Incumbents have faith in future of community
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

Freehold Borough Mayor Michael Wilson (c) is flanked by Democratic candidates for Borough Council Kevin Kane (l) and Jaye Sims.

FREEHOLD - Incumbent Democratic councilmen Kevin Kane and Jaye Sims are seeking three-year terms on the Freehold Borough governing body in the Nov. 6 election.

Republican Ted Miller is challenging the incumbents in the race for two seats on the Borough Council. At present, all six seats on the council and the mayor's office are controlled by Democrats.

Kane, 50, a native of the borough, is completing his second three-year term. He is the council president in 2007. Asked why he is seeking re-election, he said, "I still believe I have a lot of work to do. We have accomplished a great deal but there is much more to do."

Kane, who lives on Kiawah Avenue with his wife Ellen and their children, said that among the issues facing the borough, illegal immigration is a priority. Over the past decade many people who are believed to be illegal aliens in the United States have settled in the community.

"This is not just a problem facing Freehold Borough though. It is also a county, state and federal issue," Kane said. "There are radical sides to the issue. One side is pro-immigration and many on that side believe amnesty is the answer for illegal immigrants. The other side of the coin are those who are anti-illegal immigrant who believe that people who are not here legally should all just leave."

Kane said there are radical factions on both sides of the illegal immigration issue in Freehold.

"We're caught in the middle here. We've spent so much time and energy dealing with both sides of the issue when all we should really be facing are those things we can control and that we have some jurisdiction over," he said. "No. 1, we need to gain control of the number of people who live in this town. We cannot build anywhere else. Whatever the capacity of the borough is, that's the only number we can house."

Kane used the example of 11,000 people.

"We cannot possibly fit 14,000 people into slots made for 11,000," Kane said, adding that the issue of residential overcrowding is the town's primary problem. He said it is causing a strain on the police department and the code enforcement department.

He said personnel in both of those departments has been increased in order to accommodate the current number of residents and the housing situation in town.

"Without any subsidies from the state or federal governments we find ourselves working on this issue alone. We must get that number back to a workable one because it is generating problems in other areas such as our schools," Kane said.

Kane said municipal officials also want to make certain that the only children who are being educated in Freehold Borough schools are children who live in town. He said the Board of Education has assured borough officials that administrators are doing what they can to ensure that only children who live in the borough attend the schools.

The councilman said there are many good things happening in the town despite the tension and strain. Citing a downtown vision study which should be completed by the end of the year, Kane said many ideas will be forthcoming that will present a benefit to the town.

On another topic, Kane said he would like to see the way that affordable housing is addressed in New Jersey changed.

"There are a certain number of dollars allocated for affordable housing in each town," he said. "Why do certain towns have the burden of providing affordable housing?"

Referring to the immigrant work force and their families, Kane said the entire county benefits from the labor force that lives in Freehold Borough.

Although he said the borough has benefited from money it has received over the years from other towns through regional contribution agreements, the councilman said it is time for others to jump in now.

Regional contribution agreements allow towns to transfer a part of their state-mandated obligation to provide affordable housing to another town that is willing to rehabilitate its own substandard housing or have affordable housing built within its borders. Recent discussion at the state level has mentioned the possibility of doing away with the regional contribution agreements.

Kane said Monmouth County towns should provide affordable housing within their borders and not only depend on communities such as Freehold Borough, Red Bank, Asbury Park, Matawan and Keyport to house the labor force on their own.

Bringing the town back together is what Kane wants.

"There are a lot of great people in this town who still believe Freehold is a great place to live. We need to get rid of slum landlords and get our population down to a workable number and then things will right themselves. This issue (immigration) has been building for over 10 years. It will not change overnight. It will take time, but we must get to a workable number of people in the town."

Kane is a former bank vice president, internal auditor and personal financial analyst. He now works in a family owned construction and commercial cleaning business.

Sims, 32, has served on the council since June 2006 when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat. He was later elected to complete that term. Sims said he is looking forward to serving the town for the next three years.

The councilman and his wife, Danielle, live on Robertsville Road.

When asked why he is running for reelection, Sims said, "I feel my work here is not done. I want to serve and I care a great deal about what goes on in Freehold Borough."

Issues facing the borough that Sims considers priorities are property taxes and the impact that illegal immigration has had on the town.

"We have to try to find a way to bridge the gap between the cultures in our town," he said.

He noted that recommendations made by a rental advisory committee in regard to certain housing issues are in place and said he believes the recommendations are "fully functioning and very effective."

Sims said he is very satisfied with the efforts of the code enforcement department which he said is doing a "wonderful job." The code enforcement department helps to monitor residential overcrowding.

Sims is the council's liaison to the borough's Human Relations Committee.

"This committee, created by the mayor, was set up to target key issues such as ethnic diversity and how that diversity impacts the town," the councilman explained.

He said the committee is the venue where residents can bring their concerns, especially if they are not comfortable with the idea of airing their concerns at a Borough Council meeting.

"Human Relations Committee members are available to help people with anything they need to discuss," Sims said, noting that the panel is preparing a safety forum and working on other issues that affect residents.

Sims is also the council's liaison to the new Community Information Committee.

"This town has had much negative publicity and this committee will help to promote many positive things about the borough. It will address many areas and issues in the town, not just those that concern the downtown area," he said.

Also on the list of important issues to Sims is getting some needed manpower and donations to the volunteer first aid squad.

He said he finds it "bothersome" when he hears residents say they feel that nothing more can be done in the town.

"If you have concerns, come to our meetings twice a month. I'm available to talk to. We're all available. We are all elected by the people and we are here to serve. Get involved. If we don't know what the problems are, we can't fix them," he added.

"This is a great town. Freehold Borough is not perfect, but it is a great town to live in. The last year has been a fun ride and I am really enjoying my time serving the town. I cannot say enough good things about the members of the council. I'm glad I said yes when they asked me to serve," Sims said.

Sims thanked his wife for her support and understanding of the time it takes to do the job. He said, "she knows how much it means to me to be a part of the council."