Former official missed serving the community
Drew Shapiro seeks return to Manalapan governing body
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Drew Shapiro

MANALAPAN - For Drew Shapiro, the reason to get back into the local political scene was personal.

Shapiro, who served on the Township Committee for two terms from 2001 through 2006, said he missed working on the governing body.

He did not seek re-election in 2006 when his second term was coming to an end, but he is one of two Democrats seeking three-year terms on the governing body this year. His running mate will be Herbert Barrack.

"Like anything you love doing, it's hard to stay away and I did love serving the town," Shapiro said, noting the personal satisfaction he achieved in helping to start programs like the Mayor's Special Needs Council.

"I was also prompted (to run) by many groups in town. I have always prided my relationships with the police, sports groups and service agencies in town," he said, adding that he also decided to run for office again because, "as a resident, I am obviously not happy with the proposed major tax increase, as well as the lack of open space acquired."

Shapiro said that since the news broke of his plan to run for office, he has talked with Republican Committeeman Andrew Lucas, who is serving as Manalapan's mayor this year. Lucas and Shapiro served together on the governing body for three years and both men said they have come to respect each other.

Lucas is seeking re-election to a second term on a Republican ticket with Susan Cohen.

Shapiro extolled Lucas's willingness to work beyond party affiliation for the betterment of the committee.

"I'm going to say that I have respect for Mr. Lucas and his ability to work in a bipartisan manner," Shapiro said, adding, "I want to echo my anger that political entities always use the phrase 'infighting' to try and get their candidates elected, but once there is bipartisan support, they label that person a turncoat."

Shapiro said he and Lucas had pledged to each other to commit to a "clean and high-road campaign."

He said they were in agreement that "residents are sick of nasty smear campaigns and will not stand for it anymore," and they have agreed to sign a "clean campaign document and only hope the other candidates will do the same."

Lucas echoed Shapiro's sentiments about making a clean campaign the goal and said the document will back up their agreement that their campaigns will not "engage in negativity" and that there will be no direct mention of candidates' names in any campaign literature.

According to Lucas, he and Cohen will be drafting into the agreement the stipulation that campaign expenses be limited to $5,000 per candidate.

Saying he spoke for his running mate as well as himself, Lucas said, "Our hope is that by limiting the amount of money in the political process the residents will win by getting elected officials whose sole focus is good governance and not politics."

Joseph DePasquale has announced that he will run for a seat on the committee as an independent candidate. If he is elected, DePasquale will have to step down from his seat on the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education.

The committee seats presently held by Lucas and Republican Committeeman Joseph Locricchio will be up for grabs in the November election.

The members of the Township Committee accepted Locricchio's resignation last week after Locricchio announced he was resigning from the committee, effective May 1, due to health concerns.

A Manalapan resident will be appointed to that seat to serve the remainder of Locricchio's term through Dec. 31.

In addition to Lucas and Locricchio, the other members of the Township Committee are Democrats Michelle Roth and Richard Klauber, and Anthony Gennaro, who is serving as an independent.