Howell Council Race
Six candidates vie for three seats in Howell
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

Howell Republicans (l-r) Mauro R. Raccuglia, Peter Tobasco and Edward J. Skibicki Jr. are seeking four-year terms on the Township Council in the Nov. 7 general election.

HOWELL - Despite differences of opinion in other areas, ask the six people running for seats on the Township Council and they will tell you the same topic is their biggest concern - taxes.

Three four-year terms on the council will be up for grabs on Election Day, Nov. 7. The seats are presently held by Republicans Peter Tobasco and Juan Malave, and independent Robert Walsh.

Tobasco and Walsh are seeking re-election; Malave is not seeking another term. His service to Howell will end on Dec. 31.

Mauro R. Raccuglia and Edward J. Skibicki Jr. join Tobasco on the Republican ticket, while Angela Dalton and Michael Howell join Walsh on the Independence for Howell slate.

Dalton, 36, an attorney, is a partner at a Tinton Falls law firm. She has lived in Howell for three years. Dalton said she believes her legal background will serve her community well.

"I always look at things with a doubtful eye," she said. "I look at the real meaning behind things. I think what I bring in is my training as an attorney, and to look at things and how those things are going to hurt us and what needs to be considered."

During public testimony about Howell's recently approved hotel ordinance, Dalton raised an objection regarding the language of the ordinance. The council took her suggestion relating to the language of the ordinance and incorporated it in the law.

Dalton also discussed the topic on everyone's mind - property taxes.

"Why does spending seem to be out of control?" she asked, going on to state that she believes frivolous bonding has hurt Howell and affected taxpayers.

"We are borrowing money on things like mulch and vehicles," she said. "When you add those things, it adds up. We need to look at what we are bonding and what's out there so we can see what we can draw out from."

If elected, Dalton hopes to let residents become more closely involved with the township.

"I really think we should bring back some volunteers, like the ordinance review committee ... and financial review committee," she said. "I'm not suggesting volunteers can write ordinances, but why can't the basic groundwork be done by volunteers?"

Dalton said she would advocate saving money by lowering professional fees and using township personnel for more projects.

She said she loves Howell and wants to make an impact.

"I wanted to be here," she said. "I like driving the back roads."

Former Planning Board member Michael Howell, 45, has owned a water treatment company in the Ramtown section of Howell for seven years. He, too, loves his town and wants to help his neighbors.

"I don't think anybody is up [on the dais] for any personal glory," he said. "Everyone has to do something to support the town they live in. I have that option as a business owner. I can budget my time.

"The No. 1 issue is taxes," he said. "They are out of control. We need to figure out ways to rein in out-of-control spending. The bond numbers are staggering. We have to live within our means. We need to deal with the wants after our needs," he said.

To accomplish those goals, Howell said, the council needs to spend more time working with entities like the Board of Education.

"It seems like a rallying cry - if you want to complain about taxes, call the board," he said, stating that is a practice which needs to end.

The candidate also wants to take a look at the way the current government has issued bonds and deferred debt.

"The first thing we have to do is go back and look at the bonds we have," Howell said. "There are millions of dollars we can close out to get our numbers down. The problem is, until you get into that back room of the council chamber, they talk about so many things back there that they can't bring up front. We have to start specifying what we are bonding for."

Howell suggested determining a minimum amount at which the township can issue bonds.

"Only big expenses," he said. "Whatever the number, we ask the people first. We don't use the people's checkbook unless it's an emergency expense. We should not be writing a budget we base on bonding."

If elected, Howell said he would do his best to preserve open space and continue to pursue grants.

"I want to see more land in Howell stay green," he said.

Raccuglia, 49, a self-proclaimed political outsider, owns a business in which he buys industrial threaders. Raccuglia has lived in Howell since 1969. He is the president of the North Howell Little League.

If elected, Raccuglia said he would examine the township's affordability issues and work to control taxes.

"Taxes are the biggest thing in my life," he said. "I'd like to get a real good hands-on look at everything. I'd like to look at state money and attack that at the state level. The biggest thing is the amount of money we get back to trickle down to us is horrible."

Raccuglia's other focus remains the political atmosphere in Howell and he is hoping to end the bitterness.

"I have family and friends on both sides," he said. "I'm friends with Bob Walsh and others. We need to stop the pettiness. That's probably where I fit in the best here. I have no personal agenda or dislike for anyone."

Raccuglia said he thinks the current council "works pretty well together." He said he is not a "political person."

"I don't even want to be called a politician," he said. "The key things are to try and stop the distractions in town and bring people together in the spirit of cooperation in a good positive way."

Skibicki, 34, works as a senior financial adviser. He has lived in Howell for five years. He, too, wants to control taxes and keep Howell green.

"Everybody tells me to keep property taxes from going up and to preserve what's left of open space," he said. "I've been trying to remind people we have to try to keep taxes down, but try to reach out to the state to see if we can get some kind of property tax reform. Dollars are being wasted at the state level."

Skibicki cited the Harms-Pinnacle open space property purchase as something that needs to be re-examined.

In May, the council voted to forego a plan to purchase the Pinnacle tract because of escalating costs. The Harms tract is owned by the township. Both parcels, totaling 300 acres, are between West Farms and Georgia Tavern roads.

"That's the last really big piece of open space," Skibicki said. "Even though taxes are high, most people are willing to pay for open space. In the long run, having (housing) developments come in ends up costing us more."

Skibicki also wants to put an end to the possibility of more adult video stores locating in Howell. There are several such stores along the Route 9 corridor.

"I've been researching different ordinances around the country about the adult stores," the candidate said. "People would rather have zero, but you have to do it legally. We need to stop their growth. They seem to be popping up at a pretty alarming rate."

Skibicki also wants to end lengthy council meetings and cut back on Howell's political bickering among parties.

