Council Candidate Profile: Mary Malagiere (D)

Editor's Note: Each of the six candidates running for three at-large seats on the Toms River township council responded to a questionnaire sent by Toms River Patch. Their answers to our questions will be published on our site verbatim. 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.

Mary Malagiere, Democrat, candidate for at-large council seat.           

Biography:

Age: 61. Mapletree Road resident, 26 years a Toms River Township resident, taxpayer and business owner. Husband, Tom (33 years married);  two grown sons.

Manager of Volunteers and Community Outreach for Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey: 2007 – Present (part-time employment; full-time volunteer); Chief Librarian, retired,  Ocean County Library System: 1985 – 2006.

Education:  Master’s Degree ‘73, Long Island University, CW Post Campus: Library Administration and Information Science; BA ’71: St. Thomas Aquinas College, Secondary Education and Literature

Other volunteer/community involvement: Board Member Ocean County Library Foundation;  member of Garden State Philharmonic; NJ, American, and Public Library Associations, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Seaside Heights (Eucharistic Minister)  

Please briefly explain what professional and civic/volunteer experience you have. Feel free to include job experience, awards, or schooling.

Throughout my professional career I have been involved with collaboration, communication, and consistency of access to information with all stakeholders (residents, staff, and administrators) to provide the best possible service in the most efficient and cost effective way…ensuring  the taxpayer supporters received the ‘best bang for the buck’.  By working together all stakeholders realized the development of libraries and library services, which continues to thrive, and is the best library system in the State. Without efficient use of minimal resources, the non-profit organizations I volunteer with would no longer function. The best practices I’ve learned and employed successfully in both work and volunteer environments need to be, and can be, put into action now on our Toms River Council.     

What are your key concerns about the Toms River? What issues do you hope to address? 

We must act together to rein in the high cost of local government.  Our residents are hungry for information and transparency of the government their tax dollars support. Access to information, clear and respectful two-way communication, and a willingness to change from a mentality of ‘business-as-usual ’to one of transparency will allow for identification of wasteful spending and advocate for constructive changes to improve services and efficiencies.  We must shine a light on unnecessary bureaucracies, political patronage positions, committees, boards and authorities who presently are not held accountable for budgets or actions.     

 What do you think should be done to resolve those issues?
As Council Member-at-Large, I will work towards creating an era of trust between the governing body and all constituents to and arrive at solutions.  We need to implement a system of “checks and balances” ensuring timely and respectful responses and follow-up to resident concerns and questions. We must employ technology and media networks to engage and inform all residents of agendas, forums, meetings and proposed ordinances before council action is taken.  Filming and easy television access of all council, board and committee meetings are also included in my priority list.  For immediate property tax relief we must revisit the Open Space Tax and reduce the amount of taxation on residents prior to Toms River’s re-evaluation, as well an on-going as examination of  the distribution of those funds.   

What motivated you to run this year?

I decided to run for Council-at-large with the intention of bringing a new voice to Toms River and giving the taxpayers an alternative to the business-as-usual mentality and politics that a government controlled by one party brings.  I do not believe the policies and practices of the current mayor and council mirror the public’s views on fiscal responsibility, in addition, they continue to live outside their means.  

How do you plan to serve the council and the residents of Toms River in a meaningful way?

I believe we need to increase the level of shared services that result in true efficiencies and lower costs to our taxpayers.  We need to reduce or eliminate independent boards and authorities that are redundant and inefficient, and consume taxpayer dollars without accountability.   On a very practical level I will be available to all constituents on a regular basis for one-on-one discussions; establish collaborative teams of community volunteers to resolve problems/issues and arrive at solutions; implement a system of ‘checks and balances’ of communication to ensure appropriate and respectful responses and follow-up to resident concerns.   The “new normal” must be that the lines of communication are never closed, that every resident deserves and has a right to a ‘place at the table’, and every resident knows that he or she has a role in the solution to Move Toms River Forward!  

Anything to add?

Our Toms River Forward Team is focused on integrity, honesty, and trust. We care passionately about our community.  We are all committed to bringing fresh ideas, enthusiasm and independent voices to town hall and throughout Toms River. It is with pride that I can say our “theme” is restoring trust and integrity to Toms River to Move Toms River Forward! 

View additional candidate profiles here.