OCTOBER 31, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015, 9:21 AM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The candidates for Bergen County freeholder stuck close to the core issues of their campaigns in their third and final debate Friday evening.
Democratic incumbents Steve Tanelli, Tracy Zur and Thomas Sullivan talked about saving money and making government more efficient by folding the County Police into the Sheriff’s Office. But they also spoke about having restored funds for education and the need to improve transportation and deal with the heroin epidemic.
Republican challengers John Mitchell, Ken Tyburczy and Daisy Ortiz-Berger hammered away at their main issues of property taxes, spending and debt. They vowed to reduce taxes through a “zero-based” budget process that requires every dollar be justified and a 1-percent cap on increases in new spending.
And Libertarian Peter Rohrman pledged to cut programs such as senior lunches, sell Bergen Regional Medical Center and privatize other county services. He also reiterated his call for an investigation into complaints against the office of Prosecutor John Molinelli, who indicated this week that he expects to step down soon after being informed he is being replaced by Governor Christie.
Zur said fostering more shared services is the key to controlling spending. “That is the only way we’re going to keep taxes down,” she said. She also cited the need for more job creation.
Tyburczy countered that high property taxes are driving jobs out of the county.
“I believe if we can get the debt down, we can create jobs,” he said.
Rohrman noted that freeholders from both parties unanimously approved a budget that increased taxes by 4.3 percent this year.
“Libertarians like to say ‘No,’” he said. “I will not vote for any increases.”
