Mayor Candidate Profile: Paul Brush (D)

Democratic candidate for Mayor Paul C. Brush, 69, Agincourt Road resident. CPA

Please briefly explain what professional and civic/volunteer experience you have. Feel free to include job experience, awards, or schooling. – US Navy veteran; Certified Public Accountant; OC Freeholder 1990 – 1993; first elected Mayor of Toms River served 2004 – 2008; current member of Toms River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; current Treasurer of Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity; current member of Ocean County Natural Lands Preservation Trust Advisory Committee since 1998; first recipient of Toms River Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award 2006; former little league manager and cub scout master; former treasurer of Greenbriar Woodlands Community Association Board.

What are your key concerns about the Toms River?  Lack of accountability from the current administration and council; high cost of government in Toms River.

What issues do you hope to address?

• Consolidate Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority within town hall;
• control property taxes that have increased 27 percent over past two years, particularly the Open Space Tax which should be reduced to pre-revaluation levels saving taxpayers $1.5 million annually;
• ensure that the township, which is considering purchasing Camp Albocondo for $5.5 million with taxpayers’ money, does NOT do so; when I was Mayor in 2006, the developer agreed to donate 45 acres to the township and that arrangement should stay in place;
• get control of bonding and debt service, which is up 31 percent over 2010;
• resurrect the Business Advisory Council and make Toms River business friendly;
• appoint a liaison to the Toms River School Board;
• restore integrity and accountability to Town Hall.

What do you think should be done to resolve those issues? 

• Council should vote to dissolve the position of 7 Commissioners at the TRMUA;
• reduce Open Space Tax to ½ cent immediately saving $1.5 million in property taxes, through voter referendum or council ordinance;
• Council should pass a resolution to NOT SPEND A DIME to acquire Camp Albacondo;
• review all pending bond ordinances and capital expenditure plans;
• as mayor, I will create the Business Advisory Council consisting of business persons in Toms River, particularly from major commercial corridors, i.e. Barrier Island, Rt. 37, Rt. 9, Rt. 70, Fischer Blvd., Hooper Ave. and downtown Toms River; include investors who have already invested in our community; and include representatives from the Joint Military Base, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Improvement District, OC Board of Realtors.

What motivated you to run this year?  Pervasive arrogance of political interests in Town Hall, particularly the purchase of Camp Albocondo, which is nothing more than a bailout of a developer who made a bad deal, and the TRMUA hiring the full time mayor of Brick Twp at $93,000 salary after he hired an MUA commissioner and pays him $149,999; corruption at the Toms River School Board where this year I supported the three Clean Slate candidates who were elected, whereas my opponent did not.

How do you plan to serve the council and the residents of Toms River in a meaningful way?  As I always did as mayor, put the public interest first, not the political interests; be accessible to our residents, create accountability and keep them informed of township activities; televise council meetings and planning board meetings; restore faith and integrity in Town Hall.

Anything to add:  Joanne and I have lived in Toms River for 38 years, we have raised our four children here and seven of our ten grandchildren still live here.  Toms River is more than a town, it’s a way of life for us.  I want the opportunity to make people proud of Toms River again.  Thank you.