Mayoral hopefuls spend summer planning race
BY REBECCA MORTON
Staff Writer

Jonathan Hornik

MARLBORO - The hot days of summer will soon fade to the cool days of autumn, and with the change of season will come an election that could change Marlboro's administration.

Republican Robert Kleinberg will seek his second four-year term as mayor. He is facing a challenge from Democrat Jonathan Hornik. The candidates are spending the summer making plans for the race, which traditionally has its official kickoff after Labor Day.

Election Day is set for Nov. 6. The winner will become the top elected official of a 30-square-mile community that had an estimated population of 40,849 people as of Aug. 30, 2006, according to the Monmouth County Planning Board.

In addition to the mayor's position, there will be two seats up for grabs on the Township Council. Republican council members Patricia Morelli and Joseph Pernice are running for re-election to four year terms. They are facing a challenge from Democrats Randi Marder and Frank LaRocca.

Regardless of the outcome of the race, the Republicans, who presently hold all five seats on the governing body, will retain control of the council.

Robert Kleinberg

This week the News Transcript asked the two mayoral candidates what, if anything, they are doing this summer to prepare for the upcoming election.

Kleinberg said he wants to run a positive campaign that will focus on the achievements made during his term as mayor. He said his campaign for election in 2003 made three promises to voters: to eliminate corruption in Marlboro's government, to stop residential overdevelopment, and to restore honesty and integrity to Marlboro's government.

"I'm proud that we delivered on all the promises we made to the voters," he said.

The mayor pointed out that during his administration the council made changes in zoning so that larger lots are required for residential development. He cited a slowdown in the pace of school enrollment growth as a result of reduced residential construction.

Kleinberg was also excited about Marlboro's present No. 33 ranking by Money magazine in the Best Places to Live: Top 100. According to the magazine's publisher, for this year's list Money "focused on smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community."

Money said of Marlboro, "Less than 20 miles from New Jersey's shore and an even shorter jaunt to mini-business hubs of New Brunswick and Hightstown, Marl-boro has become a destination for families. The town is struggling to manage sprawl and recreate a strong town center, and in the summer, there are free outdoor concerts in town. Plus, Marlboro offers a large number of recreation programs, including extensive soccer and basketball leagues. The town's mayor recently kicked off a weight loss challenge for residents - and more than 300 people have signed up."

"We've made some great accomplish-ments in the past four years," Kleinberg said.

Hornik is running his first campaign as a candidate for mayor. He said he's spent time this summer speaking with residents.

"I've been meeting people at barbecues, picnics and graduation parties. People are eager to talk about what they want," he said.

Hornik's late father, Saul, served as Marlboro's mayor in the 1980s and early 1990s. When asked if there were things he remembered his father doing during a campaign that he planned to use, Hornik said his father was big on scheduling coffee meetings and walking from door to door to speak with people.

"I plan on doing that, but right now I'm talking to people at the events I would normally be attending," he said.

According to Hornik, the people he has spoken with are looking for change.

"We've had a Republican mayor for 16 years, they see the overdevelopment, they see the high taxes, it's what is on people's minds," he said.

Hornik said he is looking to run a spirited campaign come fall.