Democratic newcomer challenges Ocean Township Republican incumbent

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Democratic newcomer challenges Ocean Township Republican incumbent

By LEE PROCIDA Staff Writer, 609-457-8707

Published: Thursday, October 09, 2008

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - This year's election in Ocean Township pits three-time incumbent Republican Robert Kraft against Waretown newcomer Joan Finn, a retired teacher with a long background in volunteerism and education.

Finn, 66, said she moved to Ocean Township nearly three years ago and immediately became involved in the local Democratic club. She was president of the club until she recently decided to run for township office, a decision she said was driven by a need to bring bipartisan representation to the township and encourage more public engagement.

Kraft, 46, said he hopes to continue the work he started in his previous terms, focusing on bringing in more commercial ratables to reduce the tax burden on residents. The 14-year resident and owner of Meticulous Landscaping Inc. said he thinks the committee's current projects are driving the town in the right direction.

Finn said she agrees with development like the town center, saying it's a good idea that needs to be balanced with the surrounding environment of the town. She includes that in a platform of general guiding principles, she said, such as open and transparent government and clean and safe neighborhoods.

"Let's start with the welfare of the people and the environment and then we'll go from there," she said.

Kraft agreed that the environment needs to be a major focus for the next committee, and he pointed to the plans to put solar arrays on the Southern Ocean Landfill as evidence that it is already a priority.

"The town should be doing its part to reduce its carbon footprint and reduce the need for foreign oil," he said.

Finn, who has taught and volunteered in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, settled in the Greenbriar Oceanaire development recently but still volunteers much of her time. While she has never held elected office before, she said her experiences have taught her the skills needed to govern.

"I've learned how to work with people," she said, "and government is the business of the people."

But Kraft said his experience so far on the committee directly informs what he would do in another term, since he wants to continue that work for another three years.

"To me there really aren't any issues," he said. "It's just completing the vision."

Both Finn and Kraft will be at Meet the Candidates Night, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Center on 11th Street in Waretown. The night, which is mostly intended as a question and answer opportunity for the candidates, is sponsored by the Pebble Beach Homeowner's Association, and will also feature the four men running for Barnegat Township committee.

E-mail Lee Procida:

LProcida@pressofac.com