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Available on home inspection packages of $400 or more. Claim your credit with your name and email at <a href="https://callsmartchoice.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">callsmartchoice.com</a>.
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One per household/property. Cannot be combined with other offers. No cash value.

Essex County

Eric Kiefer

New York City Metropolitan Area

Montclair

New Jersey

A Gift for New Jersey Home Buyers

Buying a home in New Jersey? Get $100 OFF your home inspection with Smart Choice Inspections!...

In Bernards Township, a young family with two working parents can barely keep up with a record 4.98% school tax and 3.44% municipal tax this year and increased home appraisals. Now they must pay fees for sports and marching band - and yet again this year, over 20 teachers were laid off due to State of New Jersey budget cuts.
Seniors on fixed incomes watch their savings shrink as utility and property bills climb despite promises from Democrats.
A recent graduate can&rsquo;t find a job locally; local companies like Verizon cut back, but grow in Dallas, Mitsubishi leaves town and pharmaceutical Regeneron with other financial firms have vacated Allen Road leaving empty shell complexes, taking jobs with them. An active lawsuit pending for light manufacturing was just sent back to the Township by a judge recently. 131 Morristown Road had a 210,000-office complex vacant to be replaced with townhomes.
Is more affordable housing on the horizon?
Why Businesses Are Leaving New Jersey and Other State&rsquo;s Growing.
The evidence clearly shows that New Jersey&rsquo;s cumulative 14% Corporate Business Tax the nation&rsquo;s highest compounded by Bernard Township&rsquo;s high local taxes, long permitting reviews, and sky-high electric utility rates is pushing employers out (look at your own electric bill).
As one executive in town noted: 
&ldquo;Companies have choices on states and townships now, and they&rsquo;re clearly exercising them.&rdquo; 
Every single departure means lost revenue, forcing higher
taxes on residents - a downward spiral. While other states gained, New Jersey lost over 25,000 jobs to other states over July according to the New Jersey Dept of Labor Jobs Report. (below) 

Solutions:
1) Advocate Democratic Governor Sherrill for lower corporate taxes, the Democratic majority for LOWER local Township tax rate
to stay competitive with neighboring states and towns as it was under Republican fiscal control. 
2) Local economic development outreach to new businesses, retail and groceries like Trader Joe&rsquo;s, Wegmans to replace departed Stop and Shop at Lyons. 


3) Streamline local permitting to attract new tech and pharma investment at existing open commercial sites. 
4) Hold Governor Sherrill and the Democratic majority accountable for astronomical electricity costs driving up business and household expenses. Your gas would be much cheaper if not for the 49-cent New Jersey gas tax. Other states like PA and OH have lower rates.
5) Importantly, the new &ldquo;independent contractor rule&rdquo; affecting 1.7 million business owners enacted by Democrats on Oct 1, despite business opposition hurts thousands of small businesses in town. (below)
6) Limit Trenton&rsquo;s overreach and control like The Highlands which have crushed local school districts In Morris, Passaic and Sussex County. The "broken promise" complaint is that Trenton-imposed restrictions without delivering the money. The Highlands Council has been underfunded, and tax-relief and economic programs meant to win local support have been reduced, frozen, or eliminated. 
Without a major shift in leadership and structural policy, more towns like Bernards risk losing businesses that sustain them. Talk to your local business owner &ndash; get the facts.
This is why I support Republicans to return us to common-sense fiscal values this November and I ask for you to join me. 
Douglas Sheldon
14 Benedict Crescent 


 
 References
 
 
 
 
 
 <a href="https://njbia.org/nj-lost-25k-jobs-in-july/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">NJ Lost Over 25K Jobs in July</a>
<a href="https://njbia.org/nj-lost-25k-jobs-in-july/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">njbia.org</a>
 
 
 
 

<a href="https://nj1015.com/nj-abc-test-new-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://nj1015.com/nj-abc-test-new-rules/</a>

Somerset County

Somerset

Bernards

Op Ed: Democrats’ Affordability Problem: An...

