Bacchione Wants to Use His Business Acumen To Attract Ratables

John Bacchione says his financial knowledge as a loan officer will help bring much-needed business ratables to Berkeley Township.

He points to towns in Southern Ocean County that have already attracted pieces and he sees no reason why Berkeley can't do the same.

"I see the need for growth as I pass through Manahawkin, Lacey Township and Toms River," said Bacchione, who is a mortgage broker with GMAC.  "I see all the commercial ratables. I say why not Berkeley? I think I can be of some help in getting them."

"When people come to just to go to Dairy Queen, I think you have a problem," he added.

Bacchione, 53, Albatross Point, is running on the GOP ticket with and for the three at-large Township Council seats. Republican Township Councilman is running for mayor.

"Like everyone on both sides of the fence, we want to see the developed," he said. "This is what I do for a living. I get projects. I have expertise in that field."

But he thinks Democratic Mayor could have pushed harder for the state Planning Commission to approve the township's long-awaited redevelopment plan.

"I don't know what they have done to this point," he said. "I do know I would not have left the room until I got the approval."

Varano said recently he and other officials will be meeting with the state Planning Commission soon to hopefully receive approval for the redevelopment plan.

Bacchione and Grosse are both current members of the Berkeley Township Board of Education. But Bacchione thinks he can accomplish more as a member of the Township Council.

I want to be part of the effort to keep the taxes at bay and possibly reduce them by bringing in the ratables," Bacchione said. "I'd like to have the opportunity to do it. The school board is running pretty smoothly right now."

Bacchione also said he had spoken to about the possibility of constructing five or six boat ramps at

"More boats can come in," he said. "They have to buy fuel. They have to buy gas. It's moving in the right direction. It's a county park. It's self-maintained."

Bacchione also wants to investigate the possibility of bringing light industrial ratables to the massive acreage on either side of Double Trouble Road, even though the land is in the Pinelands.

And he's in favor of adding more police officers to the department's roster.

"I think we need more," he said. "I don't think we have enough. I think we need a traffic division. We're down."

Bacchione is married with three children. He is a graduate of Montclair State University and holds a New Jersey teaching certificate. He is a member of the St. Barnabas R.C. Church, the St. Barnabas Business Networking Group, the Berkeley Township Elementary School PTA and the Holiday City-Silver Ridge Park Italian-American Club.