Editor’s note: We present this statement for informational purposes; it does not represent a political endorsement by this publication. The platform of the other candidates in this race is here. You can hear the candidates speak at a League of Women Voters forum on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at 7:30 pm in the Alexander Hamilton School, 24 Mills St., Morristown.
Submitted by the Morris Township Republican ticket
Last year, Coldwell Banker and Onboard Informatics ranked Morris Township as one of the top five best places to live in New Jersey for people seeking a suburban lifestyle and the benefits of a thriving community.
The 2014 Republican candidates for Morris Township Committee, Dan Caffrey and Louise Johnson, point to decades of responsible municipal leadership as the reason for this ranking. They say that casting a vote for them on November 4th, 2014, will ensure that these family-oriented advantages continue.
“Competence and experience matter,” emphasizes Johnson. “It is essential to elect Township Committee members who bring solid experience in budgeting and cost containment, business collaboration, and public safety management to the job.
“Dan and I have demonstrated these capabilities, year after year, in our careers and in the community. We want to serve our home town with these skills.”
Deputy Mayor Caffrey states: “This is no place to learn on the job. It is not enough to take a class in negotiation or simply aspire to elected office. There is too much at stake. Elected members of the Morris Township Committee represent residents and businesses in groups such as the Township’s Planning Board and Office of Emergency Management. Committee members must have practical experience in leadership and decision-making, and take their responsibility for providing service to the community seriously.”
Morris Township provides full services to residents that are the envy of neighboring communities. Caffrey is especially proud of the new household waste collection process, with roll-out now underway throughout the community. The purchase of new garbage trucks enables the Township to use one Public Works employee instead of two on each route, saving injuries and Workman’s Compensation claims. This will also allow personnel to be redirected to needed areas such as storm-water system repairs and fall leaf pick-up.
Caffrey reminds us that the quality of life in the Township is what attracts and keeps people here.
“Our robust Recreation program is something we treasure. We have a variety of recreation options for people of all ages and maintain two state-of-the art swimming pools that draw residents from all around our community.“
In addition, Morris Township has nearly 25 percent of its acreage preserved as open space, and a reserve of more than $4 million in its open space fund. With less than 300 acres available for future open space purchase, the GOP candidates favor redirecting some of these monies to maintaining and improving existing publicly-owned properties, as well as creating more quality-of-life amenities without incurring additional debt.
Both Caffrey and Johnson say the entire community can be proud of the Township’s reputation and commitment to fiscal discipline. According to Moody’s Investors Service in September 2014, the Township’s financial position is very healthy, with significant cash balances and a sizable reserve for tax appeals. Dan Caffrey is the chair of the Finance Committee, which established the fiscal 2014 budget featuring an annual property tax increase of 0 percent.
Republican fiscal discipline on the Township Committee has once again been rewarded by an Aaa rating from Moody’s Investors Service. Moody’s highest quality Aaa rating means lowest possible cost of debt when it comes time to fund various sewer, pool, parking, and general improvements. This translates directly to major savings to tax payers.
Many new residents are coming to Morris Township from counties to the east, such as Bergen, Essex, and Union, to escape high tax burdens there. One major factor is the Township’s Effective Tax Rate — one of the lowest in Morris County. The number of residents increased by 510 between 2000 and 2010 according to the US Census, and is estimated to have increased by another 275 residents between 2010 and 2013.
Johnson stresses that effective leadership rises from the competence that elected leaders bring to the table.
“Private sector experience can be applied to many challenges that municipalities face these days, and business philosophy has an important influence as well. During the last several decades, we’ve seen how the Township’s Republican leadership has fostered volunteer participation, while being frugal, transparent, and far-sighted when developing the Township’s priorities.”
A good example of the Township Committee’s steady leadership is the General Development Plan that was approved in August 2014 for a 147-acre property located at Columbia Turnpike and Park Avenue.
The zoning change allows for state-of-the-art, mixed land use that is better suited to today’s real estate market, consistent with land use best practices, and will provide an opportunity for positive future tax revenues. The property will be redeveloped to include 81 acres (55 percent) for offices, 53 acres (36 percent) for townhouses, and 13 acres (9 percent) dedicated to open space.
“It is important to our community’s health to be balanced in our perspective and business-friendly in our actions. This was the right move for the new co-owners of the property – Rockefeller Group Development Corp., K. Hovnanian Homes, and Honeywell International – and for our taxpayers,” says Caffrey.
All Township meetings are open to the public and are advertised well in advance of meeting dates. Post-meeting information is made available through web site postings, transcribed minutes and recordings, the Township’s Municipal Messenger newsletter, and the Mayor’s periodic update of meeting results.
This transparency is intended to inform members of the public and encourage residents to take an active role in governing our community. Dan Caffrey and Louise Johnson want all residents to be informed, to be involved, and to be proud of Morris Township.
About Dan Caffrey
- Spent 28 years in the Financial Services industry and is employed with the largest accounting firm in the Tri-State area. This firm is also the 14th largest in the nation.
- Specializing in Corporate Retirement Plan Design and Implementation, involving the creation and management of Corporate 401(k) , P/S and D/B plans for privately-held corporations.
- Elected member of the Township Committee since 2009.
- Deputy Mayor of the Township of Morris 2014.
- Chair of the Morris Township Finance Committee.
- Morris Township Fire Commissioner and Chair of the Fire Sub-Committee.
- Chair of the Morris Township Recreation Sub-Committee and champion of the redesign of the Township’s two pools.
- Board Member- Morris County Public Safety Academy.
- Guest appearances on The Leslie Marshall Radio Show (National Syndicated Radio Host and Fox News Contributor).
- Morris Township resident since 1993.
- Married to Loraine and father of three children all of whom are in or have gone through the Morris School District.
- Past Morristown National Little League and Babe Ruth head coach.
About Louise Johnson
- Thirty-year year career, Business Leader and Executive (Fortune 500 company), exercising fiscal discipline over multi-million dollar budgets.
- Public Safety Leadership with emergency response forces, public utilities, municipalities. Media trained in emergency communication.
- MBA and Certified Project Manager, headed Global Project Management Office, completing 400 projects in five years.
- Labor Union Relations – recognized for fairness and effectiveness in labor union negotiation.
- Business Collaboration – as member of global team to form a successful joint venture between two major corporations.
- Two-term National Chair of Big Ten University Parents Council, fundraising for need-based scholarships and career opportunities.
- Winner of YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award.
