A Letter to Raritan Residents from Stefanie and Greg

Dear Fellow Raritan Residents, This Election Day is going to be a very exciting day in American politics. It is also a great chance for your vote to be heard on the national level as well as the local level, which affects your daily life immensely. Stefanie Rispoli Gara and Greg Lobell are running for two seats on the Raritan Borough Council. Though we are running as the Republican Party candidates, we will be representing all the people in our community… Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Just like you, our families are feeling the burden of a declining economy and the ever-increasing costs of daily life. Raritan needs representation with new ideas and the courage to implement them. The State has cut our funding by over 180 thousand dollars. These funds need to be recouped in other ways. We need to work closely with the County Grant writer and form a Raritan Grants Committee. Benefits and pensions programs need to be evaluated. Council members should not be receiving medical benefits. Currently, Council medical benefits are costing taxpayers $43,056.00 a year. Just as every household is watching where every dollar is spent, we need to account for every dollar the Borough is spending. Budget accountability needs to be implemented. Department Heads need to start submitting accountability reports bi-monthly to the Council and Mayor. This in turn will be reviewed to justify every dollar and man-hour is being used wisely. We need to start being proactive rather than reactive. Housing/ Rental ordinances need to be amended and enforced. Shared services need to be seriously evaluated, and if it is found to benefit Raritan, implement that service. To be an effective leader one must lead by example. In times like these we need people that are ready to make tough decisions and are not afraid to take on the challenges ahead. With your support we can begin to properly address these issues and many more before they become real financial and quality of life issues. This November 4th we ask you to vote the Gara-Lobell ticket. We will provide Raritan and all its residents a better quality of life. We have and will bring new ideas, fiscal responsibility and the courage to say no to the “we’ve always done it that way” attitude. Sincerely, Stefanie Rispoli Gara Greg Lobell Republican Candidates for Raritan Borough Council