Toms River Council Election 2023: Rhetta Jackson-Fair

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Election Day 2023 is near, and Toms River voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots for candidates at the local, county and state levels.

In Toms River, there are eight candidates for the three available four-year terms on the Township Council.

Patch sent a questionnaire to all eight candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Rhetta Jackson-Fair.

Your Name: Rhetta Jackson-Fair

Age (as of Election Day): 52

Campaign Website: Rhetta Jackson-Fair For Toms River Council on Facebook

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: My family and I have been residents of Toms River for 26 years. And I have been serving in the community for over 20 years. We truly love Toms River!

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

Education: Some college, major in human services and psychology.

Occupation: Addiction counselor for 15 years; pastor for 7 years; founder and director of True Vine Community Services for 6 years; Code Blue shelter site coordinator for 3 years.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'd like to use my human services experience to meet the needs of the residents in Toms River. I'd also like to use my counseling skills to help rehabilitate the community and break down walls of division!

Drawing more activity to the downtown area has been a topic for years. The proposed downtown development on the former Red Carpet Inn property was unpopular. What would you propose to bring more activity to the downtown area?

I would propose not interfering with the development at the former Red Carpet Inn, seeing that any interference could cause a lawsuit for Toms River. However, I would like to assure that this new development would be public-friendly by opening a part of the development for public use. And be 6 stories as opposed to the original plan of 10 stories.

Downtown traffic has been a source of complaints for years. There was a proposal for a downtown loop and Toms River was awarded a $5.6 million grant for the project, which the New Jersey Highway Authority has proposed tying into for a Garden State Parkway project. What would you propose to address downtown traffic issues?

I do believe major construction needs to be after business hours, more free public parking, and not duplicate businesses within certain areas.

The state Department of Education has contended that Toms River is not paying its fair share of property taxes to support its schools and that has been a critical piece of the school funding cuts the Toms River Regional School District has faced. How would you address this issue?

If raising property taxes moderately helps our children get a better education, and compensates teachers for their hard work then I'm all for it!