Richard Huckins​​​ Announces Candidacy For Bernards Twp Committee

(Letter to the Editor from Richard Huckins, a Republican candidate, seeking a seat on the Bernards Township Committee)

To the Editor:

I am excited to declare my candidacy to seek the Republican Municipal Committee endorsement for a three-year term on the Bernards Township Committee.

WHY RUN?

I am proud of our town and what Republican leadership in town has accomplished over the years. But our town also faces several recent challenges including negative publicity over the Mosque litigation, a crisis of addiction to opioids, and will soon need to address a new round of affordable housing requirements. As a result of my recent involvement to highlight and propose a solution for environmental contamination with the quarry redevelopment plan, I believe it is time for new leadership and a change in direction to improve the dialog between town leadership and residents. We need to work together to achieve open and honest government, where residents feel they can contribute to the issues our town faces.

I believe in “Government of the people, for the people, and by the people.”

This will be accomplished three ways:

• BRING BACK PUBLIC WORK SESSIONS – I want to encourage greater openness, honesty, and integrity between the Committee and ALL township citizens, regardless of race, religion, or political perspective. I think a return to public work sessions will encourage more open dialog between the governing body and residents so they feel they are an integral part of Township decision-making. I would also support better communications with a newsletter to residents.
• FISCAL CONSERVATISM – We need proactive leadership to build on the legacy of strong fiscal conservatism that Bernards Township is known for. This will be accomplished by streamlining spending and better allocating resources:

Maintain the excellent level of services offered to residents, be responsive to changing needs, andaddress emerging issues quickly and efficiently

Keep a tight rein on spending so that the tax rate remains stable or goes down by continuing the legacy of being debt-free, to “pay as we go."

• TERM LIMITS – I feel strongly that government exists to serve and protect the people, not for the people to be serving the government. The founding fathers’ envisioned that political leaders would serve for a limited time; I support term limits for the Township Committee.

PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE

I have been a resident of Bernards Township for 20 years. My daughter Amelia received an excellent education in the Bernards Township school system, and is now in her final year at University of Michigan Law School. I bring 20-plus years’ experience in business management and leadership in pharmaceutical marketing communications and 12 years’ as an environmental consultant. I also have significant local government experience serving Bernards Township residents for seven years, first as a member then Chair of the Open Space Committee, then 4 years serving on the Planning Board.

I would be humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve on the Township Committee as an advocate for all residents, to put the negative publicity of the past behind us, and work towards a better future for Bernards Township, and for all who live here.

— By Richard Huckins

(Image via Richard Huckins)

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