Voters return Golub, Salkin to committee
BY ELANA ARON Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — After a somewhat heated and emotionally charged race to keep their seats on the Township Committee, Republicans Eugene Golub and David Salkin will retain their seats for another three-year term.

The two men were challenged by Democrats Doris Lin and Jennie Jeannette Mistretta, who ran for the first time in Freehold Township.

In an unofficial vote count that does not include provisional ballots, Golub received 9,090 votes and Salkin received 9,029 votes to win re-election. Lin received 6,442 votes and Mistretta received 6,253 votes.

The Democrats had challenged the incumbents on a number of issues, including the environment and committee members accepting longevity pay, pensions and health benefits. Lin and Mistretta also accused the committee of publishing biased meeting minutes and they criticized them for not recording and televising committee meetings.

Both Golub and Salkin said they have their work cut out for them.

"We are trying to get the state to do a more fair distribution of state aid for education for the township (school district)," Golub said.

Golub also criticized the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) for the third round regulations the agency has promulgated for affordable housing.

According to COAH, between 1987 and 1999, Freehold Township was responsible for producing 1,036 units of affordable housing. Between 2004 and 2018, Freehold Township will be responsible for producing 561 units of affordable housing.

Affordable housing as defined by COAH is housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to people who have an income that meets regional guidelines established by the affordable housing agency.

"The new COAH rules are an abomination," Golub said. "The first two rounds were difficult, but this one is beyond the pale, and that's going to occupy me quite a bit."G

olub expressed his appreciation to Freehold Township voters.

"I am very appreciative of the support Dave and I received from the township, and we thank them very much," he said.

Salkin also expressed concern over what the new year may bring.

"No one wants to see cuts," he said. "Any revenue that we can find we'll obviously go after. It will be a tough year. We are anticipating a tough budget year. Lower fuel prices will help, but the revenue end is where we get hurt. The direct result is the state of New Jersey is cutting aid. They cut from us and give money to places like Newark. They redistributed the wealth and think we didn't need it."

Salkin expressed appreciation for his re-election.

"In a year which was tough for the GOP, Gene and I pulled very well," Salkin said. "I was pretty happy with the support we received. It's not something I take lightly and it's an honor and a privilege serving on the governing body of my hometown."

Although they were defeated, challengers Lin and Mistretta feel proud of what they achieved.

"It was a disappointment, but we know (Freehold Township) is a big Republican stronghold," Mistretta said. "We knew it was an uphill battle. We thought at the end we might have had a shot. A lot of our Republican friends voted for us. A lot of those who voted for us believed in us.

"I'd like to see change instead of the same-old, same-old. They (the committee members) think their seats are secure. We're happy that at least the top of the ticket won. The White House believes in global warming, they don't 'dis' the scientists. They want to make positive changes form the top down," she said.

Lin said she felt good about their showing in the race.

"The numbers were really encouraging," Lin said. "People were really responsive to our message — that closed meetings are unacceptable. We did hear a lot of people say it is time for them (the committee members) to go. People were responsive to our environmental message and about renewable energy and alternative energy.

"Gene Golub said we need 200 nuclear power plants and people were appalled. We got over 6,000 votes and still counting because of the provisional (votes), so those numbers might change," Lin said,

Golub has served on the Township Committee since 1996 and Salkin has served on the committee since 1994.