The Courier - October 6, 2005

Aaronson, McMorrow: "The voters want change"

By JACKIE CORLEY

    Rebecca Aaronson and Barbara McMorrow, Democrat candidates for Monmouth County Freeholder, believe Monmouth residents are in need of change and reform in county government.
Recent corruption investigations and reports of wasteful spending at the county level have opened the public's eyes to problems coming out of the Freeholder meeting room, according to Aaronson and McMorrow.
    "As we go to door we keep hearing the same thing over and over again. We hear residents saying, 'I've always voted Republican and I'm voting Democrat this year,''' McMorrow said. "People believe it's time for change. It's time to restore the two-party system."
    Aaronson and McMorrow have issued a series of proposals for reducing waste and corruption at the county level. Among the Democrats proposals are: a call for a freeze on all non-budgeted spending and hiring until a full independent audit of all departments is completed; reevaluation of overtime processes in each department; requiring overtime requests to be presented by the director of the department at public Freeholder meetings; weeding out patronage and "no-show" jobs; and a reevaluation of the use of county cars in all departments.
    Aaronson and McMorrow are also calling for a change in how Monmouth County Freeholder meetings are held.
    Aaronson noted that most Freeholder meetings are held on weekdays at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., making it difficult for residents with full-time jobs to attend. Aaronson, a former Manalapan mayor, said meetings should be held in the evening or be televised so as to be more accessible to citizens.
    "It's time for the residents of Monmouth County to be allowed to know what's going on," McMorrow said.
    Aaronson also criticized the "Motions by Freeholders" portion of the county freeholder meetings.
    "The items passed are not on the agenda; they're not in writing. The items involve money but we don't know what it goes for," Aaronson said.

A history of service

    Both Aaronson and McMorrow have served in elected office as well as been active in their communities, Manalapan and Freehold Borough, respectively.
    Aaronson first became active in public service while fighting overdevelopment in her hometown. She was appointed to the Shade Tree Commission and later served on both the Zoning Board and the Planning Board in Manalapan.
    In 1999, Aaronson was elected to the Manalapan Township Committee, later serving as deputy mayor and mayor.
    Aaronson said one of the crowning achievements of the committee during the time she served was the passage of tough anti-pay-to-Play ordinance.
    "It was modeled after Common Cause's version of anti-Pay-to-Play law. The ordinance was hailed by some of the top municipal government attorneys in the state," Aaronson said.
    In 2004, two Republicans were elected to the committee and one of their first actions was to repeal the ordinance, Aaronson said.
    The Republican committee members later drafted a new ordinance that Aaronson felt wasn't as effective in combating Pay-to-Play as the ordinance that had been in place and was repealed.
    "I was told that it would be politically expedient to pass the ordinance, but I didn't want to just do something for political expediency. We had something in place that was praised throughout the state. I didn't see the point in repealing one ordinance and putting up a less effective one," Aaronson said, explaining why she voted against the revised ordinance.
    During her tenure as mayor, Aaronson said she held office hours for citizens to come and visit her to discuss their concerns and problems.
    "They really took me up on it. People were calling to come in all the time. It was what I loved most about being mayor - constituent service," Aaronson said.
    Aaronson and McMorrow both agree that they would like to see the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders be more accessible to county residents. If elected, the running mates hope to arrange community forums around the county for citizens to speak to issues affecting them.
    "County government should reach out to residents," Aaronson said.
    Similarly, McMorrow prides herself a long history of service to her community. McMorrow was elected to the Freehold Borough Council in 1989, serving until she became principal of Howell High School in 1995. She eventually retired from her position in 2003.
    McMorrow is a member of the Monmouth County Traumatic Loss Coalition, a trustee for the Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County, a member of the American Association of University Women and a member of the New Jersey Principal and Supervisors Association. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Western Monmouth County.
    Aaronson and McMorrow believe that the response they have been receiving from people of both parties speaks to the need for change in the county, and both women believe their experiences and knowledge would allow them to serve residents diligently on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.