"You can't be effective working a full day at your career and then making decisions at midnight, 1 and 2 a.m.," he said, referring to the present length of council meetings that begin at about 8 p.m. "It prevents the council from being most effective."

Also, he said, at meetings, "I've seen a lot of rudeness. We could use a bit more decorum."

Nonetheless, Skibicki believes his financial background would serve the township well.

"I work with numbers, with money, all day," he said. "You need to treat money as a sacred thing, to maximize every dollar. I don't think anybody on the council now or running has that kind of [financial] experience. If you can manage [residents'] money well, you are more than halfway there."

Tobasco, 48, is seeking his second term on the council. He has lived in Howell for 18 years and works as a real estate agent. He is serving as deputy mayor this year.

Like his running mates, Tobasco will focus on the affordability of living in Howell.

The municipal purposes tax rate - which is directly controlled by the council's budget decisions - has risen over the past six years from 26 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2001, to 34.6 cents in 2002, to 36.5 cents in 2003, to 41 cents in 2004, to 45.7 cents in 2005, to 53.3 cents in the 2006 municipal budget.

Those tax rates mean the owner of a home that is assessed at $200,000 has seen his municipal tax rise from $520 in 2001 to $1,066 in 2006. The owner of a home assessed at $300,000 would have seen his municipal tax rise from $780 in 2001 to $1,600 in 2006.

Municipal taxes are one portion of a homeowner's property tax bill, which also includes Howell K-8 school taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes, Monmouth County taxes and other assessments.

"The No. 1 issue by far is having it be affordable to live here," Tobasco said. "There is not even a close second (issue). We are taxed so heavily in New Jersey, that provides a huge burden. We have stabilized the rate of increase, we didn't say we were going to stop it ... State aid has been reduced to schools and municipalities."

In looking at the municipal tax rate, Tobasco said the previous administration "did some irresponsible things. They wanted to look like heroes and cut the rate."

He said the present council has cut operating expenses, but he noted that items such as contractual pensions and insurance rates have driven increases in the municipal tax rate and the bottom line amount property owners pay. He stressed the need to slow growth and continue to seek positive ratables, as he believes the council has done.

"The rate of houses coming in is coming down to about 95 homes per year," he said. "We were very good at finding viable ratables in town. You see a lot of stuff on Route 9 that brings in a million dollars a year. We have been active and aggressive in buying open space. We got the message that people wanted to acquire open space," which helps slow growth.

On the topic of bonding, Tobasco does not believe the council has acted inappropriately.

"We have the credit to bond up to $175 million and we have only bonded $40 million," he said. "We are at historically low interest rates."

After explaining that much of Howell's bonding is for open space initiatives, Tobasco said "that stops high taxes coming in at fast rates later" by preventing development.

To those who say the council has not pursued all necessary money from the state, Tobasco said those claims are not accurate. He believes the council has spent money in the best interest of citizens.

"We by far have received our fair share of grant money from the state," he said. "That has helped counter what is not coming in from many new homes. When you are in a tough time, you have to do things that are fiscally responsible. You have to be bold sometimes. Money spent is spent wisely. The infrastructure was in terrible shape, buildings were falling apart, police didn't have vehicles. We had to earmark money for those core services. Now, I sleep peacefully at night for the decisions we have made for the town."

If re-elected, Tobasco said he would continue to examine road improvement projects, traffic calming measures and recreation amenities.

He hopes to see more adult communities built in Howell because of what he called those developments' "high ratables with minimal impact on quality of life."

Tobasco noted additions to the township's technology and broadcast capabilities while he has been in office as credits to his record.

"We have been very good at reforming ... That reform is still going on. People are angry because they want change, well, we have been the agents of change," he said.

Walsh, 48, is the owner of a mortgage company in Howell. He has lived in Howell for 13 years. He won a one-year term in the November 2005 election.

"Definitely the biggest key of all is the escalating taxes. "It's a double-edged sword going on out there," he said, explaining that residents need services, but do not want tax increases.

Walsh said he would examine ways to cut the municipal budget to try and provide services and tax relief.

"A lot better job could have been done" on the budget, he said. "I voted against it. We definitely need to do a better job with the state and the county. The Harms-Pinnacle tract would have been a great tract to buy with state money. We need to pursue as much land as possible, with state money."

If he is re-elected, Walsh said he may overhaul the professional fee structure Howell pays to lawyers, engineers and others. He does not appreciate what he believes are "pay-to-play" positions in the township.

"The amount of money that has been donated by professionals that have been given jobs in Howell is sickening to me," Walsh said. "Our auditor donated money to the campaign of Mayor (Joseph) DiBella and Councilwoman (Cynthia) Schomaker. I will not take a penny from any professional for any reason whatsoever. I don't want to feel obligated to them. I want to have the ability to let them go."

On a similar topic, Walsh said he believes political affiliations should cease, due to their divisive nature. He has entertained the idea of proposing citizen-funded campaigns. He would put that question to a referendum.

"Maybe $3 could save them $100," he said. "Leave it up to them. It would serve the people so much better than the pay-to-play system now there at all levels."

Walsh continued on the topic of politics in town.

"I think things need to be radically changed," he said. "The level of cooperation between different agencies is nonexistent and that needs to change. I believe partisan politics are failing our country, state and town. It needs to stop. It needs to be about Howell and not the party you are affiliated with. It's not doing the work of people."

Walsh stressed the need to involve citizens with township goings-on as well.

"I would want a committee put together for former officials, citizens to view cost-cutting measures," he said. "There is a wealth of knowledge that's wasted because people are frustrated."

As for his time on council so far, Walsh believes he has been an advocate of the people and he would continue to perform in that role.

"I believe I've questioned things being done in town," he said. "I am the voice of the people, not the voice of the township."