Berkeley Deserves Better Representation, Democratic Township Council Candidate Says

Berkeley Township needs representatives on the Township Council who will look out for the residents' best interests, not their own, says Edward H. Olsen, a Democratic candidate for one of the three at-large council seats up this year.

“There are people who don’t really care and make decisions with their own best interests in mind,’’ said Olsen, 46, Brittany Drive. “I don’t want to be that guy. I want to be the guy who represents the people of Berkeley Township, who does an honest day’s work and votes honestly for what is best for the residents."

The people of Berkeley Township aren't always being represented the way they should be, Olsen said.

“I became involved in politics because people making decisions weren’t the solution, they were part of the problem,’’ Olsen added. “I’ve discovered things that went on behind the scenes that the people of Berkeley Township wouldn’t be happy about if they knew what was going on."

Olsen is running on the Democratic slate, with Mayor Jason J. Varano as mayor, and Anthony R. Mazzella and James L. Egan for the three at-large council seats.

Olsen, a chiropractic consultant for the insurance industry, has served as a commissioner for the Berkeley Township Municipal Utilities Authority. While with the MUA, Olsen said the Township Council requested five percent of the MUA budget – about $180,000 – to offset taxes.

“The Berkeley MUA serves only about 4,000 homes,’’ Olsen said. “It serves only a portion of the Bayville section. There are five other water companies serving the township that didn’t have to pay the tax. I don’t know how many people are aware of that.

The MUA was not in a position to say no, because state law allows the council to ask for the money.

"That little section of the township had to pay to offset the taxes while other areas of the township did not," he said.

Olsen, who moved to the township 11 years ago, wants Berkeley to maintain its small town feel.

“That was one of the reasons I moved here in the first place,’’ Olsen said. “I want the township to remain safe. I would like to see as much done to protect green space and improve and maintain recreation areas as possible. I would like to help Berkeley remain a family-oriented place.’’

Olsen said the township police “do a great job’’ of keeping township residents safe. He said he would like to meet with police officials to see what can be done to make the job of police officers better and easier.

“We need to explore all avenues to make the job better for our police department,’’ Olsen said. “If staffing is the issue, we may need to move in that direction. Maybe there is equipment out there that will help officers."

“I have two daughters and a wife," he added. "I want our township safe. We need to make certain we have the right people in the right jobs to make that happen."

With a community as diversified as Berkeley, Olsen said he would make every effort to consider the needs of the many different sections in the township.

“I’ve lived here 11 years and not once has a member of council talked to me,’’ Olsen said. “We need to open a dialogue. We need to listen to the residents. But, we may also need to educate them about the needs of the other parts of the township. I want to be proactive as opposed to reactive.’’

Olsen said he also wants the council to examine every possible way to share services with other municipalities to help keep the municipal tax rate stable.

“I have relationships with council members and police chiefs in other municipalities,’’ Olsen said. “I know we share services like animal control and truck washing now. With my connections, we could investigate other opportunities for sharing services."

Olsen said while residents in some areas of the township are unhappy with their new property assessments following the 2010 revaluations, he feels it was equitable.

“My understanding is the majority of homeowners in town saw taxes go down,’’ Olsen said. “I looked at mine (revaluation) and I believe it was fair. When I moved here 11 years ago, I was paying top dollar and I always felt it would be nice to share some of the tax responsibility. I look at it being more equitable now."

Olsen is a graduate of Brick Memorial High School and The College of New Jersey.