Candidate Profile: Susan Lydecker (D)

Editor's Note: Each of the eight candidates running for a seat on the township council responded to a questionnaire sent by Brick Patch. Their answers to our questions will be published on our site verbatim. Two candidate profiles per day – one Republican and one Democrat – in alphabetical order according to last name, will appear this week until all have been published. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, potentially anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office.

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Full Name: Susan Lydecker

Current Age: 32

Highest level of education achieved (feel free to list your high school, college, and the nature of any degrees you have earned):

In 1998, I completed the Business Administration Program at Berkley College.  I am currently attending college to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History.

Occupation:

I am a Customer Service Representative for Diversified Imports in Eatontown, NJ.

Do you currently receive any public salary compensation? If so, from what public agency?

I do not receive a public salary.

Have you ever previously held an elected office in Brick or elsewhere?

No.

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

No. I will not take the taxpayer-funded health benefits. I am looking to save Brick and its residents money in any way possible.

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Question 1:

 Like those in most New Jersey communities, property taxes are, perhaps, the primary concern of most township residents in this election cycle. Regardless of the impact of state policies on our property tax bills, summarize some specific ideas you have to stabilize or reduce the property tax burden for Brick residents.

Property taxes in Brick over the last seven years have become a severe burden on our residents.  The 24% tax increase that the Acropolis administration gave us this year is not only unconscionable but unsustainable.  Municipal spending has increased from $42 million to $68 million over the last four years.  The excessive spending must stop and our local government must learn to do more with less, not tax us into oblivion. This is the most important issue we face as a community and the most crucial component of our campaign.  Our team has presented a 6-point plan to limit spending and get rising property taxes stable and under control.

1. Eliminate unnecessary political jobs.
2. Eliminate overpriced no-bid contracts to campaign contributors.
3. Eliminate Cadillac benefits for MUA appointees.
4. Implement a plan for regular maintenance of our roads and infrastructure.
5. Conduct an operational audit to identify more cost savings.
6. No more full-time pay for part-time work.

The overpriced no-bid contracts have caused serious financial issues for our town.  Since Acropolis and the Council took control in 2007, they have awarded over $10 million in no-bid contracts to political supporters.  Conducting an operational audit, as opposed to an annual after-the-fact financial audit, examines the town’s internal systems and procedures, department by department.  It is a test for efficiency, effectiveness, improved workflow and the proper allocations of resources. 

Question 2:

Though it held relatively stable in the recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, crime in Brick has been trending upward in recent years. Compounding matters, our police department, due to budgetary constraints, also recently had to disband its Selective Enforcement Team (SET Team), a specialized anti-crime unit. Please describe your plan, including specifics, to maintain and promote public safety in Brick.

As a mother, I agree with my running mate John Ducey, that drug-related crimes are the number one threat to our public safety in Brick Township. I believe the best way to combat drug-related crime in our community  is through educating our families, children and high school students about the dangers and penalties and life-long consequences of abusing drugs.  We need the town and schools to work together, and keep our community safe.  Reinstating the SET Team and the Gang Task Force would be a good starting point.  We can also encourage community involvement through voluntary neighborhood watch programs.  We all need to come together as a whole and take responsibility for the safety of our town.

Question 3:

Please describe your vision for the former Foodtown site on Route 70, and how you would favor executing that vision and bringing it to fruition.

There have been many ideas floated about what should become of the Foodtown site.  Some have suggested a community center or a small hotel. Another vision is to have a clean and safe shopping center with solid merchants with a good track record.  Whatever is decided, our primary goal should be to get the property back into the private sector and generating tax revenue.  I particularly want to see a project with minimal traffic disruptions, and with a good flow into and out of the area, which I will work to coordinate with our professional traffic engineers and the private developer of the site.  We need a strong overall plan to achieve these goals, which our current elected officials have not yet addressed, but which our team will work to develop.

Question 4:

Brick has more frontage on Barnegat Bay that any other community in Ocean County. In all, it boasts 53 miles of waterfront. Keeping in mind that many of these waterfront lands are privately owned, what is your plan to promote public access to natural areas and maintain other recreational facilities for Brick residents?

One of the true benefits of Brick is the opportunity to enjoy our open space and waterways, including Barnegat Bay, the Metedeconk River, Beaver Dam Creek and the streams and lagoons throughout the town.  A step that other towns in our area have taken is the adoption of a fertilizer ordinance to restrict the use of toxic fertilizers in areas that feed into the bay.  This is an important step to conserve our environment that the current Township Council has failed to take.  With out taking simple and cost-effective measures to protect our waterways, the degradation of the bay will only get worse.  I will pursue a fertilizer ordinance to protect our bay and waterways when elected.