Taxes a key concern in North Brunswick

In a heated election that's focused on issues facing the increasingly urbanized community, four candidates are vying for two three-year terms on North Brunswick's township council.

At stake is control of the governing body. It's currently run by all Democrats, although it was filled with just Republicans less than a decade ago.

Incumbent Cologero "Carlo" Socio, who broke on to that GOP council nine years ago, is joined on the Democratic ticket by Shanti Narra, whom party members picked after council Vice President Rhonda Lyles chose not to seek another term. They'll face Republicans Mary J. Chyb and Jordan B. Rickards.

Rickards, 30, is a former Middlesex County assistant prosecutor who grew up in town. He lists his worries about crime in town as a top issue, saying he sees an "escalation" in the major crime categories. That, he said, can lead to much worse problems.

"The bigger concern by far and away is that we don't have police officers in our schools anymore," said Rickards.

Since 2000, taxes have increased by some 50 percent, Rickards said. There are many examples of wasteful spending, he said, such as administration salaries and what he believes are exorbitant legal fees. He'd push for zero budgeting, meaning spending plans are created from scratch each year. One-party government has played a role, he said.

Chyb, 62, a former township board of education member and past Rutgers trustee, said she shares similar concerns about crime as well as taxes. She's concerned that residents can't afford to live in town anymore, and would negotiate better contracts with suppliers, she said.

"In this time of economic crisis, we need to do better and make North Brunswick affordable for our citizens," she said.

Chyb also believes there are significant concerns about overcrowding in some houses, and said the administration has been unresponsive to residents who ask the code officials to investigate. Land use needs to be controlled more carefully, she said, pointing to the need for the school systems recent expansion as evidence of overdevelopment.

Socio, 38, said he's proud of infrastructure efforts. He defends the council and administration and said talking about a 50 percent tax increase since 2000 ignores the big picture.

"We have been doing the best job possible given the system we're given," said Socio, pointing to several unanticipated costs, such as unfunded mandates and pension obligations.

He said this budget year, spending is down about $500,000 and overall workforce was reduced by 10 percent. And over the last nine years, the township has undertaken efforts to remediate contamination on school property and dealt with other problems. He said Chyb accuses the Democrats of overspending, but she raised taxes every year she was on the board of education.

Narra, 42, an attorney based in East Brunswick and New York, shares some points with the Republicans. She believes in tax stabilization by a close reading of the budget, but insists core services must be maintained.

"I think in order to minimize the impact on township residents' taxes, every effort needs to be made to go through the budget with a fine tooth comb," she said.

She takes issue with Republican claims that gangs are filling the town's schools and that violence is out of hand. Overcrowding and code violations are a concern for her, but she believes certain communities should not be targeted.

Among her chief interests is maintaining property values.

Ryan Hutchins is a reporter for the New Jersey Local News Service. He may be reached at rhutchins@njlns.com or (908) 243-6236.