeking to share services with other communities.

A: WRIGHT: The difficult economic environment will put great pressure on public sector budgets. Belmar should expect even larger cuts in state support. We need to anticipate that our local economy will also be impacted. Now is the time to start identifying marginal programs and services which can be delivered more efficiently or suspended. Other towns have adopted four-day work weeks in order to reduce the energy cost of operating their municipal building. In order to be able to maintain the jobs for all our employees, we should sit done with their union representatives and explore revising certain benefits and sharing the cost of their benefits. Longevity pay, automatic promotions, paid holidays, retirement age, health care costs and more need to be reconsidered. Belmar should also use the fiscal pressure being felt by every municipality to break the political logjam known as home rule to make regionalization of services happen.

Years of financial experience in budget management during both economic expansion and contraction qualify me to manage the municipal budget for lower tax rates.

~

Q: While the Army Corps of Engineers has attempted to thwart the shoaling of the Shark River at the Shark River Inlet by dredging on numerous occasions, the shoaling problem is not going away and continues to create dangerous rip currents for swimmers and dangerously low tides for boaters entering and exiting the inlet.

If you were elected as councilman, what steps would you take, if any, to correct the shoaling problem there?

A: VOLKER: Belmar has made a major investment in improving our marina, and it’s essential that the inlet be safe for boaters. My fellow members of the Belmar Harbor Commission and I have been pressing the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of their study on the causes of the shoaling. Congressman Frank Pallone has been very helpful in this regard. Some suspect that the cutting of the jetties some years ago is contributing to the problems. But we can’t keep reacting to the problem with emergency dredging responses. We need a long-term solution to this problem, and I will work with Congressman Pallone’s office to get this done.

A: WRIGHT: After another reported incident of large swells pitching a commercial boat into a severe yaw, we must immediately press the Army Corps of Engineers to return as often as necessary to maintain the safety of the many recreational and commercial boaters who pass through the Inlet everyday. And this needs to be a joint effort with our neighboring towns of Neptune, Neptune City and Avon.

Immediately, we need to get from the Corps their promised findings as to the causes of the shoaling and their recommendations. Dredging every six months is not considered normal and the funding for that expense is not likely to continue for very long. Notching of the jetties during the beach replenishment is suspected by many as the underlying cause. Experts on beach replenishment suggested at the time that the notched jetties would allow sand to move north along the beach and not be swept offshore. That may still be true, but shoaling and rip tides may have been the unintended consequences.

~

Voters can cast their votes for their candidate of choice on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are four polling locations in Belmar.

District One and District Five voters can vote at the Goodwill Firehouse, located at 610 7th Avenue, in Belmar. District Two voters can vote at the Union Firehouse, located at 9th Avenue and E Street, in Belmar.

District Three voters can vote at the Volunteer Hook and Ladder House, located on 11th Avenue, in Belmar. District Four voters can vote at the Borough Public Works building, located at 800 13th Avenue, in Belmar.

Meet the Candidates night set for Oct. 21

The Coast Star

The Belmar Homeowners Association [BHA] will be hosting its annual “Meet the Candidates” night on Tuesday, Oct. 21, just two weeks before the upcoming general election.

Democratic candidate for council Thomas Volker and Republican candidate for council Richard Wright will be answering pre-screened questions during the debate, as well as questions offered to them by the public in attendance.

Both men will be competing in this November’s general election for the council seat of Councilman William Merkler, which will expire on Dec. 31.

The candidate who receives the most votes on election day, Nov. 4, will fill the three-year term on Belmar’s governing body.

The event - which will kick-off at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. that evening - will be held once again at the Taylor Pavilion, on 5th and Ocean Avenues, in Belmar.

No fee will be charged for admission and the debate is open to all Belmar residents.

Coffee and refreshments will be served for those in attendance.

The BHA is currently soliciting questions from the public via a lockbox which has been placed at the Belmar Borough Hall.

The BHA will select 12 to 13 questions from the lockbox to be screened by the candidates prior to the debate, according to BHA Co-president Doug Sweeny.

Ed Bonder, also co-president of the association, is organizing this year’s “Meet the Candidates” night and will be working with the candidates one-on-one to select the questions they see fit to address during the debate.

While the candidates will be informed of the questions beforehand, the order of the questions will be decided at random, Mr. Sweeny said.

The public will have a chance to ask the candidates questions following the formal debate.

Jim Hohn, an Independent, according to Mr. Sweeny, will be moderating the debate.

A total of 200 to 300 residents are expected to attend.

To solicit questions for the “Meet the Candidates” night, visit Belmar Borough Hall and place questions in the lockbox there.

