Township Committee Candidates: Michael Howard

Township Committee elections are approaching, and Barnegat Patch is turning the focus on the candidates. Below, you'll find our pre-election story on incumbent Democrat Michael Howard, who answered several questions Patch readers wanted to see the candidates address.

You can also look back at our story on Republican , independent , incumbent  and Republican incumbent . 

• Candidate name: Michael Howard
• Address: 22 Birdsall Street 
• Party: Democrat
• Occupation: Served four years in the Navy; retired Barnegat Township police officer
• Previous government experience: Has served as Democratic District Committee Person

Michael Howard is the Democratic newcomer in this year's race for two open seats for Barnegat Township Committee, running alongside incumbent Leonard Morano. Howard contends that cutting waste is the best way to cut taxes in the township. He said he plans to collect no benefits or salary if elected, and wants to see greater transparency when it comes to how the government does business.

Obviously, taxes are issue number one for a lot of people. Can you offer up three specific ideas for cutting taxes, including, but not limited to, cuts you would make in municipal spending?

Howard said he'd target waste in the municipal budget in order to cut township costs as much as possible. 

He's seen township employees working on Sundays, he said, picking up trash downtown or working by the docks. 

"That, to me, is just junk overtime."

He also said he took issue with the township's decision to buy a new street sweeper, which he said is overused anyway, and criticized the amount of money spent on the new Lower Shore Road softball field. Also a problem, he said, was tens of thousands spent on landscaping and tree service around the township municipal buildings – work that could have been done far cheaper in house, he contends.

"It's just pure, unadulterated waste," Howard said.

Did you approve of the 2011 municipal budget? If not, what specifically would you have changed?

Howard said he wouldn't have approved the budget as it stood, for many of the above reasons. The savings are there, he said, but those in control of the committee haven't been seeking them out.

Instead, the township administrator is controlling the budget process and spending, he said.

"Either the township committee has lost control of the town, or our administrator has gone rogue on us and he's in charge of the town," Howard said. "I didn't vote for him. I voted and hoped to get a township committee."

One issue that readers have been asking everyone to weigh in on is salaries and benefits for elected officials. Do you, or would you, collect and keep a salary and medical benefits? What are your thoughts on those who say elected officials should not do so?

"I pay for my own benefits through my pensions," said Howard, "and I plan to keep doing the same exact thing I'm doing. I plan not to take any of the township benefits."

Howard said he also wouldn't accept the salary that goes along with a committee position.

"I will never cash one of the checks that the town gives me," he said. "That money's never going to come out of the township budget."

He said he didn't think benefits should be categorically eliminated for committee members, and instead proposed a sliding scale – the longer you serve, the more that counts as a vote of confidence from residents, he said, and the more benefits elected officials should be permitted to accept.

Accessibility and transparency are also important topics for a lot of people. Do you, or would you, make a point to personally respond to calls and emails from residents? What do you think can be done to increase the level of communication between residents and officials, and make township matters more transparent?

"I'll certainly supply a phone number and anybody can call me within certain hours," said Howard. He's less enamored with email, he said. Howard added that he plans to spend a lot of time out in the community talking to residents if elected.

He also said he thinks the township can do more to make government more transparent. He'd call for a return to open budget forums, where the public could see elected officials working through the budget and weigh in.

"Everything is so secretive," he said, and that means less accountability. "The budget gets done and they act like they never knew anything about it."

 What else is important to you as a candidate?

"The main reason I'm running is because I believe I can do a way better job than the two Republicans I'm running against," Howard said. "They both had their shots. Marty's (Republican incumbent Martin Lisella's) literature says he wants to finish the job he started. I'm not sure Barnegat can afford to have him finish the job he started. Maxine had her shot. She was on the committee. You're recycling the same people who don't care about saving money."

Howard said he feels he and running mate Leonard Morano can make a difference on the committee if they're both elected.

"The tax train is running away in this town. We've got to grab this thing and slow it down."