BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards' primary election on June 2 has five candidates running for two open seats on the Township Committee.
Kirsten Light is one of three Republican candidates running in the primary. Paul Humbert and Vanathi Raghupathy are also running.
Additionally, there are two Democratic candidates, Ana Duarte McCarthy and Joan Bannan, who are running together in the primary.
All of the candidates are running for the two, three-year seats on the township committee.
Are you running for office in Basking Ridge? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Basking Ridge Patch.
Age: 53
Town of residence: Basking Ridge (Bernards Township)
Position sought: Township Committee
Party affiliation: Republican
Family: Frank (Husband), Caeli (Daughter 22) and Jaxon (Son 10)
Education: Bachelor of Science, Accounting - Rutgers University; Masters Certificate, Business Intelligence - Villanova University
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant, Process Improvement Consultant and Technology Design Architect
Previous or current elected appointed office: Board of Education, Bernards Township (2022-2024)
Campaign website: lightthewaytovictory.com
Why are you seeking election to the Township Committee?
"My Why"... Bernards Township has been voted one of the safest and one of the most desirable places to live in America. This has happened through Republican leadership for decades. In the past 18 months+, leadership has chosen their own personal vendetta's over what is good for our community, particularly related to our affordable housing obligations and the opposing party went along with it in an effort to capitalize on a rift in our party. That makes all of them unqualified to lead our town because they are doing it for the wrong reasons. I want to bring common sense back and I have a history of doing what is right, rather than what is popular with any particular faction.
What issues do you feel need to be tackled in the Township?
We should be proactive as a community and decide what businesses we need and what services we are lacking as a community. Therefore we need to collect data on what our residents need and want here in town. This serves many different needs that the community has. The first, filling the open office space in town to prevent that from being required to be reconfigured as affordable housing and instead increasing the tax base and shifting taxes from the residents to the businesses. The second would be determining what "open space" is left and planning for that accordingly. We should not wait for Trenton to dictate our town's future and make up. We should decide what we want as a community and work to make that happen.
In addition, we have a large amount of adult special needs residents who have aged out of the school district. This is due to the exceptional services our district provides. However, this is where the support ends. We had an opportunity to provide these residents housing with the movie studio deal. Now whether this was the right opportunity or not is not something that I cannot opine on since I don't know the specifics of the deal. However, I do know that there were promises made that those housing needs would be readdressed and actively sought after once the movie studio deal was quashed. To my understanding, nothing has been done so far. Our special needs community not only needs housing but services and we need to attract businesses to our town that can and will provide these services to our residents. And as an added bonus, all special needs housing translates into 3 qualified affordable housing units, thus reducing the overall development needs for the community thereby retaining the charm and character of our community!
Is there anything you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?
I am the best choice among ALL candidates, Democrat or Republican because I am the only one who can and WILL address overdevelopment. My record of financial success on the Board of Education that led a $5M slowing of increases to taxpayers has not been duplicated before or since and my professional experience makes me well suited to bring innovative ideas to the Township Committee. I have already won a contentious election in town and shown the fortitude to follow through with my commitment to the positions rather than quit because situations were "uncomfortable". In addition, I call "balls and strikes" and am not afraid to call out members of EITHER party when poor decisions are made for our residents.
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