Republicans pursue end to one-party rule
Miller and Lichardi seek three-year terms
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

Republicans Ted Miller (l) and Michael Lichardi are seeking their first terms on the Borough Council in Freehold Borough.

FREEHOLD — Republican Party candidates Ted Miller and Michael Lichardi are seeking three-year terms on the Borough Council in the Nov. 4 election.

In order to earn seats on the all-Democratic council, Miller and Lichardi will have to overcome a pair of Democratic incumbents, Michael DiBenedetto and George Schnurr.

Miller ran for council in 2007 but was not successful in his bid to win a three-year term.M

iller, 49, of Henry Street, and Lichardi, 48, of Stillwell Place, say it is time for new energy on Freehold Borough's governing body.

Miller, who moved to Freehold Borough from New York in 1999, said he and Lichardi intend to "eliminate ineffective one-party rule" through what he called a grassroots movement.

"It's time for new energy," Miller said, adding that the Republicans are pledging to uphold three principles: the guarantee of a better quality of life, offering the lowest possible property taxes and renewing municipal confidence.

"With one-party rule there are no checks and balances," he said, referring to the fact that Mayor Michael Wilson is a Democrat, as are the six members of the council. "We are spearheading a new energy in the borough."

Issues that are uppermost in the minds of the two candidates are the "business and development of the town, responsible oversight to eliminate the debilitating rental property industry, safer streets, flat budgets and government transparency and contemporary visibility."

Lichardi, who moved to Freehold Borough from New York 10 years ago, said, "Our hamlet has its charm, as well as its problems inspired by politicians of the past and present. The demographics of Freehold have changed dramatically. The old ways may no longer serve the best interests of our forever changed community. History has shown that even altruistic politicians and political parties become stale, with their ideals corrupted when they remain in office too long."

Lichardi said he and Miller are not professional politicians and will not remain in office beyond accomplishing their goals.

"Ted Miller and I will work as watchdogs and will not be rubber-stamp councilmen," Lichardi said.

Property taxes are a big concern to Miller and Lichardi, and the two men said they see "strong potential to lessen the burden on the escalating homeowner property tax via the establishment of a Citizens Business and Economic Development Advisory Oversight Committee."

The Republicans said they will work to ensure that economic development "assures accountability and economic pathways that provide relief to residential property taxes." They said the relief will be achieved through "creative, structured revenue streams that must be combined with serious municipal 'cost downs' along with cutbacks."

Miller and Lichardi said if they are elected, they will work to "nail down the flattest responsible municipal budgets to make Freehold Borough affordable for homeowners." They said they will achieve this by reversing the tide of raising municipal expenditures that cause property tax increases.

Miller cited items such as exploring the use of various types of technology to affect cost downs, including alternative energy such as Halogen lamps to cut street lighting costs and using more "green" methods of fuel such as biofuel or hydrogen, rather than diesel for municipal vehicles.

He said exploring the possibility of "right sizing" the municipal vehicles the borough already has will also help lead to savings.

"We will also work to guarantee citizens a new openness and eliminate close door 'need to know' budgets drafted in private by the current one-party rule," Miller said.

The candidates said they plan to prepare a new ordinance that would resolve evolving quality of life issues. Their plan is to put restrictions and limitations on new rental properties and support sustained, unyielding rental enforcement practices and policies.

They said their promise to uphold a first class quality of life will be achieved through a nonpartisan permanent Rental Review Oversight Board.

"We propose that all new residential home construction, as well as residential 'gut and rehabilitation' resale property require owner occupancy for a minimum period of eight years. There are an estimated 1,900 rental units and every effort must be exhausted to encourage home ownership rather than absentee investors," Miller said, adding that all tenant vehicles will be required to be listed on a rental registration.

Total municipal visibility will be achieved, according to Miller, by providing the openness that Miller said most other municipalities operate under.

"We need a public Internet portal that provides easy access to our municipal code, as well as notification for public hearings, council and committee meetings. There must also be a detailed posting of all municipal budgets, and master plan and vision studies as well as public bidding, employment opportunities, ordinances, proclamations and resolutions," Miller said.

Also on the list of things the Republicans want to achieve if they are elected is to require contractors who receive a Freehold Borough contract to perform a specific job to prove they follow the U.S. Department of Labor worker eligibility validation by thoroughly checking all I-9 documentation and "e-verify" every employee, according to the candidates.

Miller works as an independent technology consultant and lives with his wife, Lisa, and their three school-age sons. The children attend borough schools.

He is a member of the Freehold Learning Center PTO and has been involved in working for additional state funding for borough schools. He has been involved in various supporting roles in recreation around the community. Miller also volunteers at events at a local temple.

Lichardi, a doctor of podiatry, serves as a faculty instructor for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. He lives with his wife, Linda, and their three school-age sons, all of whom attend borough public schools.

Lichardi served the Freehold Borough Board of Education as a member of the Facility Usage Committee and served the school district as member of the School Review Committee. He has coached for the Freehold Community Youth Soccer Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Freehold Little League, He is a member of the Freehold Fire Department.