Candidates tackle quality

ELECTION 2008

By Kelly Skellinger

The Coast Star

Quality of life and redevelopment have become buzz words in Belmar, with officials and residents alike continuously voicing their concerns regarding both topics throughout the years.

For the candidates running in this November’s general election for council, this year is no different: Quality of life and redevelopment issues remain at the forefront of Belmar politics.

Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, and Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, will go head to head during this November’s general election, with both men competing for the single, three-year seat open on the council.

The soon-to-be vacant seat is currently held by Councilman William Merkler, the lone Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

His term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Both Mr. Volker and Mr. Wright were recently presented with a set of four questions pertaining to the election and asked to answer the questions in 175 words or less.

The first two questions, relating to quality of life and redevelopment issues, appear below, along with the candidates’ answers, verbatim. The remaining two questions and answers will appear in the Oct. 16 issue.

~

Q: While some borough officials and residents believe Belmar’s quality of life issues are fading with the number of seasonal rentals in the borough, others still complain of not being able to sleep with their windows open during the summer months due to the excessive noise created by tourists and residents.

Do you believe Belmar is still struggling with the same quality of life issues it faced years ago or do you believe Belmar finally has its quality of life issues under control?

A: VOLKER: I feel Belmar has made tremendous progress on quality of life issues since I first arrived in town 15 years ago. More work needs to be done in some neighborhoods, but our police chief is very sensitive to this issue. Some of our council people ride with police officers in the early morning summer season hours to experience bad behavior problems first hand and I intend to participate in that practice. We need to continue to hold those accountable who fail to respect our residents’ quality of life, and to hold landlords responsible for the conduct of their tenants and the condition of their properties. But I also think it’s time to begin focusing more attention on the positive aspects of our entire community.

A: WRIGHT: The number of Belmar’s summer rentals has dropped significantly in recent years. And with that reduction, our residents have enjoyed an improved quality of life. Today, in the south end of town, our long term residents and our new residents, who have moved into the neighborhoods where the rentals have sold, still must endure noise, trespassing, vandalism and generally obnoxious behavior. These problems have generally been eliminated from the north and central areas of town. We need to ensure that the promises that have been made to make Belmar into a family town are fulfilled for everyone. It is especially important that those who relied upon the promises of a family-oriented town, and who invested significant money into their homes and into areas which needed to be rebuilt, are not left stranded. At the same time, we must be careful that summer bungalows are not converted to year-round rentals without being appropriately upgraded and regulated. While we all want affordable housing openly available, substandard, overcrowded housing is not acceptable.

~

Q: Redevelopment in Belmar is currently at a standstill.

Since the Gale Company agreement fell through, the mayor and

council have shifted their focus on making minor facade improvements to Belmar’s downtown.

What do you believe can be done to downtown Belmar to bring in more customers to the area and, ultimately, make the downtown more attractive to tourists and local customers?

A: VOLKER: The comprehensive plans for downtown redevelopment must remain on hold until the economy improves. In the meantime much can be done. We should shower praise on the stores who have dramatically improved their curb appeal, such as Maccanico’s Ice Cream Shop, Shark River Kayak, Connolly Station, Klein’s Fish Market, Taylor Hardware and Custom Living, to name a few. I support the Belmar Beautification Committee, a group that is dedicated to enhancing public areas around town, and would work to secure a grant to study the feasibility of creating a Business Improvement District for Main Street that would promote our downtown, and present the opportunities to the business owners. We need to work with the county to allow diagonal parking on one side of Main Street, and promote better signage to bring the customers to Main Street.

A: WRIGHT: Neither minor facade improvements nor the proposed taxpayer paid fencing and landscaping around the Sea Coast property, yet another election eve downtown event, are, in themselves, going to attract more customers to Belmar. The redevelopment plan has frozen landlords’ maintenance plans of properties expected to be leveled. We need a clear statement of our future plan for downtown so that landlords can comfortably make plans to invest in much-needed maintenance.

Ultimately what will draw customers to our downtown is a diversity of attractive retail stores offering convenient access to everyday needs and unique product offerings. Retailers will be attracted as we continue our development as a family oriented town. Office space over retail also provides traffic for our retail and should be encouraged. I do not believe that we should fundamentally change the character of Belmar by increasing our already dense housing by building another 600 additional condo or rental units. Building those units in order to create a customer base for our retail stores is just too much to ask of our residents.

~

Voters can cast their votes for their candidate of choice on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are four polling locations in Belmar.

