Brick Township Council Election 2021: Ernest Arians

BRICK, NJ — The 2021 election campaign culminates when voters go to the polls Nov. 2 to choose Brick Township Council members.

There are three seats up for election and six candidates seeking those seats, which are four-year terms.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers from Republican candidate Ernest C. Arians.

Age: 29

Town of residence: Brick Township

Position sought: Councilman

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Single

Education: Brick Township High School, 2007-2011; Ocean County Vocational-Technical School 2007-2011; Ocean County College, associate's degree 2014; Rutgers University, bachelor's in American History, master's in Public History.

Occupation: Dairy Program Specialist, Division of Marketing and Development, NJ Department of Agriculture

Previous elective office, if any: none

Do you or anyone in your family work for the state, county or local governments? *

No

Why are you seeking office?

I have a passion for serving my community. Since I was a child, I wanted to serve my nation in uniform. However, God had a different plan. I was born with a physical disability that left me unable to serve in a military capacity. So, I adapted and took to the political arena. Coming from a strong blue collar middle-class family, I witnessed firsthand what it meant to struggle to make ends meet in a state where heavy taxation seems to be the panacea for every issue. I want to do my part and fight for every citizen to ensure that their government is run efficiently and economically, that focuses on the safety and security of its citizens.

What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing the community, and what do you want to do about it?

At one time, Brick was deemed the safest town in the country and now we face drugs, gangs and an overall rise in crime. Our mayor and his administration seem to have turned a blind eye and looks past the issues that, under his administration, continued to grow and evolve. The least that a municipal government can do is strive to insure the safety of the citizens that they sworn to protect. We do not have that leadership with this mayor and council.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve?

I want to help make Brick a town that supports middle class citizens by not raising taxes and then hiding that increase behind those who serve our community in uniform. I am for streamlining our large bureaucratic government while still providing the best services to our constituents. My vision for Brick is simple; I want this town to become a sanctuary town for the middle class, where many don’t have to worry about vast municipal tax increases. I will stand up and speak loudly for our taxpayers against the state Democratic leadership and their excessive spending incentives.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Building Department reform

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective in office?

Honors student through school; graduated from Rutgers cum laude for my bachelor's degree.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will stand up to big government and fight for those who built this town, the middle class. As a lifelong resident of Brick, I will always be dedicated to serving my community and bringing back transparency between our constituents and their government. If elected, there will always be a strong voice to ensure that our government is run efficiently and economically, that focuses on the safety and security of its citizens.