Linden coal plant is prominent issue in 9th Ward race

Budget cuts and a controversial new coal plant figure prominently in the race for Linden's 9th Ward council seat, in which school board member and Democrat Bryan Tomko will try for a second time to unseat four-term independent Robert Frazier.

A major city-wide issue in the race is an innovative coal plant proposed for the DuPont property that has split Linden residents into two vocal camps: those concerned with creating jobs and those worried about air quality. The city council voted against fast-tracking the plant last week, but Frazier was one of four to vote in favor of the project.

"This process is being applied at other coal facilities in our nation," Frazier said of the technology at the plant, which would heat coal into a gas instead of burning it. "I haven't heard anybody with the proper credentials denying it."

His opponent said Thursday he thinks the proposed project is a bad idea.

"I think it would be a step backwards," Tomko said. "If you have an area that's polluted and ignored for 20 years, why would you do something to pollute it?"

The council vote on Tuesday means the property will remain in legal limbo with the city and the property owner, DuPont, fighting over control. Even if that lawsuit is decided in favor of DuPont or dismissed, the coal plant would still need the council's support in order to go forward.

Frazier, who is retired, hangs his hat on his everyday visits and relationship with his ward.

Tomko, younger by 40 years, acknowledged Frazier is good at constituent services.

"Half the job is making sure the streets are cleaned and the trees are trimmed and the sidewalks look good," Tomko said. "To that end, the man I'm running against does a great job."

Tomko, who owns the Fig Leaf Agency, an insurance company, said he brings the small business owner's perspective to the council.

He said he questions planned spending by the city on a new library and a proposed tunnel, even if the funding comes from state or federal dollars.

"I'm certainly not opposed to the new library," Tomko said. "But when you spend upwards of $12 million on a library that will not create one new job, when you have 26 empty stores on Wood Avenue, that's mismanagement."

Frazier said he's made tough choices in the current recession, and cited his work on the council's negotiations committee, which arranged furloughs with most non-emergency city employees in the last year to cut costs.

"We're trying our best to stabilize taxes and respect our employees," Frazier said, "But we're walking a fine line to do that."

The city will save $180,000 by the end of the year through furloughs, according to Linden treasurer and chief financial officer Alexis Zack.

Tomko has negotiated employee concessions too. He chaired the finance committee when the school district switched teachers' health plans from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to a state health plan.

Eliot Caroom is a reporter for the New Jersey Local News Service. He can be reached at (908) 243-6215 or ecaroom@njlns.com.