Bedminster Township Committee Candidate: Jacob Caplan

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Jacob Caplan is one of the four candidates running for election in the contested Bedminster Township Committee race being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are four candidates vying for two, three-year seats on the township committee with candidates including: Democrats Jacob Caplan and Denise King and Republicans Lawrence F. Jacobs and Renee M. Mareski.

Jacob Caplan

Description:

My name is Jacob Caplan. I am a life-long New Jerseyan; I grew up in Basking Ridge and currently live in Bedminster with my wife, Alexandra. I have always had an interest in government and politics. I currently work as a government relations professional in Trenton. I am a passionate sports fan I am also an avid history buff.

Why are you running?

I am running because I see significant structural issues in Bedminster that leave some of our residents out of the political process and ignores the issues that affect significant portions of the town. I grew up with an older brother who is differently-abled, and I saw how hard my parents had to work to give my brother, Dan, the happy and fulfilling life he deserves. It wasn’t easy, schools and all levels of government tossed out one roadblock after another. My mother, in particular, served as my brother’s strongest advocate, even at one point quitting a job she loved because she knew that it was taking away from her ability to care for Dan. He currently lives in group home where he has a job, close friends, a girlfriend and genuine purpose.

This didn’t come easy; it took years of nonstop work, court battles and advocacy. From this experience. I learned early on that standing up for those in need is something we all have a responsibility to do. I know that many families cannot afford the sacrifices my family had to make to reach the point that we are at with Dan; it shouldn’t have to be that way. I have a passion for helping others and working towards a more just society where people are treated fairly, no matter their background or whatever disadvantages they may have. This is why I am running for Township Committee.

What experience do you have that would help you serving?

I have a number of years of New Jersey- and DC-based government relations and advocacy experience. I currently work as the Government Relations Assistant for the New Jersey Association for Justice. I previously worked with the Somerset County Democratic Party, the AFL-CIO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and AARP. I attended college at The George Washington University where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Minor in History. My career in advocacy and policy has allowed me to learn how to diagnose problems and come up with creative solutions that others may have overlooked. I always put others before myself and public service is a value I carry at the core of who I am. I know that if elected, I can bring the fresh perspective and creative thinking that is needed to keep Bedminster moving and growing so that we will be able to meet the challenges of the future.

What issues would you like to see addressed if elected?

If elected, I would like to bring balance to the Township Committee. We currently have an administration in Bedminster that is not representative of the town. There is currently no one elected to the Committee from The Hills despite the fact that The Hills are 70 percent of the town’s population. This leaves Hills residents out the decision-making process when it comes to how the town serves its residents. This affects us on parks, trash collection costs, schools and a plethora of other issues. I would also like to see a greater commitment to shared services both within the town and with our neighboring towns. Bedminster has done some shared services, but only to a limited degree. In an era of tighter budgets and with ratables going down, we need to ensure that we spend the taxpayer’s money as wisely as possible. Internally, I would like to see a shared service for things like trash collection so that we can leverage the resources of the town to ensure that our residents are not being gouged by the trash collection companies.

Also, I would like to work the Homeowner’s Associations in The Hills to move them to shared service contracts where the nine HOAs can work together to ensure that they get the best rates for their residents while also still providing high quality services. This is the only way to truly address the high HOA fees that many voters are so concerned about.

Another thing I would like to do is build a new park closer to The Hills. Currently, there isn’t a park that is walking distance from The Hills. Our campaign has proposed acquiring the state Department of Transportation lot from the state and transforming this land into a new public park. I have talked to the voters, and they are concerned that our current parks are not located in areas that are accessible to all residents. This new park would give the children and families of the Hills a safe and open outdoor space where they can play without having to get in the car to reach it. This plan will not only be a great initiative for the children, but will help increase property values as well.

These are just a few of the plans we have laid out in our campaign platform. To learn more about what Denise King and I would like to do for Bedminster, visit bedminsterdems.org/our-platform.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, please email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Jacob Caplan)

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