Republican Twp. Committee Members Announce Campaign

Even though it's only January, Bernards Township Committee members Carolyn Gaziano and John Malay, both Republicans, have announced they will run for re-election to the

The candidates first would seek the Republican nomination as the endorsed candidates by the Republican Municipal Committee. If they file for re-election, they will be listed as Republican candidates in the June primary election.

The Township Committee has maintained its all-Republican status into this year, this year's mayor. They were opposed by two Democratic candidates, Bonnie Diehl and Michael Komondy.

Gaziano is starting the third year of her first three-year term on the committee, and last Malay is entering the last year of his third three-year term, and was township mayor in 2006 and 2011.

Their campaign team will consist of Carpenter as campaign chair, Lauren Manduke, campaign vice chair, and Kevin Orr, campaign treasurer, according to an announcement issued on Monday by Carpenter. Manduke also was vice-chair of the Pavlini Carpenter campaign.

“John and I look forward to coming before the Republican Municipal Committee in March for their endorsement," Gaziano said in the statement.

"Bernards Township is in great shape financially and has an enviable record in energy conservation and pragmatic environmental achievements," Gaziano said. "We want to help continue the policies that have proven so successful. My husband and I are raising our family here and I want help keep our community a great place to live.”

Malay said in the statement, “By any measure Bernards is a 'first in class' municipality. Under Republican leadership we have an unmatched record in keeping spending and taxes in check while continuing to provide a high level of services."

He added that both he and Gaziano "share a philosophy of efficient, responsive government and we would love to continue to serve the residents here in town. Results matter and we have produced results."

While campaigning, the Republicans have emphasized their fiscal policies, including the "pay as you go" philosophy of making major expenditures, which led to last year's payoff of the final municipal bond debt as of November.

Carpenter added on Monday that both candidates are fiscally conservative, "extremely practical and thoroughly knowledgeable about the issues facing the town."

Asked whether he expects the candidates will face opposition this year, he responded, "You always expect opposition."

He added that he believes the Republican candidates intend to send a strong message of "accomplishment and results."

Carpenter ticked off as some of those accomplishments that he sees as the reduction of the township's municipal tax levy since 2005, the municipality's triple AAA bond rating from Standard & Poors, reconfirmed in 2011, the payoff of municipal debt and energy efficiencies that last year led to the township's Silver Certification program from the state Sustainable Jersey program.