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Kafton And Slate Say Administration Is A Failure
By Lauren Puglisi
Jackson's Township Council election on May 13 is just days away. Three seats are up for grabs on the five-member Township Council. Two slates of three candidates each all seek four-year terms.
Three candidates are running under the slate "The Right Team for Jackson" for the open seats on the Jackson Township Council. The challengers vow to put their community experience to use while also offering a counter to the current administration.
"The Right Team for Jackson" is made up of a longtime politician Michael Kafton, Michael Reina and Bobbie Rivere.
Under the old committee form of government, Kafton served as a committeeman for six years, as well as mayor in 2003 and deputy mayor in 2005. Kafton is a graduate from South Jersey Professional School of Business, Kovats School of Real Estate and Atlantic School of Insurance. He believes the residents of Jackson should remember that the current administration has failed them "countless" times in just two years.
Kafton is critical of what he has seen from the administration of Mayor Mark Seda and his Township Council.
"The current administration has raised the tax rate higher than anyone else, they haven't focused on commercial rateables, which is a way to help offset the cost of taxes in this town, and they have ignored the rules that residents must follow everyday," Kafton said. "If you're going to build a road and basketball courts, you have to get permits. If you want to revamp an entire ambulance service in town, then you have to put forth a plan before you start to do it. And if you want to wipe out an entire building department, you must do the same thing. This administration has continuously failed to research projects. They have jumped into so many things without planning ahead."
Reina has been a Jackson resident since 1987 and in that time, he has devoted much of his life to serving as a volunteer. In the past, Riena has been a member and chairman of the Jackson Planning Board, member and vice president of the Jackson Officeof Emergency Management and of the Private Residential Community Board. He recently has joined the Cassville Fire Department and works at Jackson's food pantry during his spare time.
After running unsuccessfully in 2006 alongside Kafton, he decided to give it another try because he said the current administration has not represented Jackson's residents or taken responsibility for the administration's mistakes.
"We will be accountable and responsible for our actions. I am a strong proponent of open government and I believe that everyone should know what's coming up, as opposed to saying 'here's what we did for you.' The residents have to know what they are getting and we will be elected to represent, not rule, and I will stand behind that the entire time. We aren't going to be put in officeto rule this town," Reina said. "Another important thing that doesn't cost much that we hope to achieve will be to utilize the resources in our senior and gated communities. It's about life experiences and we can learn from them. When someone has an idea, we want them to bring it forward instead of shooting them down and catering to a specific group."
Bobbie Rivere received a bachelor of arts (BA) from the University of Michigan and a masters' of arts (MA) from Hunter College in New York in English, speech and drama. She served on the Merrick School District's Board of Education in Long Island for 23 years. She is also a past chairwoman of Jackson Walks, which is the committee that oversaw Jackson's participation in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure this past October at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Rivere believes that her slate is different from her opponents' because they are always willing to listen and learn.
"We will listen when different constituents talk to us so that we can work together for the best interest of Jackson. You just can't decide you are going to act, you have to react to the people around you. I think with our diverse backgrounds that is what we will do," Rivere said. "We will be government of the people, we won't just tell the residents what is happening in town, we will ask them for advice. I will always be open to talk to residents with the hopes of learning what it is they want to see changed in the township."
"The Right Team for Jackson" believes the residents of Jackson should vote Column A: Michael Kafton, Michael Reina and Bobbie Rivere.
"What sets us aside from our opponents is our track record," Kafton said. "Our record of bringing in good clean ratables, cutting the budget in town, preserving open space. That's the difference between our team and their team. They have failed the taxpayers and the residents of Jackson Township on the most important issues that affect us on a daily basis. We have a record of being successful and we are going to continue doing that when we get back in office."
Election Day is Tuesday, May 13.
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