Kleinberg, Hornik to face off in Oct. 31 Greenbriar debate
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The two men running for mayor of Marlboro are expected to square off in a debate on Oct. 31 at the Greenbriar adult community clubhouse.

Incumbent Republican Mayor Robert Kleinberg is seeking a second four-year term in the Nov. 6 general election.

Kleinberg is being challenged by Democrat Jon Hornik, who is making his first bid for public office.

Hornik and Kleinberg both told the News Transcript that they will attend the Greenbriar debate.

The four candidates who are running for Township Council - incumbent Republicans Patti Morelli and Joseph Pernice, and Democratic challengers Frank LaRocca and Randi Marder - will not be participating in the debate.

Asked to sum up the message of his campaign, Hornik said, "Marlboro is in desperate need of change. We need to stabilize taxes, end overdevelopment and finally clean up the corruption in town and move forward from our past."

Asked the same question, Kleinberg said, "When I ran four years ago few people would disagree that Marlboro was going in the wrong direction. Many of us felt that the officials who were leading us were corrupt and had sold out our town for decades.

"Patti Morelli, Joe Pernice and I made three promises: to stop corruption, stop overdevelopment and to restore honesty and integrity in Marlboro's government which had been lacking for decades. We have turned the ship around and now there are a lot of quality of life issues we want to address," he said.

State Senate candidates Ellen Karcher and Jennifer Beck have also been invited to debate that evening.

Karcher, a Democrat, is seeking a second four-year term in the Senate. Beck, a Republican, is completing a two-year term in the state Assembly and is now seeking the 12th Legislative District Senate seat.

Greenbriar resident Stanley Rosen said the Oct. 31 debate is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the clubhouse at 21 Clubhouse Lane in the adult community, which is off Robertsville Road. He said a large turnout from Greenbriar is expected, but said no other Marlboro residents who want to attend the event will be turned away.

Rosen said the adult community has run a debate every October since 2001.

Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro, which has sponsored candidates' nights and debates in the past, will not hold a political event this year, according to Mindy Krull of the temple's social action committee.

Krull said the committee knew Greenbriar was hosting a debate, believed the adult community would draw a good turnout and did not want to duplicate the same type of event.

The Marlboro Jewish Center Men's Club has invited both mayoral candidates to speak at a forum at the synagogue, School Road West, on Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. to share their views on Marlboro's future with their constituents.