In Bernards Township, a young family with two working parents can barely keep up with a record 4.98% school tax and 3.44% municipal tax this year...

Op Ed: Democrats’ Affordability Problem: An Objective View And Why We Must Vote For Change

Bernards is facing real challenges. The town you chose when you moved here is being affected by decisions made far beyond our borders.&nbsp;The Trenton tax and mandate&nbsp;machine is working on two fronts.
 First, New Jersey&rsquo;s affordable housing mandates are forcing dramatic changes on&nbsp;communities like ours without adequate consideration of the impact on our schools, traffic, infrastructure and finances. Second, Trenton continues to look for new ways to tax and redistribute wealth under the&nbsp;banner of &ldquo;progressive taxation.&rdquo; New Jersey already places an enormous burden on its&nbsp;taxpayers, and proposals for still more taxes should concern anyone who cares about&nbsp;keeping our community affordable. We don&rsquo;t need that kind of social engineering in Bernards.&nbsp; At the same time, politics has become increasingly divisive. Those who oppose my&nbsp;campaign, whether on the left or the right, may try to distract voters with attacks, labels&nbsp;and toxic messaging.&nbsp;I won&rsquo;t participate in that kind of politics. I will work relentlessly to protect and preserve Bernards, which has been my hometown&nbsp;for 47 years. My campaign is based on three basic principles: Neighbors matter. Affordability matters. And we must keep Bernards the town&nbsp;you chose when you moved here.&nbsp; My campaign is forward-looking, issue-focused, solution-oriented and moderate in its&nbsp;approach. I believe residents deserve more than slogans. They deserve to know&nbsp;specifically what their elected officials intend to do. That is why I have laid out a plan for what I will do on Day 1, Day 90 and Day 180, and&nbsp;what I believe we can accomplish by Day 360. Find the plan here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.humbertforbernards.com/post/what-i-ll-do-once-elected" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">humbertforbernards.com/post/what-i-ll-do-once-elected</a> This November, vote for substance, not signs, slogans, and self-promotion.&nbsp;If you believe Bernards is worth protecting, I&rsquo;m asking for your help. Follow and share&nbsp;my campaign on social media, volunteer your time, talk to your neighbors, put up a lawn&nbsp;sign, or make a contribution to help us reach more voters.&nbsp; Every bit of support matters, and I am grateful for all of it. Thank you. Now, on to victory in November! Learn more about my campaign at <a href="http://www.HumbertForBernards.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">HumbertForBernards.com </a>

Alexis Tarrazi

Basking Ridge

What I'll Do Once Elected

Bernards is facing real challenges. The town you chose when you moved here is being affected by decisions made far beyond our borders. The Trenton...

Candidate Pledges to Put Taxpayers First and Reject Contributions from Developers with Business Before the Township

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ &ndash; Kirsten Light, Republican candidate for Bernards Township Committee, announced today that her campaign is being powered by residents, not political organizations or special interests.

"As I have spoken with residents across Bernards Township, one message comes through loud and clear: people want independent leadership that is accountable to taxpayers, not political insiders," said Light. "That is exactly why I am running."

Light emphasized that her campaign is independent of the established Republican political organizations and their financial support.

"I have not received financial contributions from the local Republican organization or the county Republican organization, and my campaign is not being directed by party insiders," said Light. "My responsibility is to the residents of Bernards Township and the taxpayers who call this community home."

Light also announced a strict campaign finance policy designed to avoid conflicts of interest and preserve public trust.

"I have not accepted, do not accept, and will not accept campaign contributions from developers who have business before the Township," said Light. "Furthermore, I will not accept campaign contributions from the professional representatives of those developers, including attorneys, engineers, planners, consultants, or other individuals whose livelihoods depend upon development applications before our Township."

Light stated that local government decisions must be made based on what is best for residents, neighborhoods, schools, infrastructure, and taxpayers, not based on campaign relationships.