District One and District Five voters can vote at the Goodwill Firehouse, located at 610 7th Avenue, in Belmar. District Two voters can vote at the Union Firehouse, located at 9th Avenue and E Street, in Belmar.

District Three voters can vote at the Volunteer Hook and Ladder House, located on 11th Avenue, in Belmar. District Four voters can vote at the Borough Public Works building, located at 800 13th Avenue, in Belmar.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2008

Volker, Wright compete for three-year term on council

By Kelly Skellinger
The Coast Star

Thomas Volker, Democratic candidate for council, and Richard Wright, Republican candidate for council, will vie for the single, three-year term on the council currently held by Councilman William Merkler in this November’s general election.

Councilman Merkler, whose term is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, is currently the only Republican seated at the dais of Belmar’s governing body.

While Councilman Merkler was backed by the Belmar Republican Committee and ran uncontested for the Republican nomination in the June GOP Primary, the councilman decided not to seek re-election two weeks ago, citing the increased time demanded by his business.

In turn, Mr. Wright was nominated by the Belmar Republican Committee to take his place as the Republican nominee.

Mr. Volker, 67, lives with his wife, Rosemary, on 4th Avenue. The couple own and run The Inn at the Shore, a bed and breakfast there.

The Volkers have three children, Donna, who lives in Belmar; Chuck, who lives in Fair Haven; and Brian, who lives in Rumson. They also have 11 grandchildren.

Mr. Volker is a member of the Belmar Harbor Commission and the Belmar Chamber of Commerce. He is also a trustee of the Belmar Historical Council, Belmar Arts Council, Belmar Beautification Committee and Belmar Adopt-A-Spot program.

Mr. Volker is a former president of the Preferred Inns of New Jersey, as well.

Having moved to Belmar in 1993 with his wife, Mr. Volker took early retirement in 1998 from JC Penney, where he was the manager of their Ridgefield warehouse distribution facility.

When asked what he hopes to accomplish, if elected, Mr. Volker stated he would like to see redevelopment “get off the ground” in Belmar.

Mr. Volker also stated that he will stress “sensible fiscal management” be applied in all aspects of municipal government.

“If we don’t have the money, don’t spend it,” he said.

“I’d also like to see our recreation department continue programs for families, seniors, childrens and teens,” Mr. Volker said.

“I would like to see Belmar continue to be a safe, friendly place to live,” he added.

Mr. Wright, 57, a retiree, resides on Inlet Terrace with his wife, Linda. Together they have two grown children, Sean and Bridget.

Mr. Wright has a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Bates College, a master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Wright started his career at Coopers and Lybrand, in New York City. After leaving Coopers and Lybrand, Mr. Wright worked as the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

Upon leaving Drexel Burnham Lambert, Mr. Wright held the position of chief executive officer of DP Investment. His next career move landed him in the position of chief executive officer of Great Gorge/Vernon Valley.

After leaving Great Gorge/Vernon Valley, Mr. Wright worked as the chief financial officer of MaxLink.

He retired from MaxLink in 2001.

Mr. Wright, President of the Belmar Republican Party, has served as treasurer of the Inlet Terrace Association and was a trustee of The Friends of The Belmar Harbor.

Mr. Wright is a member of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, where he served as trustee and treasurer for six years, and a member of the Belmar Homeowner’s Association [BHA].

“I enjoy being part of the Belmar community and participating in its activities and organizations,” Mr. Wright recently explained. “I see my candidacy as an opportunity to use my financial and management background to improve the community and make it a better and more affordable place to live.”

If elected, Mr. Wright seeks to bring an “objective voice” to the council.

“It is important that there be checks and balances on the borough council and I am committed to bring an objective voice on the council,” Mr. Wright said.

“There is a sense of divisiveness in the community, according to a recent community survey, which I believe is straining segments of the borough,” Mr. Wright added, referring to the Belmar Homeowner’s Association’s 2008 survey. “I will work to strengthen our sense of community by insisting that our leaders respect each other and respect all of our residents.”

http://starnewsgroup.com/weekly/2008/10.02.08/volker,_wrig_10.02.08_72296.html

This year’s election is just around the corner and we have been working hard to inform Belmar’s residents about our campaign.  Though we have been busy, we still have much more to do.  In order to continue making Belmar a great community, our campaign needs the help of dedicated supporters such as yourself.  We are looking for volunteers to make phone calls, go door-to-door, help around the office and host meet and greets at their homes.

If you are interested in helping, please click here and sign up to volunteer through my website.  I thank you for your support and look forward to serving as your next councilman.

Sincerely,

Tom Volker
WeLoveBelmar.com