Brick Township Council Election 2023: Melissa Travers

BRICK, NJ — Election Day 2023 is less than three weeks away, and Brick Township voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots for candidates at the local, county and state levels.

In Brick, there are six candidates for the three available four-year terms on the Township Council.

Patch sent a questionnaire to all six candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Melissa Travers. They are unedited except for typographical errors and punctuation.

Your Name: Melissa Travers

Age (as of Election Day): 38

Party Affiliation: Democratic

Campaign Website: CrateTeam2023.com

Family: Husband Ryan Travers married 10 years ago. Two sons Will (8) and Bruce (6) both attend Brick schools.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Education: Bachelor of science in nursing from Wesley College 2011; Master of science in nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Chamberlain University, as of Oct. 28, 2023.

Occupation: I am a registered nurse, soon to be a family nurse practitioner. I have been a nurse for 12 years, and have worked for 10 years at Jersey Shore.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.

Why are you seeking elective office?

My husband and I bought a home and established a family and life in Brick because we think it’s a great place to live. I want to help maintain that community feeling for my family and others, while keeping Brick affordable.

Crime has been a concern for months across New Jersey. What do you think should be done at the local level in Brick Township to ease residents’ concerns?

Safety of our residents and their property is a top priority. I believe as a council person our job is to support the police in every way we can, which we have been doing, and plan to continue doing. If Brick needs more officers or equipment to help keep our community safe, then as a council we will give them what they need to get the job done.

The township has refurbished its parks and expanded recreation programs for all ages over the last 10 years. What programs or facilities would you like to see brought to Brick Township?

As a member of the recreation committee, I hope to continue seeing more activities for both children and adults. The new Senior Center will permit us to add more activities for Seniors, and we will consult with them about what programs they would like. Mallard Point park needs renovation, which we should start next year. Also, since we have preserved over 800 acres of open space, I would like to bring more passive recreation opportunities, such as walking trails, park benches and picnic groves.

People persistently complain about property taxes. What do you believe Brick can do at the township level to mitigate the effects of state-mandated increases in the school district property tax levy? If you would make cuts, what township programs would you cut?

As a nurse, my responsibility is to care for my patients' health and comfort. As a council member, my responsibility is to take care of public money and see that needed services are provided in a fiscally responsible manner. Careful stewardship of public money is one of the most important duties of a public official. This year, we delivered a municipal budget with no tax increase. But unfortunately, the state aid cuts have hit hard in Brick. and school taxes are up. We are working with the schools, through shared services to help. Through shared services, we have provided trash and recycling services, use of township fields, maintenance of school owned facilities, police presence at arrival and dismissal, and use of our radio communication tower. By working with the schools, we can save taxpayers money, help the schools. and mitigate the effects of the state aid cuts.