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LINCOLN PARK - Council candidate profiles
(by Sid Johnston - Staff Writer - October 29, 2008)
LINCOLN PARK - With seven candidates running for council, the borough will have a healthy choice of candidates to choose from. Wards 1, 2, and 4 are contested, and Ward 3 has one candidate running unopposed. The main issues are how taxes are spent in the community and how the council will adapt to the current economy.
Polls are open on Election Day, Nov. 4 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Wards 1 and 2 will vote at the Municipal Building in the Community Room, while Wards 3 and 4 will vote at Hose Company No.1.
Ward 1
Denise McCarthy
Denise McCarthy, Ward 1 (D) — McCarthy is a community leader who served for six years as a member of the Board of Education. During her tenure, she directed the board’s Public Relations Committee. She also was an active member of the High School Committee and Morris County Special Services Board. Her community service commitments include two years on borough’s Municipal Alliance. She is the founder of “Parents of Exceptional Children” (PEC), a support group dedicated to providing guidance and educational programs to parents of children with special needs.
As a breast cancer survivor, McCarthy devotes much of her time to other cancer survivors and patients currently undergoing treatment. She is involved in and dedicated to numerous cancer support groups and fundraising concerns.
McCarthy resides in Lincoln Park with her husband, Kevin, and their two children, Samantha and Max. She has lived in Lincoln Park since 1989. She owns Anthony Gerard Studio D and was accepted with honors into the Artistic Academy, where she earned national recognition in her industry.
McCarthy believes she is the candidate of choice for the Ward 1 seat. McCarthy said she has been an integral part of Lincoln Park's community in a multitude of ways, and she is insightful, approachable and unconditionally dependable. McCarthy said she is a team player who believes that ongoing dialogue between council and community will enhance Lincoln Park's status as the fifth best place to live in New Jersey. McCarthy said her ideas and commitment guarantee a safer, stronger, united municipality.
Herman Nadel
Herman “Hy” Nadel, incumbent, Ward 1 (R) — He is a member of the Lincoln Park Borough Council. He also is a liaison to the Fire Department and a board member and past chairman of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority. His other activities include serving as co-chairman of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and chairman of the Lincoln Open Space Committee. He is a member of the Morris County Water Balance Committee and the Two Bridges Sewerage Authority. He served on the Board of Education and on the Municipal Complex Purchasing Subcommittee for Furniture and Office Equipment as well.
“Lincoln Park, like all municipalities in New Jersey, is facing great economic difficulties,” Nadel said. “State aid to the municipalities has been greatly reduced.
“Our residents need experienced council people,” Nadel said. “This is not the time for new people to learn about how to manage our borough.”
Nadel said that his many years of experience are beneficial. While a member of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, he has helped to save Lincoln Park over $400,000 in solid waste collection fees, he said. While he was a member of the Municipal Complex Purchasing Subcommittee for Furniture and Office Equipment, the committee came in at more than $700,000 under estimate.
Nadel said he believes his many years of experience will be of great value to Lincoln Park.
Ward 2
Jo Ann Byrnes
Jo Ann Byrnes, Ward 2 (D) — She is president of the Lincoln Park Democratic Club and a Morris County Democratic Committeewoman. Also, she served as a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. She has been a resident of Lincoln Park for 10 years. She is a licensed clinical social worker with experience in the medical field, primarily hospice. Byrnes was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital in 2004, was re-appointed in 2007, and currently is involved in fundraising for the Patient Welfare Fund. She also has four years experience as trustee for a senior citizens housing complex. She received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in social work from New York University, and she has completed coursework in public administration at Seton Hall University.
“Already burdened by a failing economy, high gas prices and rampant unemployment, Lincoln Park residents are now faced with a huge increase in their property taxes due to reckless spending on lavish new municipal facilities,” said Byrnes. “The council needs an outsider who will ask questions and seek public input, not just rubber stamp a project like the Taj Mahal while voting against sidewalk improvements.
“Lincoln Park government needs to be more open, accountable and accessible,” said Byrnes. “More needs to be done to communicate important issues to the public.”
Byrnes said that she would support sending e-mails about council meeting agendas, and televising council meetings on the public access channel.
Matthew Petracca
Matthew Petracca, Ward 2 (R) — He is a member of the Planning Board and an alternate prosecutor for the Township of Boonton and Borough of Wharton. He is an attorney at Cabana & King, LLC. He is involved in the community through its programs and organizations. He received his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate at Seton Hall University and is a lifelong resident of Lincoln Park, having attended the Lincoln Park public schools.
“Property taxes and controlled spending are major issues of the borough,” Petracca said. “Especially during these economic times, it is important that our elected officials understand the extreme property tax burden placed on the residents.”
Petracca said that he understands the burden and, if elected, would fight on behalf of the taxpayers to do all that is possible to help relieve the tax burden.
“The borough must always remain vigilant concerning flooding,” Petracca said. The borough has been blessed with a top-of-the-line emergency response team, he said, and if elected, Petracca said he would ensure that the response personnel have the resources necessary to serve the community.
“The borough must also continue initiatives towards preventing flooding,” Petracca said. He said that he looks forward to tackling this issue head on, on behalf of all residents, in an attempt to solve local flooding issues.
“With Lincoln Park recognized as one of the paramount places to live in New Jersey, it is important that Lincoln Park continues to be recognized as a wonderful community to live and work,” Petracca said. “The borough must continue to attract businesses into the community, continue to maintain the cleanliness and appeal of Lincoln Park, and continue to keep Lincoln Park a safe place to live.”
Ward 3
Raymond Kerwin
Raymond Kerwin, incumbent, Ward 3, running unopposed (R) — He is the current president of the Borough Council. He serves as the liaison and trustee of the First Aid Squad and is a member of American Legion Post 279. He also is a former liaison to the Recreation Advisory Board, a past chairman of the PAL Baseball Program, and a past grand knight of the JFK Council of Knights of the Knights of Columbus. He is a 38-year resident of Lincoln Park, with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Siena College.
Kerwin said he would continue to provide quality services at the least cost. He said that if elected, he would look for opportunities for shared services with neighboring towns. He would apply for all grants that are advantageous to the borough and finalize the sale of excess sewerage capacity.
Ward 4
Johnette Mannato
Johnette Mannato, Ward 4 (D) — Mannato is a private English tutor for foreign executives and their families. Recently married, she has been living in Lincoln Park for about five years. She speaks English, French and some Spanish. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University.
Like everyone else, Mannato considers her top issue to be finances. But besides this, she said that she would love to get the average Lincoln Park resident involved in government — not politics.
“Let the people have a say in how the money is spent,” Mannato said. “Lincoln Park needs more transparency in government, no closed meetings, no one person holding multiple positions, getting multiple pensions. Let's invite everyone to the process: it will be fun!”
James Wild
James Wild, incumbent, Ward 4 (R) — He is a member of the Planning Board with more than seven years of experience. He is also the council liaison to Office of Emergency Management and a member of the Lincoln Park Day Committee. His past experience includes serving as a police officer from 1964 to 1969, serving as a liaison to the Fair Housing Committee, First Aid Squad and Fire Department, and serving on the Municipal Complex Purchasing Subcommittee for Furniture and Office Equipment. He has been a resident of the borough since 1946 and graduated from Boonton High School.
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