"Residents deserve to know that when decisions are made regarding development, zoning, infrastructure, or taxpayer resources, those decisions are being made on their merits and not influenced by campaign contributions," said Light. "Public service should be about serving the public."

A longtime finance professional and community advocate, Light said she entered the race because she believes Bernards Township needs leaders who are willing to ask tough questions, challenge conventional thinking, and focus on long-term financial sustainability.

"My campaign is built on transparency, accountability, responsible fiscal management, and preserving the character of our community," said Light. "Whether the issue is development, affordable housing obligations, taxes, infrastructure, or public spending, residents deserve honest answers and independent leadership."

Light concluded by reaffirming her commitment to earning the trust of voters through principled leadership and open communication.

"I am not running on behalf of any political organization, special interest, or development community. I am running on behalf of the residents of Bernards Township. My only agenda is to protect taxpayers, preserve our quality of life, and ensure that our local government remains accountable to the people it serves."

Contact: Light for Township Committee &ndash; <a href="mailto:followthelight2026@gmail.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">followthelight2026@gmail.com</a>
Campaign Website: lightthewaytovictory.com

Kirsten Light:  An Independent Conservative...

Candidate Pledges to Put Taxpayers First and Reject Contributions from Developers with Business Before the Township...

Kirsten Light:  An Independent Conservative Voice for Bernards Township Residents

An Essex County home inspector has built a free website that lets anyone look up the public records behind a New Jersey property &mdash; building permits, flood zones, fire history, property taxes, and more &mdash; by typing in an address.
The site, <a href="https://oprasearch.app/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Permit &amp; Parcel</a>, covers all 564 New Jersey municipalities and brings together records from official sources, including state and county databases, FEMA flood maps, and the towns&rsquo; own municipal codes. No account or email is required, and there&rsquo;s no cost.
&ldquo;I kept watching buyers fall in love with a house before anyone checked the paper trail &mdash; the open permits, the flood zone, what the town actually requires when a home changes hands,&rdquo; said Leo Betancor, a Certified Master Inspector based in Cedar Grove and the founder of the site. &ldquo;All of that is public record. It just wasn&rsquo;t in one place anyone could actually use.&rdquo;
Alongside the main lookup, the site includes free single-purpose tools: a <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/lead-safe/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">lead-safe inspection lookup</a> showing which of the two state-required inspection methods each town uses under New Jersey&rsquo;s lead paint law, a searchable <a href="https://oprasearch.app/lead-contractors/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">directory of DCA-certified lead evaluation and abatement contractors</a> sorted by distance, a <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/fire/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">fire-incident map</a> built from more than 40 years of state fire records, and a <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/radon/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">radon map</a> covering every municipality.
Homeowners can also <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/tax/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">look up property taxes and assessments</a>, <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/hvac-age/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">check the age of a furnace, air conditioner or water heater</a> using its serial number, and <a href="https://oprasearch.app/tools/co/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">find their town&rsquo;s certificate-of-occupancy requirements</a> before selling or renting a home.
A companion site, <a href="https://njflood.zone/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">njflood.zone</a>, gives instant FEMA flood-zone answers for any New Jersey address &mdash; built after the federal government shutdown left FEMA&rsquo;s own map site unreliable &mdash; running on the site&rsquo;s own servers with the complete flood map data for the state loaded locally.
As an added benefit for homebuyers, Permit &amp; Parcel users can receive $100 off a qualifying home inspection with Smart Choice Inspections, Betancor&rsquo;s North Jersey home inspection company.
The project was recently featured in <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-hanover-slash-florham-park/columns/at-home-with-holly/articles/deep-dive-conversations-what-the-house-won-t-tell-you" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">TAPinto.</a>&nbsp;Both sites are free at <a href="https://oprasearch.app/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">oprasearch.app</a> and <a href="https://njflood.zone/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">njflood.zone</a>.

Cedar Grove Home Inspector Builds Free Property...

An Essex County home inspector has built a free website that lets anyone look up the public records behind a New Jersey property — building permits...

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