Local Republicans Back Spitzer for Second Term

A unanimous vote from the Bernards Republican Municipal Committee last night selected Mayor Scott Spitzer as the Republican candidate for the open township committee seat this fall.

Spitzer announced plans to run for his second term on the Township Committee on Jan. 28, 2010, having served on the committee since 2008.

The mayor said, "I am very gratified to receive the unanimous endorsement by the Republican Municipal Committee. I appreciate the support and look forward to helping the town address the challenges ahead."

Before the vote, Spitzer was given the opportunity to deliver a short speech to the RMC members present about his candidacy. Spitzer was unopposed for the open seat.

"I've worked hard for our community for the 11 years I've lived in town," Spitzer said. The mayor first began serving on the Open Space Advisory Committee and was also a Planning Board member for seven years, five of which as chairman.

"Three years ago I was privileged to see the endorsement of this committee," Spitzer said. "I took that endorsement very seriously, and even though no democrat ran against me, I worked relentlessly for over eight months, as [Somerset County Freeholder] Pat Walsh can attest, I visited door-to-door 2,330 homes in our township."

Walsh will seek the Republican County Committee's support for her candidacy for reelection as a Somerset County Freeholder at the county screening meeting Tuesday, March 23. "If we were campaigning with the weather like last Saturday, Scott would have me walking," Walsh said during her speech to the committee. "Three years ago we were out quite a bit in the rain, and when finally I couldn't see him in the rain and I said I think I'm going to stop. He said, well I think I'm going to keep going."

Both Spitzer and Walsh championed Republican values and ideas for their positions such as balanced budgets and maintaining low tax rates. Walsh emphasized managing a tightening budget without resorting to mass layoffs on the county level. Instead the freeholders have eliminated funding for certain vacant positions and are focusing on only rehiring for positions that are essential.

Spitzer emphasized his record in town supporting measures that stopped excessive development, helped preserve open space and improved communication between the local government and the residents of Bernards Township. Spitzer also championed the budget planning of the Township Committee during his tenure.

"Our budget and our tax record in Bernards Township is unparalleled in the state of New Jersey," Spitzer said. "We've kept our budget and taxes in check each of the last three years... and at the same time we've kept our AAA bond rating which helps keep homeowner costs down in the township."

In addition to Spitzer and Walsh, County Sheriff Frank Provenzano and County Surrogate Frank Bruno also gave speeches to the committee, hoping to win their support at the upcoming county screening meeting.

Provenzano highlighted the services of the office and his personal connections to the professionals he has worked with over the eight years he's served as County Sheriff. "My motto is when it stops being fun, I'm done," said Provenzano. "And I still love my job."

Bruno has served as the County Surrogate, responsible for administration of estate matters for the deceased, including probating wills and assisting in guardianship and adoption matters. Bruno emphasized his record over the last 10 years of service since he first began as County Surrogate and also his efforts to make the surrogate's office more friendly and comforting its clientele, often family members of the recently deceased.